Legends and Secrets Behind Coffee: The Man Who Escaped Death Thanks to a Mysterious Drink

He was proclaimed a saint when he came back to his village.

Last week, we started to explore the relationship between coffee’s secrets and religion. Coffee didn’t really start in India, as we read last week in the story of the saint who brought it to those lands. In ancient times, all the events that radically changed society and culture were often explained by supernatural or spiritual tales. The origin of coffee was not left out of this tradition, especially in the very religious region where it first came to be known. There are two legends for how coffee originated: one comes from Ethiopia and the other from Yemen. It’s actually a heated discussion, as there is no clear consensus of coffee’s true birthplace and you’ll get a different answer depending on who you ask.

You’ve probably heard of mocha coffee (it’s also spelled mocca, moka or moca). It’s a very popular type of coffee, known for its chocolate-like flavors, that comes from Mocha, a Yemeni city that became famous during the XV and XVII century for being the greatest coffee market in the world. Well, it’s also the home to our Islamic legend. Preserved in the Abd-Al-Kadir manuscript, tells the story of Sheikh Omar, a disciple of Sheikh Abou’l Hasan Schadheli, patron saint and legendary founder of Mocha.

In the year of the Hegira 656, Schadheli went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. Arriving at the mountain of the Emeralds (Ousab), he turned to his disciple Omar and said: "I shall die in this place. When my soul has gone forth, a veiled person will appear to you. Do not fail to execute the command which he will give you." After his death, Omar saw in the middle of the night a gigantic specter covered by a white veil. “Who are you?,” Omar asked and Schadheli revealed himself under the veil. He miraculously dug water from the ground and asked Omar to fill a bowl with it. He told Omar he had to proceed on his way and not stop till he reached the spot where the water would stop moving. That’s how he reached Mocha, the city where the water stopped moving.

Both a doctor and a priest, Omar became very well known in Mocha, since a plague then ravished the city. His practices included both traditional medicine and prayers to Allah. The daughter of the King of Mocha fell ill, and her father had her carried to the home of Omar. He was captivated by the princess’ rare beauty, and after having cured her, the good dervish tried to carry her off. The king did not fancy this new kind of reward. Omar was driven from the city and exiled on the mountain of Ousab, with herbs for food and a cave for a home. The legend says that on the brink of starvation, Omar didn’t have much choice but to eat everything he could find.

The fruit of salvation

"Oh, Schadheli, my dear master," cried the Omar one day; "if the things which happened to me at Mocha were destined, was it worth the trouble to give me a bowl to come here?” Waiting for an answer, he heard a song of beautiful harmony, and a bird with extraordinary feathers came to rest in a tree. Omar sprang forward quickly toward the little bird, but when he got there, he saw on the branches of the tree only flowers and fruit. Omar laid hands on the fruit and found it delicious. Then he filled his great pockets with it and went back to his cave. As he was preparing to boil a few herbs for his dinner, the idea came to him of substituting for this sad soup, some of his harvested fruit. From it he brewed a savory and perfumed drink: it was coffee.

He felt immediately revitalized and found an energy he hadn’t experienced before. When news of this new strange medicine got to Mocha, many people started to travel to his cave to seek medical advice. Eventually, he was called back and received with honors. His followers insisted that his exile was a religious sign and the authorities proclaimed him a saint. Both the plant and the black drink were named Mocha to honor this event.

That’s how Yemeni people remember it at least. The Ethiopian people have a whole different version of events that we’ll be exploring next week! Make sure you’re following us on That Coffee Roasters’ social media to stay updated!

Source: web-books.

They first used coffee for its healing properties.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

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Accompany Your Coffee: The Best Options

Options to go with your coffee, so coffee break gets even better!

As coffee and coffee shop's culture continues to thrive all around the world, restaurants, chefs, and baristas are finding new ways to explore a wide variety of coffee-food pairings to create unique menus for every taste. That way, when the right combinations are made, these mixtures have a potential to create a sensorial experience that will leave you wanting for more.

The idea of mixing coffee with new foods besides those popular desserts and breakfasts we all know might sound weird at first, but all you need to figure out is how to work with flavors to make a good combination. A little bit of chemistry, creativity, and open-mindedness will have you trying and discovering new ideas in no time.

For example, chocolate and coffee tend to work so well together because they have very similar flavors and aromas. This is a fundamental principle you should follow when creating your new menu, even when you’re feeling adventurous. The other thing you should take into account is where your coffee comes from and how was it produced. Different regions produce different types of coffee, and the whole experience could change depending on which one you use.

Then, you’ll have to identify the coffee’s body and roast, which simply refers to how acidic and fruity the bean is and how strong is its flavor. For example, if you have a dark roasted coffee, it will have a woody, earthy flavor to it that will go brilliantly with dark chocolate or creamy desserts, enhancing both products' qualities.

If you’re willing to try fruits like berries and oranges with coffee, then a light roasted coffee with a light body, often produced in Latin America, will suit just fine with their citric and bright flavors and their floral tones. Light bodied and medium bodied coffees are also the best option when pairing them with avocado, grilled cheese sandwiches, white meat or pastries.

Just like wine, meats like beef, pork or lamb go very well with espressos or full-bodied coffees. And even though it might be hard to imagine it, you can pair spicy foods with bold and citrus-heavy types of coffee. However, if you don’t feel like getting into the specifics of coffee’s contexture and characteristics, medium bodied coffees often work well with anything.

If you just want to make a safe bet, any chocolate dessert, such as brownies and chocolate cakes, is a perfect companion to your coffee breaks. And here’s a little secret: carrot cake goes great with Colombian coffee! Oatmeal cookies, cinnamon buns or caramel flans are fantastic options as well.

There are no limits when experimenting with coffee. So keep trying and exploring when you feel like it. You might like some things that others won’t, and it’s all a matter of trial and error. Once you’ve learned the ropes of it, you can start playing with contrasts. Maybe you’ll create new combinations and pairings that your friends or clients will adore!

We all have different tastes! That's why we would love to hear about yours! How do you usually enjoy your cup of joe? A traditional americano with bacon and eggs? Or a delicious latte accompanied by a muffin? Do you have any combinations in mind? In That Coffee Roasters, we love to create distinct experiences for our clients, so let us inspire you!

Pick your favorite option to go with your coffee but remember to always keep trying new things.

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That Coffee Roasters

Phone Number: (305) 821-8811

2697 W. 76 Street, Hialeah, Florida 33016

Facebook: That Coffee Roasters

Instagram: thatcoffeeroasters