National Crop of Costa Rica

Agriculture plays an important role in Costa Rica’s economic health with around 10% of the country’s land used for growing crops and raising livestock, and nearly a quarter of the labor force is employed in some kind of agricultural work. Vital to the survival of countless families around the country, Costa Rica’s diverse crop offerings include everything from rice and plantains to dairy products and cane sugar. Most abundant and perhaps most important, however, is coffee. 

Coffee is one of Costa Rica’s oldest crops and has been exported to foreign nations for more than 200 years. Today, Costa Rican coffee is highly prized and considered some of the best in the world. Costa Rican coffee farmers take their work seriously and are dedicated and highly passionate about the process of growing premium coffee. Costa Ricans take coffee so seriously that it’s actually illegal to plant low-quality coffee throughout the country. 

So, what makes Costa Rica’s coffee crops so special? 

In the tropical and mountainous rural areas of Costa Rica, the climate is perfect for growing coffee. Coffee plants love warmth and moisture, two things that are abundant throughout Costa Rica. Heavy rainfall and plenty of sunshine throughout the day helps to make Costa Rican coffee famously bright and citrusy. Additionally, the high elevation of the Costa Rican mountains adds to the unique flavor profile of this java. 

Flavors commonly attributed to Costa Rican coffee include honey, apricot, citrus, brown sugar, and chocolate. 

Now the world’s 13th largest coffee producer, Costa Rica exports approximately 90% of its coffee, earning the country around 11% of its annual revenue. Producing a whopping 1.5 million bags of coffee each year, coffee-loving tourists have been known to visit the mountains of Costa Rica specifically for a taste of this authentic and highly-prized bean. 

When you visit Costa Rica, make time to visit a coffee farm, enjoy a coffee tasting, or just enjoy a drink from a local coffee shop.