Archive for the 'Food and Drink' Category

Theme Party Ideas for Children

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
by Fen Tan

Whenever you and other adults hold a party, you go through roughly the same routine: you fix dinner, you brighten up the place with simple decorations and you give away party favors that they can use and cherish for a long time. These events are formal, simple and with few or no horseplay at all. Yet, everyone goes home contented and happy.

You can’t say the same for children’s parties. When kids are the ones who will be celebrating at the party, there’s tons of laughter, simple and sweet eats and lots of games, playing and frolicking around. Children won’t be satisfied until they get their fill of these fun activities. They also won’t like it if the party’s too simple. That’s why many parents today think of fun themes to make their children’s party time a lot more enjoyable.

There are hundreds of children’s theme parties today that are used by parents, ranging from simple ones to extravagant kinds. Some are based on popular cartoons, such as Teletubbies, Blues Clues, Looney Tunes and Disney cartoons. Others are derived from toys, such as Bratz parties and teddy bear parties. There are also children’s parties that are based on adventures that kids love, such as kiddie pirate themes, outer space and circus themes.

Choosing a theme for a children’s party bash depends on several factors. For one, the gender and preference of the child matters. You can’t very well have a Barbie theme for your little boy’s party, can you? The child’s age is also important. Young kids, such as those in their toddler years, would be satisfied with younger themes, such as Rugrats and Sesame Street themes, while those who are older would prefer Inuyasha or Teenage Mutant Turtles themes.

The season and holiday also matters. For example, kids’ parties with an Easter theme can only be held at Easter, while children’s Halloween parties are only sensible during the Halloween season, at the end of October or the start of November.

Whatever the type of children’s theme party you prepare, you have several important details that you need to focus on.

The Party Invitations. Incorporating your theme in the party invitations is a must. Not only will it make the invite very eye-pleasing for the receivers, but it will also entice them to join in the party fun. Imagine if your child’s guests receive blank, drab-looking invitations. They’ll most likely ignore it or throw it away. The invitation can also provide your guests with important information regarding the party, such as whether they need to come in costume or if they need to bring any important materials.

The Costumes. A party theme without the right costumes would seem boring and inappropriate, which is why your child should be properly dressed to fit the theme. If it’s a princess party, dress her up in the most stunning gown that you can find. You should also try to have the guests stick to a dress code. If it’s too cumbersome, then provide them with simple makeshift costumes, such as tiaras and crowns.

The Party Venue and Decorations. To create the feel of your chosen theme, you must be able to choose and decorate the venue properly. You don’t have to spend too much: just enough to make the children get involved in the party environment. By doing this, your child and the guests will feel as if they’re really moving in the imaginary world that you have created. For example, a Backyardigans party theme or a farm animal theme would be better held outdoors, where kids can move freely about.

The Food. Children are not picky with their food, but you should serve them snacks that are familiar to them, otherwise they won’t eat them. You should also incorporate the theme into the food. Be as creative as you can. For example, to create an alien feel for a space theme children’s party, serve cupcakes that have gooey and sticky neon green frosting on top.

The Loot Bags. Children anticipate the loot bags that you give out after the party, which is why you should provide them with goodies that can help them remember the wonderful time they had at the party. If you had a Barbie party, put Barbie products and sweets in the party bags. If it’s a sports theme, an inflatable plastic football or basketball could be inside.

The perfect party for your little one is just within your reach, as long as you know what theme to use and how to properly organize it. Try to think of more creative themes for your kid’s party. You can be assured that they will thank you for the wonderful and magical day that you have prepared for them.

About the Author:

Macaroni Recipes

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
by Kim and Charles Petty

Home-made macaroni. ——————

To four cupfuls of flour, add one egg well beaten, and enough water to make a dough that can be rolled. Roll thin on a breadboard and cut into strips. Dry in the sun. The best arrangement for this purpose is a wooden frame to which a square of cheese-cloth has been tightly tacked, upon which the macaroni may be laid in such a way as not to touch, and afterwards covered with a cheese-cloth to keep off the dust during the drying.

Boiled macaroni. —————

Put a larg cup of macaroni into boiling water and cook until tender. When done, drained thoroughly, then add a pint of milk, part cream if it can be afforded, a little salt and one well-beaten egg; stir over the fire until it thickens, and serve hot.

