The mystery of the origin of coffee beans: searching for their original homeland

The origin of coffee beans

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and coffee beans are the key ingredient in making coffee. However, there have always been many controversies and mysteries about where coffee beans originally came from.

Ethiopia: The legendary homeland

There is a widely circulated legend that coffee beans were first discovered in Ethiopia in East Africa. It is said that around the 9th century AD, a shepherd named Kaldi noticed that his goats became unusually active after eating the fruit of a certain plant. Driven by curiosity, he tried the fruit of the plant and found that it could refresh the mind.

Over time, people began grinding the berries of the plant and brewing them into a drink. This is the coffee we know and love today. Therefore, for a long time, Ethiopia was considered the homeland of coffee beans.

Yemen: Ancient Coffee Culture

However, there is another theory that coffee beans originally originated in Yemen, which became a center of the coffee trade in the 15th century. According to legend, during this period, a Sufi named Sheikh Omar discovered coffee beans and used them as a herbal remedy.

Over time, people began to realize the plant's stimulating properties and brewed it into a drink, and coffee quickly became popular in Yemen and gradually spread to other regions.

Other possible origins

In addition to Ethiopia and Yemen, some scholars have proposed other possible origins of coffee beans. One of them is that there are multiple centers on the African continent that independently discovered and used coffee beans.

For example, traces of early use and cultivation of coffee beans have been found in Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, etc. This evidence shows that coffee beans may have been discovered and used in multiple regions of the African continent at the same time.

in conclusion

Despite the many controversies and mysteries surrounding the origin of coffee beans, Ethiopia and Yemen remain the most likely places to be the home of coffee beans. Both countries have a deep connection with coffee culture, whether through legends or historical documents.

Regardless of where the original homeland is, we should thank those who discovered and used coffee beans in the early days. It is because of their wisdom and courage that we can enjoy the rich, diverse and delicious coffee today.