Trudy Simpson, Freelance Writer
Patrons, both young and old, took in all the rich flavours at the Jamaica Coffee Festival held on the East Lawns of Devon House, St. Andrew, last Sunday.
I FELL in love with coffee on Sunday. For me, this is big news because up to that point I hated coffee. The smell would make me cringe and the taste, as far I was concerned, was bitter.
On Sunday, while traditional folk songs played and a clown danced with the children, I underwent a transformation during the inaugural Jamaica Coffee Festival held on the East Lawns of Devon House, St. Andrew. I discovered that there are many blends of coffee, from the prominent and popular Blue Mountain Blend to Wallenberg and Jablum blends to the popular Nescafe blend. The taste of coffee, I discovered, is actually magical.
BOOTH TO BOOTH
"It's all in the roast," a friend told me, as I was swept from booth to booth, sampling and discovering that coffee can indeed make wonderful confections, among them coffee strips and liquor such as Sangster's Rum Cream. My taste buds sang as they sampled rum and coffee cakes, ice coffee, coffee shakes, coffee nut cakes and I swear I sighed as I took my sample of coffee-based ice cream.
But the festival was not all about eating. There were displays to feed the mind as well as the body. Nestle Jamaica Limited, Tia Maria, car companies and the Coffee Industry Board were out in full swing. The board was encouraging members to join it in enlightening the public about its mandate and duties.
MARKET NEW PRODUCTS
Several coffee distributors used the opportunity to market new products, by providing samples, displaying goods and giving away custom made bags. The companies invested in providing information, showing the scores of persons who turned out for the festival the various steps involved in picking, processing, preparing and marketing coffee and its by products. I learnt about cup testing and that it was indeed fun to consume coffee products at tables and chairs made to look like the striped
barrels in which coffee was packaged.
In the end, I walked away with a change of heart, a new craving and recipes for making
various cakes and liqueurs using that lovely berry which makes coffee. In upcoming issues of Food, we'll feature some of the recipes.
