 | Coffee Good For the Soul |
So you sit there every morning reading the paper about all the poor coffee
farmers in Guatemala and Sumatra and wonder about what you can do?
Okay, so maybe you don't hear much about it in the news, but if your house is anything like my house, you drink enough coffee in a single week to
start to feel a little bit curious about the kind of coffee mafia you support.
To tell the truth, I had ordered from a few fair trade companies without success.
The ideas were sound, but unfortunately ordering wasn't easy and the coffee tasted pretty gross.
I had almost completely given up on the idea of having a decent cup of coffee from a
fair trade company when I came across :
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Available from the best health food connection in Japan,
Alishan Tengu (online order in Japan) and Hyakushoyakai (Tenmacho, Hiroshima city):
"Carlos-san's Coffee", an organic blend from Brazil.
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Available from Green Coffee Co. (in Danbara, Hiroshima city): Green coffee blend which includes fair trade, organic, shade grown certified beans from Brazil, but he also
buys direct from growers making it more fair than dealing with large companies.
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But the widest selection I have found anywhere with a total commitment to organic, shade grown and fair trade coffee is the American based roaster,
Thanksgiving Coffee Company while doing my Christmas shopping.
Thanksgiving's motto is "Not Just a Cup, But a Just Cup" and you have to respect their
commitment to quality as well as to "responsible trading". Although not all of their products are fair trade certified,
they are trying to increase their sales every year.
"Through fair trade, small farmers are able to compete with
coffee plantations by forming cooperatives and receiving a fair price for their product.
Furthermore, small farmers often produce the best tasting gourmet coffee, due to more
careful, individualized care of the coffee trees. They are good stewards of the land and
tend to grow their coffee under the forest canopy, preserving rainforest habitat."
"The fair trade movement buys coffee from approximately 3,000 farmer cooperatives in 17 countries around the world, benefiting more than 500,000 farmers and their families."
It's also about the environment, as they go on to explain "fair trade promotes sustainable farming practices, such as organic farming, that help protect the environment."
Paul (CEO) and Joan (President) Katzeff add "We supply it, you buy it, we buy more, and the concept grows. Let's work together on it."
To be honest, although I like the idea of supporting the workers and the environment, it is the great coffee that keeps me hooked.
If you have a few minutes, take the guided tour of their online catalogue courtesy of the coffee bean salesclerk. The website is easy to navigate by type of coffee, region, strength and organic or fair trade certified.
Some of the blends which are created by Thanksgiving for cafes and restaurants across
the states come highly reccommended. If you find it hard to get going you should try their "super caffeine" blends of the genki-est beans on the planet.
I only need one cup of "pony express" to get me driving a bit too fast on my way to work.
Get all your coffee questions and concerns answered by the
Coffee Bean Shop Assistant who can even suggest what kind of coffee goes best with what kind of meal.
There is also a crash course on roasting methods if you are interested in studying up to impress your friends.
Thanksgiving also sells gift baskets, chocolates, teas,
cups, home roaster machines, and more which make ordering gifts for coffee-lover friends fun and easy. Coffee prices range from $8-$12 per bag of 10oz-14oz beans or grinds.
Shipping takes about two weeks by air and a month by sea.
If ordering online, there is no shipping option for Japan. If you choose "Guam/APO" and then reply to the confirmation e-mail
with "airmail please" there shouldn't be a problem.
Expect to pay about $20-$30 for airmail shipping charges.
In my experience, customer service has always been prompt and courteous.
To Place an Order/Get More Information
ThanksgivingCoffee.com
From Japan: 1-707-648-6491 for mail order
P.O Box 1918 Fort Bragg, California 95437
Free Coffee
GH Members can win a bag of Thanksgiving "Songbird" Coffee from GetHiroshima.com
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Just write to us at
mail@gethiroshima.com with your username and "save the birds" written in the message.
Winners will be chosen at the end of May, 2001
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Not a member? Join Here
Know another company based in Japan or which delivers to Japan with ease? Drop us a line -
we'd be happy to promote similarly user friendly companies.
Special thanks to Thanksgiving coffee for providing the images for this article
GetHiroshima does not accept money from the companies and places we review.
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