A young goat herder by the name of Kaldi awoke one day to find his herd missing. He was worried as any goat herder would be. It’s sort of like being the IT guy who finds all his computers missing. So of course Kaldi went out to find his herd of goats. He searched and searched and finally found them. But the goats weren’t quietly grazing. They were dancing. That’s right dancing. Well, Kaldi was shocked and closed his eyes, thinking it to be a dream. Goats did not dance. But when he again opened his eyes they were still at it. This time he also noticed that some of his goats were eating the fruit of a nearby bush.. Kaldi thought he would try the fruit as well and man’s relationship with coffee was born.
Ah the wine of the bean. Coffee has had mans’ attention since that Ethiopian boy tried his first bite. Coffee wandered about in the Arab world until the 1600’s at times being banned due to it’s stimulating effects. Then it found it’s way to Italy. Christians thought it to be a Muslim drink. Many sought to ban the brew calling it a “bitter invention of Satan.” However, Pope Clemet VIII said "This devil's drink is so good... we should cheat the devil by baptizing it." So the battle of the bean was won and quickly the drink spread throughout the christian world. By 1675 more than 3,000 coffehouses existed in England. Surely with so many on every corner they would decide to close a few.
The bean traveled far and wide around the world, mostly with the help of the East India Companies. The raw beans were guarded and protected to the extent that the Emporer of Brazil sent Francisco de Mello Palheta to French Guinea to aquire beans for Brazil. But Palheta would be turned away at evey corner. That is until be met the Govenor’s wife. Palheta promptly seduced the wife and in turn she provided him with enough beans to send Brazil on it’s way to becoming the leading Coffee producer in the world.
So no matter if it’s a Starbucks double half double sweet latte or just a plain ol’ cup of joe remember the history that proceded that first sip.
About the writer
- Random Train Of Thought
- Texas, United States
- I'm just an average guy with a wife, a daughter, and a cat. Living in Texas and enjoying life.
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14 comments:
I've just heard this self-same story on TV! But the commentator didn't paint such a lively picture as you with your Dancing Goats.
sweet as bro!
what a lovely picture you paint - loved the image of the dancing goats and the expression wine of the bean!
Coffee
Now I read that ride and it was stimulating.While enjoying jo too.
This story is pure fun as well as a bit of history. Be advised that there are now many varieties of coffee bean that have been developed, most of them, in my opinion, superior to those grown in Africa. Maybe I'm prejudiced. See my SS entry for explanation.
What an interesting journey my cup of coffee has had. Thanks for telling us all about it.
nice piece of writing...thanks for sharing...
Loved the history lesson!
Thanks for the history lesson. I'm the least bit concerned how much is fact or fancy. :-)
Fine imagery and story...thank you!
How interesting to hear the history behind my favorite addiction. Loved the imagery of the goats and the comparison between the goat herder and the IT guy.
well, i didn't know! thank you for the history lesson. good, informative (and lively) post. alas, but i can no longer drink of that addictive bean...
here's my contribution
I've always felt some strange kinship to goatherders. Now I know why.
As a history lover, I enjoyed the piece. And then, with the dancing goats... well, that just put it over the top.
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