Within Western culture, when someone thinks of coffee, Starbucks or Folgers immediately comes to mind - any typically it is loaded with cream and sugar. In my travels, nothing quite compares to the grounding aroma and robust flavor of Ethiopian Coffee or ቡና in Amharic. I am salivating just thinking about it!
Coffee grown worldwide can trace its heritage back centuries to the ancient coffee forests on the Ethiopian plateau. There, legend says the goat herder Kaldi first discovered the potential of these beloved beans. The story goes that that Kaldi discovered coffee after he noticed that after eating the berries from a certain tree, his goats became so energetic that they did not want to sleep at night.
Kaldi reported his findings to the abbot of the local monastery, who made a drink with the berries and found that it kept him alert through the long hours of evening prayer. The abbot shared his discovery with the other monks at the monastery, and knowledge of the energizing berries began to spread.
As word moved east and coffee reached the Arabian peninsula, it began a journey which would bring these beans across the globe. [1]
Within Western medical research, the consumption of black coffee is linked to some of the following health benefits: Protect against melanoma, soothe sore muscles (post work-out pain), lower risk of MS, prevent eye damage, protect your liver, and increase fiber intake. [2]
Within Traditional Chinese Medicine, incorporating black coffee into your diet can have the following benefits: Regulate menstrual cycle, relieve headaches, lift the spirit (emotionally), energize, promote mental clarity, improve circulation, prevent gallstones, regulate constipation, boost metabolism, promote urination, and eliminate Toxins. [3]
Here is video surveying the Ethiopian origins of coffee and providing a step-by-step tutorial on how to traditionally prepare this delicacy. #LiveWell
Key Words: Ethiopian Coffee, Goat Herder, Kaldi, Legend, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Medical Research, TCM, and Tradition.
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