Organic Coffee
In today’s scenario where we are left with no choice but to make compromises with the food products which are laden with harmful chemicals that come from the chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other reagents used in their production and processing; Organic Coffee comes as a whiff of fresh, soothing, fragrant air. Although it does not seem to make any big difference when everything else available in the market is not even close to natural or organic; but this organic movement, of which this Organic Coffee is a small part, will make a big difference someday. Further, we do not have to compromise at least in case of our favourite drink and we can relax while sipping into our cup of Organic Coffee that at least here, we are not sipping in anything toxic. There is much to write about Organic Coffee and at the same time, it can be summarized in a few sentences. But, let me give you a detailed idea of what exactly can be called Organic Coffee.
Organic: Scientifically, the term “Organic” means anything that is made up of carbon or its compounds. So, all proteins, carbohydrates, hydrocarbons, a number of polymers etc. and a lot of other compounds fall under this category. But, since carbon is invariably found in all living organisms (plants or animals) and is the chief element of basic building block (which we call “Protein”) of any living body; the term “Organic” is broadly used for everything that is living or obtained from living. When it comes to agriculture, animal husbandry, food production & processing and other commodities, “Organic” means anything that is completely natural, solely obtained from natural beings and no artificial or synthetic compounds have been used during its production or processing. Different countries and governing bodies have laid more or less similar sets of guidelines which need to be followed by any product to be labeled as organic. Some general recommendations/guidelines which a product must follow to be called organic and which are common with USDA, NPOP etc., are displayed as under;
- It must be natural, i.e. it must be a plant product or animal product.
- It must be grown without using any synthetic chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
- The land on which it is grown must be left fallow (uncultivated) for at least three years (in some cases, it may differ to five to ten years) so that it detoxifies itself from the remains of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides etc. used earlier on it. Within this period, no synthetic substances or chemicals should be applied on the land.
- It must not be obtained fully or partly from or must not contain Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO).
- It must not be genetically manipulated or tailored.
- It must not be injected or administered with drugs to induce more and faster growth or to enhance quality of product.
- No chemicals or synthetic flavours, preservatives, colours must be used on the products during its processing.
- It must be packed in such packets that no chemical or metal salts disintegrate into the food packed in it.
Organic Coffee: Now that you know what does the term “Organic” stands for, it must be very easy for you to guess what should be the definition for Organic Coffee. Simply putting it, Organic Coffee is the coffee that is grown without using any synthetic fertilizer or pesticide, on a land that was given sufficient time to detoxify itself, without the aid of any genetically modified organisms and finally processed and packed without the involvement of any chemical can rightly be called Organic Coffee.
Health Benefits: Organic Coffee is good for health (except that caffeine in it) in the sense as it does not contain any toxic residues of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, artificial flavours or colours, preservatives etc. and so these harmful substances cannot enter your body (unlike in case of non organic coffee wherein these toxic chemicals are present). That does not mean that Organic Coffee can be drunk in excessive quantity.
Other Benefits: The other benefits of Organic Coffee go to the environment. Since no chemicals are used in its production, processing and packaging; it does not pollute environment. There is also no risk of smaller animals like birds, rodents, squirrels etc. being poisoned and killed due to these toxic chemicals. So, this coffee helps a lot to preserve the biotic environment and balance.
Varieties: Organic Coffee is available in many varieties, based on its method of farming and its contribution towards the environment. Here are some of them;
- Organic Shade Grown Coffee: Grown in natural shade of tropical forests without clearing land for farming. Growth is slow but coffee is tastier and more flavoured. The biggest benefit of this coffee is that no forests are cut down for this and of course, no chemicals are used.
- Organic Bird Friendly Coffee: This is almost same as Organic Shade Grown Coffee, with the difference that this is particularly concerned with preserving natural habitat of birds.
- Organic Kona Coffee: This Organic Coffee is grown on fertile volcanic soil of Kona region of Hawaii. It has a distinct taste and flavour due to the climate and soil in that region.
- Organic Gourmet Coffee: The premium quality non blended organic coffee with a distinct flavour characteristic to its variety is called Organic Gourmet Coffee.
- Organic Decaffeinated Coffee: The Organic Coffee from which caffeine is removed.
- Organic Green Coffee: Raw beans of Organic Coffee which are not roasted after fermentation make Organic Green Coffee.
All the varieties of Organic Coffee mentioned above can be used in making Organic Espresso Coffee. Further, when these varieties are purchased through a Fair Trade Organization, they are called Organic Fair Trade Coffee.
Availability: The availability of Organic Coffee is pretty good, but it is no where near to that of non organic regular coffee. The basic reason behind this being low production. As no artificial fertilizers are used on it, the production is quite low. Again, as no chemical pesticides, weedicides, fungicides, bactericides etc. are used, the production is further lowered due to pests and various diseases. But as awareness is growing, the demand is increasing and so is production, as more and more farmers are taking to organic farming. If it is not available in your locality, you can use your phone or internet to order a dealer to ship some for you.
- Consumption: Availability affects consumption! So, but natural, the consumption of Organic Coffee is far lesser than that of regular coffee. But, the good news is, it is increasing with the awareness.
- Price: This is very easy to guess. Production of Organic Coffee is less and its demand is growing. So, it is obvious that it is costlier than regular coffee.
- Certification: Like any other organic product, certification is an important aspect to be considered while buying Organic Coffee. When you buy it, you must ensure that the pack is accompanied with a valid certificate from a recognized certifying agency. There may be many such agencies operating in different regions, but some recognized ones are;
- Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS)
- USDA National Organic Program (NOP)
- European Organic Regulations (EU 2092/91)
- Export Certificates for Japan (JAS Equivalent)
- Indian National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)
- Quebec Organic Reference Standard (CAAQ)
- Bio Suisse Standards
- IOFAM Basic Standards
Market Share: Organic Coffee has a long way to go to reach the market share of regular coffee, but it is rising steadily. Presently, it is around 0.5% of the total market of coffee.
When you have to make choice between Regular Coffee and Organic Coffee, it is always wise to go for Organic Coffee since it good for your health as well as for the environment. A few bucks more for this goodness is worth. So, keep up the pace and promote Organic Coffee! Cheers!
This article was contributed by Aparup Mukherjee
Source of photos: PhotoXpress.com
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