Coffee Territory

Coffee in Brazil was grown in early 1700. In 1727 Brazilians have taken part in settlement of territorial disputes between French and Netherlands Guiana. It gave a chance to get at least some carefully protected coffee saplings.

All these stories are very different but at the same time have one common idea: an energetic army captain Francisco de Mallo Palheta was chosen as an independent arbitrator, who was well known like lady-killer. Arrived into place, he found favor both in the eyes of Guiana’s ruler, and his wife, who he had a short love affair with. When vexed question was solved, governor’s wife presented a bouquet to the captain in acknowledgement of his political and amorous services. Among the flowers were carefully hidden coffee shoot cuttings. However, some chroniclers insist that he was given thousands of coffee beans and five large saplings. In any case, Palheta came back to Brazil with the planting stock. Historically, it is not important, whether it were cuttings, seeds or saplings.

At first, in Brazil were grown not many quantity of coffee and it was used only for home consumption. However, the local geographical, climatic and soil conditions were so liked for plants that they were perfectly growing up and propagating, and country produced a number of coffee. By 1765, to Lisbon went first ships, laden with coffee beans, which were grown in Brazil.

The first plantators

“Coffee picking” Francisco de Miranda (1750-1816)

The brave, who first decided to grow coffee, had to win plentiful lands from virgin jungle. They had to get rid of natural growth not only with the purpose of coffee planting stock, but also of growing food for themselves. It was necessary to erect homes for their families and slaves, as well as buildings for keeping equipments, machineries and harvest. The most part of the country was covered with forests, so planters were often in complete isolation from all mankind. Thus, early fazenda – so called local estates - became centers of civilization in rainforests of Brazil. As in Europe coffee was gaining popularity and in South America grew the urban population, wealth of planters was increasing, fazenda was growth in size, and life became more comfortable. It was a time of prosperity and welfare.

Stanley Stein said in “Vassuras, Brazilian coffee county” in 1850 - 1900’s, that coffee growing had a beneficial effect on economic and social life of Brazil. From the economic point of view, the country’s prosperity was found in dependence on demand fluctuations of coffee in the world market. Cropping capacity is subjected to the whims of nature: cold mountain winds could bring hard frosts, and tropical plantations can die during short period of time.

The social consequences of coffee cultivation reflected in the formation of a new level of aristocracy - coffee barons, owning vast estates. Inevitable consequences caused mass afflux of slaves from Africa. It led not only to unprecedented stratification of society but also to changes in ethnic composition of Brazil, particularly its central part. Considering the reasons of such changes we can come to a conclusion that they were caused not by means of increase in plantations, but of huge coffee requirements by Europeans.

Coffee and slavery

Hacienda and fazenda – huge estates of Spanish and Portuguese colonists – were growing because of slaves` labor. There were more than 370 thousands of Africans legally transported to Brazil since 1840 till 1850. In Spanish possessions slavery was abolished in 1850, while in Brazil it lasted until 1888.

Coffee and slave-trade

Portuguese and Dutch removed slaves from Africa to Brazil and Java. Thanks to their work the level of production was increased to double, although everywhere was observed recession.

Related Posts:

• Ground coffee
• Coffee like a medicine
• The history of coffee and its legend
• Some interesting facts about coffee
• Consumers of Coffee: Great Britain, North America.

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