If you have not yet sampled delicious Kona coffee, then you are in for a real treat! Did you know that Hawaii is the only state in the United States to grow coffee crops? That makes coffee produced from Hawaii quite special, with Kona coffee being one of the most popular varieties on the market!

Coffee is normally grown along the equator between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Kona coffee is unique because it is cultivated in a single coffee growing region, where it is also enjoyed by the local communities instead of being only exported for profit. Coffee is grown in 11 different regions on Hawaiian Islands, with the largest being in Manoa Valley in Oahu since 1825. When it comes down to it, there are more than 630 farms cultivating Kona coffee in Hawaii as a whole!

Hawaii truly relies upon the agriculture of coffee growing, especially since 5.7 million pounds of unroasted coffee can be produced on a yearly basis. This totals up to $37 million in profit from the export alone. One other benefit to coffee grown in Hawaii is that it draws serious tourism as a result to benefit the local economy. 16% of tourists to Hawaii in 2003 came specifically to visit the coffee agricultural communities. One of the main attractions to Kona coffee is that it is a specialty and gourmet type of coffee bean, especially since it is grown in such favorable conditions. This causes Kona coffee to be quite expensive compared to a regular bag of coffee beans at up to $40 per pound. However, it is definitely worth the investment since Kona coffee beans are cultivated in rich volcanic soil with temperate rain fall and ideal climate conditions. This allows the coffee beans to get the proper amount of nutrients during the growing process so that their taste is fuller and richer as a result.

If coffee grown in Hawaii contains a blend, it must be advertised on the packaging by law. It is also regulated that the coffee blend has to contain 10% of the beans of origin, and the percentage must be stated on the packaging. However, this law only applies to coffee beans that are packaged in Hawaii, but if they are blended and sold in the United States, then the same laws do not apply.

When you sample a Kona cup of Joe, you will immediately notice the difference in flavor and characteristics! This is definitely a coffee type worth sampling on your journey, and if you are so inclined, making it a part of your next vacation to view the farms where Kona coffee is actually grown in Hawaii! Kona coffee from Hawaii is produced at a high price as a specialty gourmet brew, mainly due to the high cost of living in Hawaii causing farmers to produce a crop at a higher price for sale. Nonetheless, Kona coffee from Hawaii is truly one-of-a-kind compared to other coffee beans on the market!