Macaroni with cream sauce. ————————-

Cook the macaroni as directed in the proceeding, and serve with a cream sauce prepared by heating a scant pint of rich milk to boiling, in a double boiler. When boiling, add a heaping tablespoonful of flour, rubbed smoothed in a little milk and one fourth teaspoonful of salt. If desired, the sauce may be flavored by steeping in the milk before thickening for ten or fifteen minutes, a slice of onion or a few bits of celery, and then removing with a fork.

Macaroni with tomato sauce. ————————–

Drop a cup of macaroni into boiling milk and water, equal parts. Let it boil for an hour, or until perfectly tender. In the meantime prepare the sauce by rubbing a pint of stewed or canned tomatoes through a colander to remove all seeds and fragments. Heat to boiling, thicken with a little flour; a tablespoonful to the pint will be about the requisite proportion. Add salt and if desired, a half cup of very thin sweet cream. Dish the macaroni into individual dishes, and serve with a small quantity of the sauce poured over each dish.

Macaroni baked with granola. —————————

Cook a large cup of macaroni until tender in boiling milk and water. When done, drain and put a layer of the macaroni in the bottom of a pudding dish, and sprinkle over it a scant teaspoonful of granola. Add a second and third layer and sprinkle each with granola; then turn over the whole a custard sauce prepared by mixing together a pint of milk, the well beaten yolks of two eggs or one whole egg, and one-fourth of a teaspoonful of salt. Care should be taken to arrange the macaroni in layers loosely, so that the sauce will readily permeate the whole. Bake for a few minutes only, until the custard has well set, and serve.

Eggs and macaroni. —————–

Cook a cup of macaroni in boiling water. While the macaroni is cooking, boil the yolks of four eggs until mealy. The whole egg may be used if caught so the yolks are mealy in the whites simply jellied, not hardened. When the macaroni is done, drain and put a layer of it arranged loosely in the bottom of a pudding dish. Slice the cooked egg yolks and spread a layer of them over the macaroni. Fill the dish with alternate layers of macaroni and egg, taking care to have the top layer of macaroni. Pour over the whole a cream sauce prepared as follows: Heat one and three fourths cup of rich milk to boiling, add one fourth teaspoonful of salt and one heaping spoonful of flour rubbed smooth in a little cold milk. Cook until thickened, then turn over the macaroni. Sprinkle the top with grated bread crumbs, and brown in a hot oven for eight or ten minutes. Serve hot.

About the Author:

Five Fish Soups

Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
by Kim and Charles Petty

Fish stock. ———–

Ingredients:- 2 lbs. of beef or veal (these can be omitted), any kind of white fish trimmings, of fish which are to be dressed for table, 2 onions, the rind of 1/2 a lemon, a bunch of sweet herbs, 2 carrots, 2 quarts of water.

Mode:- Cut up the fish, and put it, with the other ingredients, into the water. Simmer for 2 hours; skim the liquor carefully, and strain it. When a richer stock is wanted, fry the vegetables and fish before adding the water.

Time. 2 hours.

Note. Do not make fish stock long before it is wanted, as it soon turns sour.

Crayfish soup. ————–

Ingredients:- 50 crayfish, 1/4 lb. of butter, 6 anchovies, the crumb of 1 French roll, a little lobster-spawn, seasoning to taste, 2 quarts of medium stock or fish stock.

Mode:- Shell the crayfish, and put the fish between two plates until they are wanted; pound the shells in a mortar, with the butter and anchovies; when well beaten, add a pint of stock, and simmer for 3/4 of an hour. Strain it through a hair sieve, put the remainder of the stock to it, with the crumb of the rolls; give it one boil, and rub it through a tammy, with the lobster-spawn. Put in the fish, but do not let the soup boil, after it has been rubbed through the tammy. If necessary, add seasoning.

Time. 1-1/2 hour.

Eel soup. ———

Ingredients:- 3 lbs. of eels, 1 onion, 2 oz. of butter, 3 blades of mace, 1 bunch of sweet herbs, 1/4 oz. of peppercorns, salt to taste, 2 tablespoonfuls of flour, 1/4 pint of cream, 2 quarts of water.

Mode:- Wash the eels, cut them into thin slices, and put them in the stewpan with the butter; let them simmer for a few minutes, then pour the water to them, and add the onion, cut in thin slices, the herbs, mace, and seasoning. Simmer till the eels are tender, but do not break the fish. Take them out carefully, mix the flour smoothly to a batter with the cream, bring it to a boil, pour over the eels, and serve.

Time. 1 hour, or rather more.

Note. This soup may be flavoured differently by omitting the cream, and adding a little ketchup.

