Rio's coffee trade has a noble tradition

Abstract

Coffee growing in Brazil acquired international importance only from the time it spread throughout the Paraiba River valley, a vast sub-tropical “belt”, tributary to a large extent to the port of Rio de Janeiro. The precious rubiaceous plant was brought from French Guiana in 1721, by Major Francisco de Melo Palheta and introduced in the North of the Country. There, it remained as an article of more or less importance, by the side of cocoa, sugar, indigo and other products which were at the time cultivated.