Varieties
Laurina
Botanical and physical characteristics:
The Laurina tree is distinguished by its long and pointy beans that vary from 12 to 15 inches. The tree is an icon Christmas tree like shape with massive concentrated leafs and the beans usually grow from the inside and can barely be seen. It's height can go up to 2,2 meters.
History:
Laurina, also known as Bourbon Pointu, appeared in the Reunion Island after a spontaneous mutation of the Bourbon variety. Under Louis XIII, the Island once called “Santa Apolonia” was changed to Bourbon Island due to its dynasty. In 1771 Sieur Leroy discovered that this much loved coffee by the french court was actually a mutation from the arabica coffee that came from Yemen. Its name, Bourbon Pointu, is to honour the Bourbon Island and Pointu because of its elongated and pointed beans. Around 1878, the director of the Colonial Garden, took some samples from infected coffees to a neighbouring island called Maurice where they discovered that it was a fungus called Hemeleia Vastatrix. This fungus started spreading around all the Reunion Island and affected all the coffee reducing the production by large quantities. In 1950 was the registration of the last official exportation of this variety. For more than half a century, the Bourbon Pointu ceased to exist. However in 2002, an initiative was taken by the Regional Council of the Island to investigate the possibilities to recover this cultivation taking into consideration that this could be a huge impact on the economy.
Eugenioides
Botanical and physical characteristics:
The Eugenioides variety is a medium tree with small leafs and beans.
History:
Arabica coffee is at the moment the principal species of this a variety. It constitutes more than 60% of the commercial coffee internationally. It is a autogam, it means that it gets pollinated and fertilized by itself. Its originally from the southeast of Ethiopia, south of Sudan and north of Kenya. It's a tetraploide species (44 chromosomes) that comes from two old diploide species known as Eugenioides (Probably mother) and Canephora (Probably father) both of them having 22 chromosomes. Studies show that it's a "young" variety that appeared less than a million years ago. It is considered to be a high altitude coffee that is best harvested in temperature between 18 and 23C. In Colombia the plantations are concentrated in the areas between 1200 and 1800 MASL. The caffeine that this coffee holds is between 1,0% and 1,4% when dried and less bitter. It's known to be the best quality coffee.
Geisha
Botanical and physical characteristics:
The Geisha tree or Abisinian is known to be a high and rarefied plant; its leaves are oblong and narrow. The cherries and seeds are known to be big and can be easily recognized.
History:
The geisha arabica coffee, also known as Abisinian, like all the other arabica varieties, is originally from Ethiopia, known by its locals as Geisha. The beans were first brought to Kenya and later to Tanzania. From there they were brought to Costa Rica in 1953 and finally to Panama in 1963 in the hands of coffee producer, Don Pachi.
This variety is known to be the most exclusive coffee till this day at international levels, thanks to a coffee producer which was able to distinguish this variety from the others. He noticed that it was special, it smells and tastes like nothing before; mandarin, ginger, mango, cinnamon and lots of flower aromas like jasmine. So far, only at the highest point of Chiriqui Panama, is where the geisha was able to release its full potential, it could be caused by the weather, volcanic soil, height and local agricultural techniques and traditions. Many producers have tried to replicate this variety in different parts of the world, due to its really high price, but none have been as successful as the ones grown in Chiriqui Panama. It is known to produce a high quality bean at high altitudes, over 1500 MASL. This variety is considered to be a low productive plant. It is resistant to the roya and as well to a fungus called “Ojo de Gallo”.
Sudan Rume
Botanical and physical characteristics:
The Sudan Rume tree is a tall tree with a Cup Quality characteristic.
History:
Discovered in 1940, the Sudan Rume is a variety of the arabica coffee that was once found in a wild state in the forests of the inter tropical mountains of Marsabit in the Boma Plateau in Africa, in the south east of Sudan. This variety is known to be resistant to the coffee cherry disease.