Japanese coffee firm said to be testing Rota coffee

The Ueshima Coffee Co. in Japan is reportedly testing Rota’s coffee that is growing in the wild to determine bean quality, with a reported plan to invest in Rota coffee growers if the quality of the coffee bean is affirmed.

According to a news release from the Department of Lands and Natural Resources on Rota, members of the KFC Triathlon Club of Japan were first introduced to Rota’s coffee arabica that was growing in the wild, which then triggered KFC’s Rota Coffee Marathon. The group then presented the coffee to UCC, one of the world’s largest coffee companies. Now KFC is back on Rota to gather coffee beans for UCC’s investigatory and testing work to determine coffee bean quality.

“Once UCC determines the quality of organically grown Rota coffee, it plans to pour in direct investments into Rota coffee growers.

“These investments include resources such as tools, equipment, technical assistance, training and knowledge, including the marketing of ‘Rota Island Mountain Coffee’ in Japan and around the world,” the news release stated.

“Ever heard of UCC Kona Coffee Estate and UCC Blue Mountain Coffee at Craighton Estate in Jamaica? These are some of UCC’s investments besides its purchasing of coffee beans from other coffee-growing countries.

“UCC is not just about coffee growing. It also believes that preserving a rich natural environment is essential to producing good coffee, thereby taking active measures to make eco-friendly coffee,” the statement adds.

What triggered Rota’s KFC friends to report Rota coffee to UCC? A research into Rota coffee kicked off when KFC received old records of the Spanish colonial government in the Mariana Islands (1521–1898) documenting coffee growing activity, which DLNR received out of the U.S. Library of Congress through Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. sablan’s office, and his staff, Tina Sablan, and Washington, D.C. staff.

KFC and support staff then dug into old Japanese archives about coffee during the Japanese colonial era. What they found astonished them. According to KFC, their findings and document translations found that both the Spaniards and Japanese reported that coffee grown in the highlands of Rota were found to be the best in the Marianas and of high quality.

Rota Island awaits UCC’s coffee bean test results while the Rota Island Specialty Crop Association are taking steps to propagate Rota arabica coffee. RISCA and the Rota Mayor’s Office are calling on the Rota community to help establish the Rota Island Mountain Coffee brand.

To read more of KFC Triathlon Club’s story on Rota coffee, visit their website at kfctriathlon.com. (PR)