Coffee was first cultivated on Chatham Island (today called San Cristóbal) in 1879 with plants imported from the French colonies. Despite not having land at high altitude, the island produces excellent coffee thanks to three unique factors: a moderately tropical climate that provides generous amounts of rainfall from January to May: relatively young volcanic soil, rich in nutrients: and an environment completely free of pesticides, fungicides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, which are banned on the island. These factors, in addition to careful processing, result in an exquisite raw harvest which boasts a fresh tanginess, rounded off by a delicate hint of chocolate.​