Geographic determination of coffee beans using multi-element analysis and isotope ratios of boron and strontium

Hou-Chun Liu; Chen-Feng You; Chiou-Yun Chen; Yu-Ching Liu; Ming-Tsung Chung

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.082

Geographic determination of coffee beans using multi-element analysis and isotope ratios of boron and strontium

Food Chem. 2014 Jan 1:142:439-45. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.082. Epub 2013 Jul 26.

Authors

Hou-Chun Liu¹, Chen-Feng You, Chiou-Yun Chen, Yu-Ching Liu, Ming-Tsung Chung

Affiliation

¹ Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.

PMID: 24001863
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.082

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using chemical and isotopic compositions of coffee beans to identify their geographic origins. Twenty-one Coffea arabica beans collected from 14 countries in 3 major coffee-producing regions, Africa, America and Asia, were analysed for multi-element of B, Rb, Sr, Ba, Fe, Mn and Zn, as well as isotopic compositions of B and Sr. Our results demonstrate that the geographic origin of coffee beans could be classified based on concentrations of Rb, Sr and Ba. However, the isotope ratios of B and Sr provide more sensitive information for the growth localities. Combined with literature data, this study indicates that B and Sr isotopes are excellent indicators of the origin of coffee beans.

Keywords: Boron isotopes; Coffea arabica; Geographic origin; Strontium isotopes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Africa
Americas
Asia
Boron / analysis*
Coffea / chemistry*
Geography
Seeds / chemistry
Strontium / analysis*
Trace Elements / analysis*

Substances

Trace Elements
Boron
Strontium