Lobster soup. ————-

Ingredients. 3 large lobsters, or 6 small ones; the crumb of a French roll, 2 anchovies, 1 onion, 1 small bunch of sweet herbs, 1 strip of lemon-peel, 2 oz. of butter, a little nutmeg, 1 teaspoonful of flour, 1 pint of cream, 1 pint of milk; forcemeat balls, mace, salt and pepper to taste, bread crumbs, 1 egg, 2 quarts of water.

Mode:- Pick the meat from the lobsters, and beat the fins, chine, and small claws in a mortar, previously taking away the brown fin and the bag in the head. Put it in a stewpan, with the crumb of the roll, anchovies, onions, herbs, lemon-peel, and the water; simmer gently till all the goodness is extracted, and strain it off. Pound the spawn in a mortar, with the butter, nutmeg, and flour, and mix with it the cream and milk. Give one boil up, at the same time adding the tails cut in pieces. Make the forcemeat balls with the remainder of the lobster, seasoned with mace, pepper, and salt, adding a little flour, and a few bread crumbs; moisten them with the egg, heat them in the soup, and serve.

Time. 2 hours, or rather more.

Oyster soup -1. ————-

Ingredients:- 6 dozen of oysters, 2 quarts of white stock, 1/2 pint of cream, 2 oz. of butter, 1-1/2 oz. of flour; salt, cayenne, and mace to taste.

Mode:- Scald the oysters in their own liquor; take them out, beard them, and put them in a tureen. Take a pint of the stock, put in the beards and the liquor, which must be carefully strained, and simmer for 1/2 an hour. Take it off the fire, strain it again, and add the remainder of the stock with the seasoning and mace. Bring it to a boil, add the thickening of butter and flour, simmer for 5 minutes, stir in the boiling cream, pour it over the oysters, and serve.

Time. 1 hour.

Note. This soup can be made less rich by using milk instead of cream, and thickening with arrowroot instead of butter and flour.

Oyster soup -2 ————–

Ingredients:- 2 quarts of good mutton broth, 6 dozen oysters, 2 oz. butter, 1 oz. of flour.

Mode:- Beard the oysters, and scald them in their own liquor; then add it, well strained, to the broth; thicken with the butter and flour, and simmer for 1/4 of an hour. Put in the oysters, stir well, but do not let it boil, and serve very hot.

Time. 3/4 hour.

Prawn soup. ———–

Ingredients:- 2 quarts of fish stock or water, 2 pints of prawns, the crumbs of a French roll, anchovy sauce or mushroom ketchup to taste, 1 blade of mace, 1 pint of vinegar, a little lemon-juice.

Mode:- Pick out the tails of the prawns, put the bodies in a stewpan with 1 blade of mace, 1/2 pint of vinegar, and the same quantity of water; stew them for 1/4 hour, and strain off the liquor. Put the fish stock or water into a stewpan; add the strained liquor, pound the prawns with the crumb of a roll moistened with a little of the soup, rub them through a tammy, and mix them by degrees with the soup; add ketchup or anchovy sauce to taste, with a little lemon-juice. When it is well cooked, put in a few picked prawns; let them get thoroughly hot, and serve. If not thick enough, put in a little butter and flour.

Time. 1 hour.

About the Author:

Using Cauliflower in Your Cooking

Friday, April 18th, 2008
by Kathy Bea

Whether you are looking to trim a few inches from your waist or you are hoping to find some tasty recipes to introduce to your friends and family, you can find exactly what you are looking for in cauliflower. This rather homely little vegetable has a great deal to recommend it on the nutrition front, and it surprises many people when they learn how tasty it can be while still being quite good for you. Taking some time to learn about the health benefits that you can get from this veggie as well some great ways to prepare it can revolutionize your culinary world.

Similar to other vegetables, cauliflower is an excellent source of fiber. This permits it to have an advantageous impact on your colon’s wellbeing as well as preventing colon cancer. A research that was completed not long ago agrees that cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage, is helpful in battling breast cancer.

You’ll also find that cauliflower is a rich source of the B vitamin, which is excellent when it comes to cell growth and replication, something that is essential for expecting mothers and people who are recovering from illness.

In addition to this, you’ll find that cauliflower contains allicin, a chemical that improves the health of your heart and reduces the chance of stroke. Cauliflower also contains selenium, which helps strengthen your immune system. Essentially, cauliflower is a great way to maintain your health and to strengthen it at the same time.

