Alcohol and Drugs History Society

Brazilian coffee

In 2006, Brazil produced 44 million bags of coffee of which 27.2 million was exported. Obviously, Brazilians drink a lot of their own coffee! The revenue produced by coffee exports amounts to US$3.3 billion. Today coffee comprises 2.5% of Brazilian exports. Brazil is not as dependent on coffee exports as is Vietnam, a newcomer to coffee exports which now ranks second in the world.

Brazil has exported coffee since 1816, and beginning in 1840 has been the world's largest coffee exporter. In 1930, coffee produced 70% of Brazil's exports. The market then tumbled. Although Brazil exports mostly green grains, it also sells soluble (instant) coffee and, in the last four years, roasted-and-ground coffee. Instant coffee was the first kind of Brazilian coffee to reach China and Russia. International competition from the 1950s onwards drove the contribution of Brazil to world production down to an average of 25%, but it has risen to 30% today. Most Brazilian coffee goes to Germany, the USA, Italy, and France, but some now goes to East Asian and Middle Eastern buyers. Traditionally a tea-drinking country, Japan is now the fifth largest coffee consumer in the world. In most countries coffee is drunk principally at home, but not in Japan and China. Young Japanese and Chinese go to coffee house where they can talk, while they are expect to be more quiet at tea houses. Unlike Brazilians who like to drink coffee in the morning, the Chinese drink coffee at mid-afternoon breaks in their work day. The Chinese like coffee mild and mix it with water or milk. As a result, they enjoy cappucinco. Most of the coffee drinkers in China are 25 to 35 years old with decent jobs. Espresso coffee is expensive in China, US$4 (much more than what it is the United States). Brazil also exports coffee to a majority of the countries affiliated with the Arab League. In the Middle East, Lebanon is now the largest importer of Brazilian coffee, surpassing the old leader, Syria. For more, see here.

Where conflict raged, Lebanon now tends it vineyards

In the Bakaa Valley, Lebanon's wine country, the viticultural tradition even predates Jesus' first miracle. More at The New York Times.