| Do you realize the intricate and varied history of | | | | distribution was controlled by the Arabs. They held |
| coffee as you sip on a cup of coffee? There is a | | | | a tight and zealous monopoly on the cultivation of |
| long and entertaining story of how coffee was | | | | the coffee plant until the 17th century. In the 17th |
| invented, how it migrated to your particular cup | | | | century Dutch traders managed to steal some |
| and an unending effort to produce the many | | | | viable seeds and started commercial plantations in |
| flavors of coffee that continue to make it such a | | | | Indonesia. It was not long until a French officer |
| popular beverage. Each country has added its | | | | under the rule of King Louis XIV felt that the |
| taste preference and its own way of brewing as | | | | coffee plants should grow equally well in the |
| coffee spread around the world. This has resulted | | | | French colonies of the West Indies. Gabriel Mathieu |
| in a plethora of coffee drinks for us all to savor | | | | de Clieux and a gardener stole a cutting from a |
| and enjoy. The unique customs across cultures | | | | coffee plant in King Louis XIV's botanical gardens. |
| has also added to this ritual of drinking coffee. | | | | He planted the cutting in a glass trunk and sat sail |
| Where is your favorite coffeehouse? | | | | for the West Indies. His journey was not easy. |
| Coffeehouses became very popular as news | | | | More than once Clieux placed his life on the line |
| about the magical powers of coffee spread from | | | | for his precious cargo. He fought off a Dutch spy |
| Ethiopian shepherds and monks in Ethiopia to all | | | | who managed to tear off one of the plant's limbs. |
| corners of the world. Despite the popularity of | | | | He shared his ration of water with the plant when |
| the coffeehouses, they were at times deemed | | | | all the sailors were near to perishing of thirst. |
| immoral. They were accused of drawing men | | | | Clieux finally arrived at the island of Martinique and |
| away from their obligations to their homes and | | | | this one single plant started commercial coffee |
| religious beliefs. Coffee drinking was even | | | | plantations that successfully rivaled the plantations |
| forbidden periodically because of these evils. | | | | of the Dutch. It is ironic to note that the initial |
| However, the bans on coffee drinking did not last | | | | cutting was taken from the coffee plant that was |
| long due to the strong appeal of the pleasurable | | | | given to King Louis XIV as a gift from the Dutch! |
| drink. The suppression of coffee drinking based on | | | | King Louis XIV had a passion for coffee and |
| religious and political grounds was only a moment | | | | enjoyed preparing it for guests in his golden |
| in time and coffee became a universal drink in the | | | | coffeepot. After plantations started in Martinique a |
| Arab lands. Coffee was eventually considered a | | | | few years later a young Portuguese officer from |
| moral and sober alternative to wine and spirit | | | | Brazil charmed the French governor's wife in |
| drinks. Coffee became a household word and was | | | | French Guiana. She secretly saved some coffee |
| adopted into social customs as a featured | | | | cuttings to present to him as a token of her love |
| beverage. In Arabia, coffee was thrown at the | | | | for him. The Portuguese officer planted the |
| feet of the bride as a religious offering. In the | | | | cuttings in Brazil and began what are now the |
| country of Turkey, coffee became a staple in the | | | | largest coffee plantations in the world. This article |
| home. Failure to keep a supply of coffee for one's | | | | is FREE to publish with the resource box. © |
| wife in the home was considered grounds for | | | | 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved |
| divorce in Turkey. As travelers from Europe | | | | Connie Limon. Visit Coffee Articles at for an |
| returned home they brought with them tales of | | | | extensive list of FREE reprint articles all about |
| the exotic coffee beverage. Coffee was regarded | | | | coffee. Find coffee recipes from all around the |
| by some Westerners as the devil's hellish brew. | | | | world on the web site as well. Add your own |
| Despite this horrible reputation of coffee for | | | | coffee recipes and resource links to our list. Visit |
| some Westerners, it became a Christian drink | | | | Camelot Articles at for a variety of article |
| with the blessing of Pope Clement VIII who loved | | | | categories. |
| the taste of coffee. For centuries coffee | | | | |