You’ll also discover that when you are looking to eat cauliflower its almost effortless to make this dish tasty. Toss them in olive oil, while adding some salt and pepper after cutting the florets down to one-inch pieces. To have the cauliflower coming out is tender, slightly sweet, and mildly caramelized, roast them in a cooking pan at 400 degrees for around 20 minutes.

This dish can be prescribed to your taste as you like it, although you will discover that using an assortment of spices and seasoning will further enhance its flavor.

Some people may also recommend making mashed cauliflower just like what you do with potatoes. You can achieve this by steaming the cauliflowers until it is soft and then using an immersion blender, if you have one, to mash them. For that extra kick, try adding some salt and butter to it. Although it will not taste like mashed potatoes, the texture is amazingly pleasant.

One of the the finest culinary decision you can make this year is to take a closer look at the wonders and the benefits of cauliflower.

About the Author:

Amazing Asparagus

Friday, April 18th, 2008
by Kathy Bea

People regularly eat asparagus, which is amongst the most healthy vegetations around, and whether you are attempting to loose some pounds, become stronger or leading a healthy eating lifestyle, you will discover its world of benefits by including it into your diet. Although preferred as a side dish, it is easy to spot that with a tad bit of work and exploration, asparagus can be an exceptional mouth-watering main dish.

In as far as fruits and vegetables go, asparagus is extremely good for you. A ten ounce serving of asparagus is not only low in calories, but will also provide you with a variety of vitamins and minerals that you might be missing. You’ll find that it is an excellent source zinc, calcium, manganese and copper. It is also an excellent source of folic acid, making it an extremely desirable food for pregnant women or people who need to maintain their health.

Research done on lad animals have shown that asparagus helps in preventing tumors and cancers as there’s links to this vegetable and anticarcinogens, which is fascinating. Asparagus’s short shelf life as an indecisive indication that it has run out of nutrients, is something that you’ll observe.

Soft stems and wet, slimy tips will tell you that the asparagus is on the way out and should be composted. Asparagus can be cooked in a number of ways, so whether you get it fresh in bunches or pickled to a yellowy paleness, there are options for the pickiest eaters in your family.

Think about making a cream of asparagus soup if you enjoy dairy. When used in soup, the asparagus will turn tastily soft while preserving its crunchiness, and it accompanies cheeses and creams fairly well due to its delightfully gentle flavor. You will also discover that you can add to its texture by adding nuts like crushed walnuts or cashews.

You can create a wonderfully light lunch or dinner by simply steaming the spears and pouring your preferred sauce over it. As mentioned earlier, a creamy white sauce, or something more sweet or savory like teriyaki sauce compliments it well.

Take some time to learn about this pleasant and powerful vegetable and see what it can do for you!

About the Author:

Broad Beans And Its Wonders

Friday, April 18th, 2008
by Kathy Bea

Despite their mentions in various media and cookbooks, it is unfortunate that broad beans, also known as fava beans, tic beans and field beans are not nearly as well known in the United States as they should be. They are widely eaten in North African cuisine and they are found in many different types of dishes in southeast Asia, and as might be expected from such an impressively well-traveled plant, can be quite versatile when it comes to what dishes you can use them in and how you can eat them.

Broad bean is a main ingredient is a very tasty Greek dish. Broad beans, olive oil, chopped tomatoes, tomato paste and spring onions, as well as sugar, salt, pepper and dill to taste, are the ingredient for cooking Koukia. While the broad bean are being washed and cleaned in water, onions are roasted in heated oil.

The beans and all of the other ingredients are added, along with a little water, and they are all cooked until the entire dish is soft. This is a great dish to serve either on its own or with a side order of pita bread, which can bring out the complexity of the tastes that are involved.

In spite of its different varieties, broad beans are normally consumed while they still young and tender, either fried or after having it steamed and soft. It also made a lot of sense when the Thai’s named this bean, the “open-mouth nut”, given the way it slits open when they are fried. If you’re in a rush to get somewhere, adding some salt or spice over the beans will give you a great snack. If you have a special event coming up, you can serve them as the main course or as a side dish to enhance the flavors of the more weaker tasting foods.

You’ll find that the beans are best eaten while fresh and they can be a great way to finish off a meal. For a continental flair, eat them with a salty cheese or a hard one, like parmesan. You’ll also find that a light dusting with salt and pepper can make them quite tasty as well.

After removing their skin by cooking them in water, you can also stew the beans in a pot with some oil or butter. To avoid the beans from having that overwhelming taste, adding herbs like parsley, mint, basil and thyme as a mix, will help.

