title: Geographic determination of coffee beans using multi-element analysis and isotope ratios of boron and strontium.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hou-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chen-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Chiou-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-Tsung
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000569:Americas; D001208:Asia; D001895:Boron / Q000032:analysis*; D040503:Coffea / Q000737:chemistry*; D005843:Geography; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013324:Strontium / Q000032:analysis*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D001895:Boron; D013324:Strontium
keywords: Boron isotopes; Coffea arabica; Geographic origin; Strontium isotopes