Romance by Paradise
Romance by Paradise is a mokka (or mocha, mokha) java blend with notes of strawberries and raspberries, a sophisticated earthiness, and many different layers of ever-changing aromatics (dried flowers to chocolate to honey). This is a coffee that has both subtle and powerful characteristics.
Light
Medium
Floral
Herbaceous
96 points
Accolades
Background Info
The Dutch East India Company is often associated with the trade of spices, but do not forget, it also dealt in coffee. Legend has it that there was a boy, Adhi, from Java who helped load the Dutch ships with coffee. When the boy grew a bit older and stronger, he became a sailor.
For years, Adhi was one of many men who traveled on one of many ships from Java to the Red Sea port of Al-Makha in Yemen, bringing coffee and spices. Upon reaching port, great care was taken to keep the coffee from Java separate from the coffee of Yemen. The coffee from Java was very earthy. The coffee from Yemen was very fruity and acidic.
Adhi would watch his coffee as it was placed on ships set for Europe. On one trip, a girl in the port stole his attention and mesmerized him. He watched her until she disappeared around a corner.
On his return to Java, Adhi could not stop thinking about the girl he had seen. For only a brief glimpse, she had captured his heart.
As chance would have it, he met the girl soon after returning to Al-Makha seven months later. Ameera was her name, and they fell in love. But Adhi could not stay. He promised to return and left. Ameera waited. Adhi never returned. His ship got lost at sea amid a storm. The girl was heartbroken.
With grief over a life she could no longer have, the girl took Java and Yemen coffees from the port and combined them to form a blend of beauty and complementary opposition.
Today, the port of Al-Makha is in ruins, but the oldest known coffee blend still survives as Mokha Java or…Romance by Paradise.
Components