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Originally called Bourbon, this little
island off the coast of Madagascar was the source of, and gave its
name to, the particular variety of Arabica grown in much of the
world today. Its history is interlaced with coffee: at various times
its wealthier citizens were taxed by having to plant a number of
coffee trees according to their slave ownership: destruction of a
coffee tree merited capital punishment; and both debt settlement and
the issue of paper money was backed by coffee. Over the years
disease and tropical storms wiped out many trees, much as cholera
wiped out many inhabitants, and today's political and economic
complications have hindered efforts to re-establish Reunion's coffee
production. |
