Let Me Introduce You To The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival
“I like my coffee like I like myself: strong, sweet, and too hot for you.”
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir
“I like geography best because your mountains & rivers know the secret; Pay no attention to borders.” – Brian Andreas
Coconuts for sale
I was asked to come up to the mountains for the Blue Mountain Festival in order to record the events leading up to the Jamaica Coffee Festival.
My first stop was at Old Traven Coffee Farm on Day 1. In addition to meeting an Israeli couple, I gained a wealth of knowledge about coffee.
For lunch, I had vegetable soup and coffee, and I ended up taking many pictures and making many new friends.
After years of sharing each other's work and promoting each other on social media, fellow content creator @downdiroadja and I finally got to meet in person. Also, @adventuresquadja was present, filming incredible footage as usual.
Founder of @tekatripja and @mossbenice.ja
Since I failed to bring my tripod, the wife took on the role of tour guide. In addition to being extremely kind and helpful, she was also very adorable.
My Israel friend and photograher
Thankfully, her husband was just as nice, and he didn't mind that I "borrowed" his wife for a photography gig.
Information being given about coffee
@doofy doing is thing
The following day, we hit the trail for a day of hiking. A contrast to the first day, when the sun shone brightly all day long, today was a cloudy one.
“My spirit soars where the air goes thin.” – We Dream of Travel
Blue Mountain Coffee
A trip to a plant nursery and some research on the subject piqued my interest in flora.
My camera's tripod's Bluetooth battery had run out, so I couldn't take any pictures.
Nusery
Nursery
Fortunately, there were two trail guides, so I asked the one who wasn't already working if I could have him as my guide, and he agreed. I have to say that he did an outstanding job.
We the visited the coffee farm of organic farmer and JCGA Vice President Dorienne Rowan-Campbell, where I consumed copious amounts of Rowan's Royale Coffee, coffee cake, and coffee biscuits.
A dance-off broke out between two elderly men to some fantastic reggae tunes. Both myself and the other visitor enjoyed ourselves immensely as a result of the hosts' cheerful demeanor.
While the rain fell and the ground became muddy and cold, the hot coffee made everything just right.The third annual Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival kicked off on April 2, 2022, after a two-year hiatus. The Jamaican entertainment industry ground to a halt after the discovery of COVID-19.
The Jamaica Coffee Festival in 2020 has been canceled as a result.
Jamaica ended its pandemic restrictions on March 18, 2022. One of the first major public events after the industry reopened was the highly anticipated coffee festival.
Since that first festival, many other caffeine-filled activities have been planned to spread the word about what is widely considered to be the best coffee in the world.
Blue Mountain tours, workshops, and market events, as well as discounts along the Blue Mountain Culinary Trail, were all a part of the year 2022 celebrations. The culminating ceremony took place on the first Saturday of April.
The Jamaica Coffee Festival was the final and most important event, and Abigail and I were there to enjoy it. Enjoyable times were had by all as coffee was consumed, coffee goods were purchased, and coffee samples were offered at nearly all of the booths selling food. For the first time, I got to meet @simplylocal.life, a content creator. Wow, what a fantastic person she was.
Businesses from the food and artisan villages set up shop in white tent booths on the grass. Businesses and coffee plantations in the area promoted the main ingredient's adaptability.
Attendees spent the first half of the event milling about the vendor booths, taking advantage of the freebies, discounts, and samples on offer.
Many of the coffee-infused items showcased were among the best of Jamaica's many industries, including the ones dealing with body care, clothing and accessories, the home and garden, food and beverage, and many others.
Earlier on, host Terri-Karelle Reid and other speakers including Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and Sandals & Beaches Resorts Chairman Adam Stewart had a roundtable discussion on the main stage.
Topics of discussion during the opening remarks included the sustainability of Jamaica's coffee industry and the enhancement of the country's culinary tourism offerings.
The speakers then visited the artisan tents to chat with the proud local business owners who had brought samples of their wares to the event.
When Dwight Richards played his trumpet and his renditions of old standards, they made people happy.The Renaissance's DJ Delano was a sound system wizard.
Abigail knows how to have a good time.
Ragamuffin Café, Café Dolce, DeafCan Coffee, and the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Trust all sent representatives to compete in a barista and mixology competition. Both Café Dolce's Shanice and Brian Broderick, a HEART alum, came out on top.
Jhunelle founder of www.simplylocal.life.
The hosts for the day, Terri-Karelle Reid and Khadine "Miss Kitty" Hylton, each had their own charisma and charm that kept the audience engaged. It got lively when people participated in the giveaways and the short dance segments on stage.
The Honorable Edmund Bartlett and Member of Parliament Juliet Holness received the loudest applause from the crowd as they joined in the festivities.
They performed their own versions of "Leggo Di Bird" and "Dirt Bounce," two dances made famous by dancehall artist Lalee Ranks, too much applause and laughter.
The music started, and the energy level immediately shot back up. Kalyra, a young singer with a bright future, wowed the crowd at her first live performance with her powerful voice, impressive dance moves, and bold outfit.
She opened with some cover songs and closed with her latest single, "One Wine," to which her dancers performed. After she finished, the night's headliner, the sultry Christopher Martin, took the stage.
Martin's set list featured numerous chart toppers, such as "Big Deal," "Big Big," and "Cheaters Prayer." Bling Dawg suddenly appeared on stage during his performance. An hour-long musical performance culminated in the much-anticipated return of the Jamaica Coffee Festival.
The Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee Festival is a yearly event; have you ever been? In that case, could you tell me about it? Do not hold back any juicy details; share them below!