Have you ever imagined a life where it is forbidden to take coffee? In addition to being a popular drink and present in many people's lives, it also represents moments of relaxation and meeting, whether in cafes, bookstores or to receive guests at home. Keep reading and find out where coffee was banned.
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The National Coffee Association estimates the emergence of the drink during the 15th century, when coffee was cultivated and traded in the Arabian Peninsula, and then taken to countries such as Egypt, Persia, present-day Iran, Syria and Türkiye.
But, during different periods of history, the miracle drink that gives energy to carry out daily activities was banned by rulers in some countries around the world. See what these countries were and why.
Mecca (1511 and 1535)
In the 16th century, men would gather in coffee houses to talk about various subjects, and politics used to be the main one, which did not please the governor Khair Beg. Then, in 1511, the mandatary ordered the closure of all cafes, with severe penalties for anyone seen selling or consuming the drink.
However, the situation did not last long, as the sultan of Cairo lifted the ban and killed the then governor Khair Beg.
Years later, the reason for the attempt to ban the drink was due to religion, more specifically, because the high command of the clergy did not support philosophical and political conversations in the houses of coffee. Thus, clerics tried to ban coffee on the grounds that it was an intoxicating drink and therefore prohibited by the Qur'an. However, the attempt was unsuccessful and coffee continued to be marketed and appreciated.
Türkiye (1536)
With the intention of maintaining the monopoly on coffee production, the government of the Ottoman Empire prohibited the export of coffee beans from Yemen, at the time under its control. The restriction lasted until 1600.
Rome (1590)
In Rome, religious motivation was what moved part of the Catholic elite to get a ban on coffee with Pope Clement VIII. According to clerics at the time, the drink belonged to Satan, as it was of Islamic origin. However, the ban was not successful, and Italy is now one of the largest coffee producers in the world.
Constantinople (1633)
Sultan Murad IV decided to ban coffee because he believed that the drink was responsible for the decadence and social transgression of the time. For him, conversations in coffee houses represented danger and spaces of little moral virtue.
For this reason, the sultan determined the death penalty for anyone found in possession of the drink. According to reports, he disguised himself as a poor man to watch the streets, and anyone seen consuming coffee died instantly.
After the sultan's death, a person was only killed while drinking coffee if found more than once consuming the beverage. The penalty was death by drowning.
Sweden (1746 and 1756)
In Sweden, the first ban came when King Adolf Frederick raised taxes on tea and tea. coffee, with the justification of protecting the subjects against the apparently dangerous effects attributed to the caffeine.
Years later, Gustav III also ordered the banning of the drink and the establishment of a study to prove the harmful effects of caffeine. However, the research participant who consumed caffeine even lived longer than the king himself.
Prussia (1777)
Frederick the Great did not like to drink coffee, but since he loved beer, he imposed a ban on coffee. However, in addition to personal taste, importing coffee was expensive while producing beer was cheaper, a circumstance that led to prohibition.
However, after Frederick's death, the restrictions were lifted and coffee was once again consumed in Prussia.
United States (1942)
During World War II, the United States cut coffee consumption due to rationing imposed by the war. The drink was preferred by the military and the government gave priority to coffee consumption for this group. The rationing lasted only one year, and in 1943 consumption of black coffee by American families returned to normal.
As you can see, most of the prohibitions related to coffee are related to the origin of the drink, in addition to the personal taste of the rulers at the time. Therefore, today it is not possible for this type of ban to happen again.