Broad beans are a great way to add a little bit of protein to your diet, and they can be a delicious addition to your meals, so find a way to incorporate these tasty treats!

About the Author:

Why Is Broccoli Good For You

Friday, April 18th, 2008
by Kathy Bea

If you have always had negative associations with broccoli as a kid, but you are looking for a way to eat healthier as an adult, its time to dust off those old prejudices and give this leafy green another try! This cruciferous green is considered a must-have on the dinner table, and with just a little bit of research and a few facts, you will understand why. Similarly, you’ll find that a little bit of work will show you exactly how tasty this healthy vegetable can be!

The first thing that you should be aware of is that broccoli is a real powerhouse when it comes to vitamins. Not only does it include a large dose of vitamin C and vitamin A, it also has a healthy heaping of calcium, fiber, and folic acid.

You’ll also find that it is an important source of calcium, which can help you build strong bones, control high blood pressure and contribute to the fight against colon cancer. You’ll also find that broccoli is instrumental when it comes to a reduced risk for serious conditions including heart disease, cancers and even cataracts.

Now that you appreciate its health benefits, let explore ways of eating it. With some serious taste and consideration, you will discover that the automatic facial expression that accompanies the thought of this vegetable is only traces from your childhood. There are many ways of including it into a healthy diet, although steaming this vegetable is pretty delicious by itself. Steaming your broccoli until tenderness whilst maintaining its green color will both help give it a crunchy taste and a lovely look.

Amongst the most preferred ways of eating steamed cooked broccoli is by drizzling some melted cheese over it. An indulgence loved by kids, although the soft crunchy taste and the type of cheese topping will appeal more to you as an adult.

A traditional preference is sharp cheddar, but pepper jack and blue cheese such as stilton, which is an acquired taste, will give you grand results.

Almost any dish that has a stew or rich, meaty texture can benefit from broccoli. You’ll find that chicken pot pie is a great way to get some vegetables in you, so take some time and the next time you toss in some potatoes, carrots, and rice, throw in some baby broccoli florets as well. The creamy taste of the stew does wonders for the smooth taste of broccoli.

As you can see, there’s no reason to fear broccoli, so take some time and add some of this versatile veggie to your diet!

About the Author:

Cabbage In Your Diet

Friday, April 18th, 2008
by Kathy Bea

Whether you are looking to add a tasty treat to your table, or you are simply looking for an economical way to eat more healthily, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to start looking into what cabbage can do for you.

Cabbage is a great source of vitamin C and while many people believe its only use is as a filler or shredded up into coleslaw, cabbage is actually quite versatile when it comes to making into an addition for your dinner table.

One of the most interesting and exotic ways to eat cabbage is to pickle it. Pickling cabbage has a long and interesting history that ranges from Europe to Asia; in Germany, for instance, the ubiquitous sauerkraut is based in cabbage, and in Korea, the deliciously spicy kimchee is made mostly of cabbage. Pickling cabbage is a surprisingly easy art. You shred the cabbage into a jar, cover it with water and salt and let it sit in a warm place until it ferments. This is the basic method that is used across the world, and you can essentially use it as a template for your own recipe. You can throw in vinegar to give the cabbage some bite, as well as pepper, ginger, garlic or chilies.

Cabbage which have been boiled is excellent for use in soups and stews, as boiling it causes it to discharge sugar and its leaves will become soft and tender, giving out a lovely odor. Using this as a side dish for a main courses like ground beef and rice is another excellent option.

Being an excellent source of dietary fiber, you’ll learn that in the past, cabbage in general have been used to treat intestinal problems. In fact, cabbage is also a good source of glutamine and is regularly used to heal inflammations.

Cabbage is often used a method to give texture and solvency to other dishes, essentially acting as a filler that will soak up the sauces and tastes around it. Consider adding cabbage to your next stirfry. Throw in the meat first and then toss in the cabbage and other vegetables to cook until they are tender. Similarly, you’ll find that cooked cabbage can make a great wrapper for various types of rolls, and that cabbage rolls are a great way to introduce some fiber into your family’s diet.

So discover a way to cook cabbage that fits you best, given it numerous reasons!

About the Author:

Make a Cookie Gift Basket for a Sweet Treat

Thursday, April 17th, 2008
by Kim Allarie

Do you need an out of the ordinary way to express your thanks to someone for a thoughtful deed? Consider giving a cookie gift basket. Cookies are a favorite treat of just about anyone, and there are so many flavors and varieties to choose from, as well as lots of fun ideas for presenting them.

