This is the first of a three-parter, all about the plants and flowers that become the stuff we love: coffee, tea, and chocolate. First: coffee. I am a huge lover of flowers, the more fragrant the better. The coffee flower is said to smell like jasmine. If that's true, the middle of a coffee planation would be a little slice of heaven for me.
Coffee Tree Flowers
The coffee tree is actually a tall shrub, a member of the Rubiaceous family. Although there are about 60 different species, we're most acquainted with the two that dominate the coffee market: arabica and robusta.
"The flowers of the coffee tree are white with 5 or 6 petals. The pistil that emerges from the cupule is tipped with delicate stigmas. The shape and scent resemble those of jasmine, and it is for this reason that the coffee tree was called "Arabian Jasmine" in the 17th century. 
The flowers form glomerules, or little tufts made up of 8 to 15 elements, at the base of the leaves. They produce the same number of berries, commonly known as cherries because of their colour. The flowers last only a few hours and wilt as soon as fertilisation has taken place: however, others quickly replace them. As a result, it is not uncommon to find leaves, flowers and berries on the tree at the same time! One tree can produce over 30,000 flowers in a year. "
From JustAboutCoffee.com
Interested in growing your own coffee at home? Check out this page.
Illustration borrowed from Hopp Coffee Tours
Here's an interesting note. Left Coast Kona, a coffee farm in Hawaii, plays music to their coffee trees.
"Each tree is hand fed every few months and the mountainside is wired for sound to maintain tree mental health. The Left Coast trees seem to like Blues, with a taste of Country thrown in. They find the Beach Boys to be, well, a bit passé."
Huh. Who'd a thought it. Coffee tree music snobs.
Flowers We Love, Part II: The Tea Tree
Flowers We Love, Part III: The Cacao Tree
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