Picking coffee cherries from plants has been both an industry and a way of life in Chiapas, Mexico, for generations. Those who work among the fields now may be the last of their kind, as disease continues to affect the crop, and returns diminish year upon year.
The specific disease which is responsible for the blackening of the leaves visible in this image is coffee leaf rust. It's not only Chiapas which has noticed it; many farms across the south of Mexico and Central America are suffering from the same issue. In some cases, it's reduced the output of coffee leaf crops by half or more, destroying the livelihoods of the people who depend on it. Temperatures have risen in the area in recent years, enabling the fungus responsible for the disease to grow. It used to appear only in crops on lower land; now it's making its way up the hillsides.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.