The history of coffee
The discovery of the bean
There
are many legends regarding the discovery of coffee and its
especially
stimulating effects. According to one undated legend, once
upon a time there
were shepherds in the Abyssinian Highlands who
lamented the restlessness of
their herd of goats. The animals were
unusually lively and did not seem to
tire. Nearby, shepherds found
bushes with red, yellow and green fruits
that the animals had
obviously eaten. Soon the nomads, too, began
eating the raw fruits, considering them a source of energy and, thus, coffee as
a stimulating drink was discovered.