A Brief Guide on Brazil’s Coffee Farm Regions
Some of the most popular coffee in the world originates in South America. And perhaps no country in the region is better than Brazil. Since the 1940s, Brazil has been the largest participants in international coffee trade. Today, the country produces 40 million to 60 million bags each year, and it is also the world’s largest instant coffee exporter.
It is estimated that 300,000 coffee plantations in Brazil are distributed mainly 6 states. The harvest season in the coffee farms in Brazil is from April to September, depending on the region. Coffee produced by Brazil accounts for about 30% of the world’s coffee supply. The largest international buyer of Brazilian coffee is the United States, Germany, Belgium, Japan and Italy.
The History of Brazil’s Coffee
Coffee appeared in Brazil in the early 18th century. In 1727, lieutenant Francisco De Mello Palheta was commissioned to steal a coffee plant from the French Guiana. According to estimation, after smuggling the coffee plant into Brazil, Palheta began planting it in the state of Para. In the subsequent years, under the European and American demand, coffee production rapidly spread to all parts of the country. By 1940s, Brazil had dominated the world coffee market.
Geography
The geographic location of Brazil makes it an ideal choice for planting coffee. Almost all countries are in the tropics. It is relatively stable, mainly hot and humid climate, and has rich soil. All these mean that the conditions are ideal for growing coffee crops.
Key Coffee Regions in Brazil
Brazil is divided into 26 states, half of which (13) have coffee plantation or farm. But most of the coffee is planted in the southeastern part of the country, including five states – Minas Gerais, Parana, Bahia, Espirito Santo, and Sao Paulo. Out of these Minas Gerais is the most important region.
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is Brazil’s most important coffee producing region, and nearly half of national coffee production is located there. This area is rich in soil, high altitude, is a great choice for planting the most famous special coffee in the country. The varieties herein include Catutai, Obata, Icatu, and Mundo Novo.
Minas Gerais is the location of the four main production areas:
Cerrado de Minas – The region is high (800 to 1300 meters), humid in summer, gentle winter, so that it can produce high-end professional coffee. Coffee growing here is acidic, and when it comes to sweetness, it usually fall in the middle.
Chapada de Minas – Chapada de Minas is a geographically diverse region and the valleys often subdivide the highland areas of the region. Mechanized production is common throughout the region, and some varieties planted here include Catuai and Mundonovo.
Matas de Menas – It is located in the Atlantic Forest, so mainly smaller farms populate the area. The temperature is warm and humid, and the landscape of the area is quite uniform. The area is also known for its continuous development of specialty coffee production. The variant of growth here is usually sweet, and exudes the taste of chocolate or caramel.
Sul de Minas– Sul de Minas’ average elevation is of about 1000 meters and has a mild temperature. This combination makes the area an industrial hotspot in the Minas Gerais region.
Thus, coffee farms in Brazil are spread over the entire country and each of them has some specific characteristics.