Located in Rio de Janeiro state, “Coffee Valley” or” O Vale do Café,” has more
than coffee beans but a rich, colorful culture including back- to- nature healing clinics, an annual music festival, a variety of health food products and a mini zoological answer to Disneyland among other treats to offer a visitor.
There are an estimated 53 fazendas, or ranches, in the region where not only café but Brazil´s answer to tequila, cachaca, as well as cheese, herbal medicine and innumerous products.

The valley spans fifteen municipalities, most notably Miguel Perreira, Vassouras, Paty do Alferes and and Conservatoria (the city of musical serenades) preserving and immortalizing –in this age of Artificial Intelligence– Brazil´s colorful past.
As a result of the region´s tendency to preserve the best traditions of the past, churches, museums, and even bakeshops all in the shadow of the surrounding coffee culture are being renovated.

The region´s inhabitants include the descendants of Brazil´s Imperial history, its Royal family, as well as ranchers, descendants of imported African slaves and youthful enterpretaurs including restaurant and other commercial owners promoting today´s health foods.

Many Coffee Valley residents still return to Rio de Janeiro every week but others are new settlers fleeing big cities for a more tranquil life of quality.

And despite the fact that the 19th century history Brazil freed itself from two (benign) Emperors, another ‘would- be American Emperor’ — as Brazil´s President Lula da Silva, calls him – “Make America Great” President Donald Trump now challenges Coffee Valley with his outrageous tariff of 50 per cent which are scheduled to begin 1 August.
Will Coffee Valley — which exports 60 per cent of its produce– suffer an economic crisis affect everything from its annual music festival headed by renowned Brazilian harpist Cristina Braga to the local coffee plantation owners?
“Crisis? No, I see Trump’ s tariff as a challenge to diversify the market of Brazilian exports,” insists the heir to Brazil´s Royal family, local resident Prince Dom Alberto de Orleans e Braganca.

And Plantation owner Thiago doesn’t believe he will be affected because we only sell to Brazil.
Nevertheless, due to expected tax on Brazilian cafe exports, coffee prices are going down in Brazil with the increase of national Sales and fear the lucrative US market will be cut off.

But getting back to the pleasures of Coffee Valley here are some of the highlights of these observer’s recent two-day visit:
(1) Fazendas Alianca Barra do Pirai, Durini and Fazenda Zira, Vassouras–Ranches in Imperial-colonial style (Alianca belonged to the Royal family of Brazil´s first Emperor Portugal´s Dom Joao Vi) noted for its organic and biodiversity as well as its coffee production. During the twenty Music Festivals Vale do Café concertos were held at some of these ranches. Islands of tranquility in the middle of nature for those seeking such pleasures.
(2) Casa do Lago (Lake House) Emporio e Bistro Vasseur’s—a restaurant in rustic style in front of an artificial but lovely lake where a young and enterprising head Raquel Porto is serving her own style of nouveau cuisine. An attorney who sought a new path in life Raquel is proud not only of her lovely restaurant bistro (French style) but the vineyards she is cultivating, a promising novelty for Vassouras.
(3) Vassouras Museum –in the center of the city in front of the lovely colonial style church where a concert featuring Brazilian guitarist and the young instrumentalists of Coffee Valley was performed as part of the 20th Music Festival of Coffee Valley. At the initiative of local businessman Ronaldo Cezar Coelho´s Vassoura´s Cultural Institute the Museum which originate from 1853 as a hospital is being completely reformed but without abandoning its original colonial style. The Museum´s aim is to recall the history (1830-1880) of golden age of the Coffee Circle as it was then known with emphasis on the Afro-Brazil origins.
(4) Rancho Quindins, Paty does Alferes—As this observer watched over-joyed children (and adults who refuse to age) feeding the goats and joyfully observing other wildlife (not in cages) and paddle boats, I could only wonder why go to Disneyland when the ranch exists without spending on airtickets to travel aboard?
(5) Cristina Braga´s – “Musical Garden.” Brilliant Brazilian and energetic (she never stops!) harpist Cristina Braga, the founder of the annual Music Festivals of Coffee Valley, officially calls her Garden “Jardin Ecological Uana Ete,” but I liken it to the British composer Frederich Deliuses “Paradise Garden,” the music I heard in my inner ear as these aging legs climbed the hills not of Salzburg´s Sound of music but Cristina and Ricardo Medeiro´s Sun Garden of gongs, shells, cactus and recycled materials.
But there is much more to Coffee VALLEY and hopefully-despite would-be Emperor or Trump´s 50 per cent tax –it has a bright future!