How about a coffee bon bon?

Nashauna Drummond • Lifestyle Coordinator

Some people like coffee, some like chocolate. Now, lovers of both are going crazy over Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Bon Bon. Marketed under the Café Carib brand of Japan Caribbean Trading Company Limited, these chocolate-covered roasted coffee beans create an intoxicating combination.

Shaped to resemble its secret ingredient, it contains three or four roasted beans, compared to similar products that have only a single coated bean.

For 30 years its managing director, Mitsuo Seyama, has been in the coffee business - 28 years of those spent in Jamaica exporting Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans to Japan.

Last October, he began exploring this new product.

"It was a dream I had but never paid much attention to," he told Food. "It was just to make and give to my friends. However, they loved it."

Now, it has added a new dimension to his business, bringing "very exciting times".

"It's a different atmosphere to the business," he notes smiling.

Now, Seyama will have to put more energy and attention on his new product and the local market. "Didn't expect such a response," he mused. This also has him thinking of more value-added products for the future, such as coffee candy and, possibly, cookies.

Unique taste

He notes that the taste of the Blue Mountain coffee makes his product unique, as it has a premium clean taste when compared to Brazilian or Colombian coffee.

Five per cent of coffee cherries reaped in Jamaica contain a single whole bean instead of the traditional halved bean. These are the beans he uses in his bonbons as he claims the taste has more body. "Single seed has more body, so you get good harmony."

Coated with 50 per cent dark chocolate, the senses of smell and taste are ignited when you bite into one of these delectable treats. Coffee and chocolate make a very good combination.

"After discussion with my manufacturer, it (the product) is more gorgeous than what I had expected," he said proudly of his new Jamaican made and packaged product.

He told Food that his friends who do not drink coffee love the bonbons once they taste it. So far, among his favourite customers are the Japanese and United States ambassadors.

Currently, the product is available at The Jamaica Pegasus and Wyndham Kingston hotels, The Craft Cottage and 2 Hampers and a Mule in the departure lounge at the Norman Manley Airport.

E-mail: mseyama@japancarib.com

Website: www.japancarib.com