You don’t have to know a lot about a person to give them a cookie gift basket, so it’s a perfect present to show your appreciation to your hair stylist, a favorite teacher, the mail carrier, or the paper boy or girl. On the other hand, it’s also simple to individualize a cookie basket for a loved one by picking out a favorite treat and wrapping it up in a personal manner. Both ways, you’re likely to bring out a smile.

You want the cookies to be as fresh as possible. If you’re handy in the kitchen, you can bake them yourself. Otherwise, visit a local bakery or gourmet cookie shop. Of course, there’s a huge selection of flavors and varieties to choose from to fill your cookie gift basket, and this will be the hard part. If you’re giving it to a casual acquaintance, your best bet is to choose an assortment. For the cookie lover who you know well, it will be easier to pick out their favorites.

Choose an attractive basket or cookie tin and arrange your goodies decoratively. Use pretty cellophane or a gift basket bag to wrap your gift, and then tie it up with a large, colorful bow. Attach a card with a personal message. These little touches will show you care.

When decorating your cookie gift basket, why not choose a theme? A birthday present calls for brightly colored wrapping and some party favors tucked into the basket of cookies. At Christmas time, select red and green packaging and bows in rich fabrics like satin or velvet. For Halloween, make up a basket of pumpkin or ghost shaped cookies and decorate it with orange cellophane and black ribbons.

Different occasions also call for different flavors. Spices such as ginger and cinnamon are ideal for Christmas cookies. Halloween and Thanksgiving cookies could be pumpkin flavored.

If your recipient has special dietary needs and can’t eat products with gluten or wheat, or possibly sugar, you’ll need to find an alternative. There are places you can purchase specially formulated cookies for these restrictions. It might be easiest to get a recipe for a cookie treat that will be perfectly acceptable to the recipient, and bake some up. You can also use certain types of sugar substitute in baking.

You can have a lot of fun making up a cookie gift basket, with all the cookie varieties and decorating options. And the recipient is sure to have a lot of fun eating it up.

About the Author:

Coffee: 50 Degrees of Enjoyment

Thursday, April 17th, 2008
by Vince Paxton

The majority of coffee production in the regions of Ethiopia is from the wild coffee tree forests and from there has spread across the world. However, because of the necessary growing conditions, which require plenty of sunshine and rain, the coffee trees are only found in tropical or sub-tropical locations. There is a narrow strip of about 25 degrees both North and South of the equator where basically all of the coffee in the world is produced. It is incredible that so much product can be produced from such a small amount of eligible environment. Coffee actually is the second highest commodity in the world next to oil when measured in dollar value. This lucrative product does come from some of the world’s under-developed and poor countries oddly enough.

Brazil is still the largest producer of coffee. Brazil produces about 28% of all the coffee. Colombia is next at about 16% followed by Indonesia with about 7%. Mexico trails with about 4%. Coffee trees have adapted to different environments but the best coffee still comes from the high altitudes. I use only Brazilian coffee in my bunn coffee brewer.

Brazil has huge coffee farms that employ several hundred workers to look after care of the trees. Colombia because of its mountainous terrain and low economic conditions involves transport by either mule or Jeep. Hawaiian coffee producers use Mauna Loa volcano slopes to plant their coffee trees. The location is perfect for both sunlight and precipitation.

Indonesia is comprised of numerous islands and this is where coffee has grown since the 17th century when the Dutch colonists arrived. Indonesia is known to have the perfect climate for coffee although other countries definitely have higher forms of technology. The most farms are found on the islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi.

The Mexico coffee farms are rather small farms in comparison to Brazil, but there are about 100,000 of them. The majority are found in the south around the Vercruz, Oaxaca, and Chiapas. Mexico is also known for its Altura beans which are grown at the highest of altitudes. Vietnam has been gaining in coffee production rapidly and quickly approaching Indonesia’s position. Although the country originally was farming Arabica beans, it known produces Robusta beans.

Africa is known for its dark and large coffee beans, although they are rather a small producer of coffee. In Kenya the beans are one of the largest in the world and therefore have resulted in the well known fruity taste. The Ivory Coast is known for its production of espresso blends. Regardless of where the coffee comes from, there are plenty of coffee drinkers around the world to enjoy each and every one. Each individual coffee lover most definitely has a favorite, however, finding a favorite can only come from trying many different kinds.

About the Author: