The Varieties and Their History
The scientific name Coffea arabica is native to Ethiopia. Records show cultivation taking place as far back as 800 A.D. Although some other species of coffee are grown commercially, selections from C. arabica are the most economically important.
The University of Hawaii field trials done in the late 1980’s tested arabica varieties that had been collected from plantings done in Kona in the 1940’s and early 1950’s. Those varieties were the result of seed collected worldwide. The original UH field trial planting at the Kaanapali Estate is still in existence. Some of the varieties tested were Caturra, Catuai, Progeny 502 (Typica), Guadeloupe, Bourbon, Kents, Margo Gipe, Mundo Novo, Guatemalan, San Ramon, 6661 (Typica), and Moka.
Pioneer Mill selected four of these varieties to grow commercially. All four of these varieties will continue to be farmed by MauiGrown Coffee Inc. These varieties are as follows: