Jamaica is word famous for many things, Bob Marley, sandy beaches, reggae music and coffee. The high esteem for Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee among keen coffee consumers has sent its price up to between $46 and $60 per pound. You may be wondering what is it about this particular brew that justifies such a price tag?

True to its name, Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee is grown in the Blue Mountain area of Jamaica, located between Kingston to the south and Port Maria to the north. Rising to 7,500 feet, the Blue Mountains are the highest point in the Caribbean. The area is characterized by cool, wet weather and dark, rich soil with good drainage, ideal prerequisites for growing coffee. Though coffee is not native to Jamaica, it’s the main export of the island.

Not any cup of Joe can call itself Jamaican Blue Mountain. The Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica must certify every bag of coffee to ensure that only beans of the highest quality bear the prestigious trademark. The Board only recognizes beans grown in specific parishes of Jamaica: Portland, St Andrew, St Thomas and St Mary.

The geographical region that cultivates Jamaican blue mountain coffee is fairly small and can only manufacture so much coffee. The limited quantity, the peerless quality resulting from pains-taking cultivation methods, the alluring aroma and the world famous name of Jamaican Blue Mountain have undoubtedly contributed to its reputation as one of the most sought-after coffees in the world – more so than columbian coffee, or French roast coffee, for instance. So long as hard-core coffee lovers continue to demand it, it will be also one of the most expensive.