Drink / Journal /
Jamaica Smiles
Some eight-odd years ago, a gentleman walked into Cutters Deli looking for a “real fish cutter”. We obliged with our classic: two flying fish layered into a salt bread, all the fixings and a rum punch to cool the hot sauce. Don was sold on our programme – so much so – he insisted we take a look at his share-ware from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica – a simple pouch of coffee beans – albeit government certified – with truly delightful flavours.
By Roger Goddard
Some eight-odd years ago, a gentleman walked into Cutters Deli looking for a “real fish cutter”. We obliged with our classic: two flying fish layered into a salt bread, all the fixings and a rum punch to cool the hot sauce. Don was sold on our programme – so much so – he insisted we take a look at his share-ware from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica – a simple pouch of coffee beans – albeit government certified – with truly delightful flavours.
As single-plantation sourced bean, bearing the geographical indications certification of the Jamaican Blue Mountain region, this coffee is hard to replicate. Its uniqueness made us keen to feature this product on our menu and request it as a complementary brand.
The coffee’s source, Flamstead Estate, is located in the Jamaican parish of St. Andrews (one of only four parishes that may claim the Blue Mountain appellation) – the district has been producing coffee since 1764. In 1982 this particular plantation was set up by former Senator and Minister of Government, Ambassador, the Hon. Carlyle Dunkley. It is now in the hands of his sons, Stephen and Graham. The crops, mostly covered by the cool mist of the Jamaican Blue Mountains, benefit from the shade of banana, plantain and inga vera trees. Selection and processing of beans is governed by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica. Various grades of coffee can come out of the Blue Mountain region, but only a fraction will be certified to bear the brand.
Much of Jamaica’s blue mountain coffee heads directly to Japan and busy-world destinations. This fact, combined with the appellation’s comparatively small yield internationally, it’s understandable what prices are achieved for Jamaica’s registered coffees. That’s why we feel particularly lucky to represent Flamstead in the Barbados market. We invite you to try our preparations of espresso and cappuccino – after a hearty lunch, of course.
We would like to acknowledge these two sources for industry background:
