July 12, 2022
The prohibition of Coffee !?!?!
Adults all over the world now take coffee as a rich, dark cup of bliss, but this was not always the case. Here are some examples of previous attempts to outlaw the beverage. Did you know that coffee was once prohibited in the United States? It's true! Americans were not allowed to drink coffee until after the Civil War. This may come as a surprise to many, since coffee is such an important part of our culture today. What led to prohibition of coffees , and how did it eventually change? Let's take a closer look.
MECCA AND THE MUSLIM
Mecca's governor Khair Beg banned coffee in 1511 as a dangerous drug that stimulated radical thinking in the city's residents. Coffee, he thought, was a dangerous intoxicant like wine, which the Koran forbids. In the streets, he set fire to the coffee vendors' supplies after he sent his forces after them to seize them. As luck would have it, wiser heads prevailed and the rule was overturned by the Sultan of Egypt's councillors. Coffee was once again freely available on the streets of Mecca.
CATHOLICISM
Also in the 16th century, coffee was first introduced to Europe's adoring throngs. Many Catholic priests feared that the drink's delicious bedevilment would corrupt their congregations. They dubbed it "Satanic" and demanded that the Catholic Church forbid its use. When Pope Clement VIII tried a cup, he realised that coffee was not evil, but rather something he could enjoy. In fact, he even joked that he should baptise it. Coffee houses sprang up all over Europe after receiving papal approval.
IN THE OTTOMAN EMPEROR
Throughout its existence, the Ottoman Empire had a complicated and long-lasting relationship with coffee. Coffee was viewed as a drug because it was both delicious and had a noticeable effect on the drinker's mood and temperament. Despite numerous bans, including one issued by the Great Suleiman himself, coffee drinkers and merchants in the Empire continued to do business as usual.
Orders were sent from Constantinople to beat anyone caught buying or selling coffee for the first time. If they were caught a second time, they should have been thrown into the sea bound in a leather bag. The proliferation of coffee shops in Mediterranean countries was unabated by such declarations.
MEET THE SWEDISH
Coffee was introduced to Sweden in the 1700s. Importing coffee was taxed heavily by the King of Sweden in order to make some money, but the taxes went uncollected for the most part. Outraged by the people who were avoiding the tax, he outlawed the sale of coffee in the country, even confiscating the cups and dishes when arrests were made. Coffee smuggling became a lucrative black market trade in the country as a result.
To demonstrate the dangers of coffee to his subjects, King Gustave had a death row inmate forced to drink three pots of coffee a day until he died. In order to document the man's final moments, he had a doctor keep watch over him. The prisoner who was put to death with coffee lived longer than his doctor.
PRUSSIA
Prussian emperor Frederick the Great noticed a decline in beer consumption in his country. His countrymen were waking up with cups of hot coffee instead of a cold, heavy glass of water, and he concluded that coffee was to blame. Beer was declared to be superior to coffee in every way, and he ordered his spies to monitor coffee sales in his nation. In his later years, however, he was known to drink six to eight cups of coffee a day because he couldn't resist the temptation of the cup.
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world today. The average American consumes more than 400 cups of coffee each day in order to get their day started and keep them going. Ordering coffee for your morning routine is a historically acceptable way to defy imperial decrees.
In the end, it was science that finally won out and coffee is now a staple in many people's diets. What started as an early morning energizer has become so much more, with studies showing health benefits such as reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. So drink up and enjoy your cup of joe ,ou're doing your body good! How do you like your coffee? Black, with sugar and cream? Or maybe flavoured with hazelnut or peppermint? Let us know in the comments below.
MECCA AND THE MUSLIM
Mecca's governor Khair Beg banned coffee in 1511 as a dangerous drug that stimulated radical thinking in the city's residents. Coffee, he thought, was a dangerous intoxicant like wine, which the Koran forbids. In the streets, he set fire to the coffee vendors' supplies after he sent his forces after them to seize them. As luck would have it, wiser heads prevailed and the rule was overturned by the Sultan of Egypt's councillors. Coffee was once again freely available on the streets of Mecca.
CATHOLICISM
Also in the 16th century, coffee was first introduced to Europe's adoring throngs. Many Catholic priests feared that the drink's delicious bedevilment would corrupt their congregations. They dubbed it "Satanic" and demanded that the Catholic Church forbid its use. When Pope Clement VIII tried a cup, he realised that coffee was not evil, but rather something he could enjoy. In fact, he even joked that he should baptise it. Coffee houses sprang up all over Europe after receiving papal approval.
IN THE OTTOMAN EMPEROR
Throughout its existence, the Ottoman Empire had a complicated and long-lasting relationship with coffee. Coffee was viewed as a drug because it was both delicious and had a noticeable effect on the drinker's mood and temperament. Despite numerous bans, including one issued by the Great Suleiman himself, coffee drinkers and merchants in the Empire continued to do business as usual.
Orders were sent from Constantinople to beat anyone caught buying or selling coffee for the first time. If they were caught a second time, they should have been thrown into the sea bound in a leather bag. The proliferation of coffee shops in Mediterranean countries was unabated by such declarations.
MEET THE SWEDISH
Coffee was introduced to Sweden in the 1700s. Importing coffee was taxed heavily by the King of Sweden in order to make some money, but the taxes went uncollected for the most part. Outraged by the people who were avoiding the tax, he outlawed the sale of coffee in the country, even confiscating the cups and dishes when arrests were made. Coffee smuggling became a lucrative black market trade in the country as a result.
To demonstrate the dangers of coffee to his subjects, King Gustave had a death row inmate forced to drink three pots of coffee a day until he died. In order to document the man's final moments, he had a doctor keep watch over him. The prisoner who was put to death with coffee lived longer than his doctor.
PRUSSIA
Prussian emperor Frederick the Great noticed a decline in beer consumption in his country. His countrymen were waking up with cups of hot coffee instead of a cold, heavy glass of water, and he concluded that coffee was to blame. Beer was declared to be superior to coffee in every way, and he ordered his spies to monitor coffee sales in his nation. In his later years, however, he was known to drink six to eight cups of coffee a day because he couldn't resist the temptation of the cup.
Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world today. The average American consumes more than 400 cups of coffee each day in order to get their day started and keep them going. Ordering coffee for your morning routine is a historically acceptable way to defy imperial decrees.
In the end, it was science that finally won out and coffee is now a staple in many people's diets. What started as an early morning energizer has become so much more, with studies showing health benefits such as reducing the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. So drink up and enjoy your cup of joe ,ou're doing your body good! How do you like your coffee? Black, with sugar and cream? Or maybe flavoured with hazelnut or peppermint? Let us know in the comments below.
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