Friday, Aug. 21, 2009

Tropical Brew

There's an upside to having two of the world's most active volcanoes within your borders: excellent soil. Hawaii, the only U.S. state to grow coffee — which made its way to the island from Brazil via a British warship around 1825 — boasts ideal java-farming conditions. In addition to porous volcanic soil, Hawaii's assets include an amenable mixture of rain and sun, no risk of frost and a moderate slope for draining the roots. The end product is so delicious that Hawaii's Kona coffee, according to Forbes.com, ranks as one of the world's top 10 most expensive, at up to $34 a lb.