Episode 108: Coffee - the energy of warriors

The Japanese have shaped the Tea Ceremony into a national ethic, an art of living conveyed through the enjoyment of a cup of tea. Meanwhile, Vietnam - a leading coffee powerhouse in the world , has the world's best Robusta coffee beans, has a rich history of coffee enjoyment culture for hundreds of years, but up to now, the value of Vietnamese coffee is still in the low segment, mainly exported raw and has not been properly shaped as the inherent position of the industry and the country.

With the desire to bring the Vietnamese coffee industry to a new level, enhancing the value of coffee not only as a regular drink but also at the level of cultural coffee, artistic coffee, spiritual coffee... to philosophical coffee, worthy of the position of the world's coffee powerhouse - Trung Nguyen Legend Group has spent time and passion for many years to research the history, culture, art... of coffee in all areas of human life so that coffee becomes "Philosophical Coffee".

Throughout the journey of creation and development of Trung Nguyen Legend, the spirit of dedication to serving the community has always been the core through many action programs to Create great aspirations, great directions; to build a new position for the Vietnamese coffee industry on the world coffee map.

The Japanese did it!

We Vietnamese can do it too and do it better!

Coffee accompanies warriors

Since its discovery in the 9th century and its popularity, coffee has become an indispensable part of many cultures, occupying an important position in social life, as well as accompanying the journeys of warriors.

For the Ormo people (the ethnic group that makes up the majority of Ethiopia's population), coffee holds an important position, used in religious ceremonies, as food, drink, medicine, etc. In particular, warriors crushed ripe coffee berries, mixed them with animal fat, to make food that provides energy, helping warriors maintain their spirit and physical strength.

For the Ottomans, coffee was also an important part of military life. It was an essential food source, helping warriors stay alert and have more energy for long marches and battles.

By the 17th century, coffee had entered Europe and spread to America. Coffee became a military product of many nations' armies.

In Vienna (Austria), coffee was introduced during a special historical period and was associated with the warrior spirit of the "Hero of Vienna" Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki. Jerzy Franciszek Kulczycki was a man who made great contributions in the war to liberate Vienna and was rewarded by the king with the right to choose any spoils of war. However, he did not choose gold or precious items, he only asked for bags of coffee left behind by the Ottoman army. Coffee has since become a symbol of victory.

Meanwhile, in the United States, during World War I, roasting plants were established in France to ensure fresh coffee for the military. In particular, when instant coffee was successfully mass-produced by inventor George Washington, the US military bought up all the instant coffee they could.

Caffeine content in coffee significantly affects the increase in cognition and reaction speed. In particular, the taste of coffee also acts as a mental stimulant and a source of encouragement to overcome challenges and maintain fighting faith. Therefore, American coffee companies have used images of soldiers and their families in instant coffee advertising campaigns. Since then, instant coffee has become more and more popular in daily life in America.

Today, coffee is still considered an important part of the military food regime of many countries, especially the major military forces in the world, such as the US, Russia, France, UK, Switzerland ...

Coffee the energy source of fighters

Over 12 centuries and through thousands of studies, scientists have clarified why coffee is the favorite drink of warriors, a force that requires constant physical training, strong spirit and strong will.

According to the research results of American physiologist Horatio Wood: "Caffeine not only increases the strength of muscle contractions, but also allows the body to function more efficiently with the same amount of energy expenditure". Another study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also concluded that there is a link between caffeine consumption and increased endurance performance and tolerance during exercise.

With the main ingredient being Caffeine, coffee is a source of energy that helps increase alertness, concentration, improve reflexes, endurance and reduce fatigue during training. Therefore, not only loved by soldiers, coffee often appears in the diet of martial artists , such as: boxer Conor McGregor, Turkish wrestler Koca Yusuf (1857 - 1898), American wrestler Dwayne Johnson, Swiss wrestler Claudio Castagnoli... Claudio Castagnoli once shared: " Coffee brings people closer together. That's why I like to go to coffee shops. And I look forward to a cup of coffee before my matches. It helps me calm down, put things in place and bring me into the present moment ."

Along with the effects of increasing physical strength and improving health, coffee also has a profound impact on fighting spirit thanks to its ability to increase the production of Dopamine and Serotonin, two neurotransmitters related to feelings of joy and satisfaction. Therefore, whether in the gym or the ring, coffee helps fighters overcome all limits of the body and mind, train a strong will, and conquer their goals.

In particular, there is a deep connection between countries with typical coffee culture, such as Ethiopia, Türkiye, Brazil, with the development of famous traditional martial arts. Ethiopia is famous for its traditional wrestling, Brazil is famous for Capoeira (dance martial arts), Turkey is famous for Yağlı Güreş (oil wrestling). Of which, Capoeira and Yağlı Güreş are both listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The medicinal properties and values ​​of coffee have contributed to helping people here maintain their endurance, perseverance, promote strength and flexibility, thereby creating unique features for traditional martial arts.

Furthermore, people in countries like Türkiye and Brazil are always looking to create community spaces that combine coffee culture and traditional martial arts. In Türkiye, former oil wrestlers have co-founded the Pehlivanlar Café in Istanbul, aiming to combine their passion for oil wrestling and Turkish coffee culture. At Pehlivanlar, there is all the information about the schedule of activities, wrestling legends, wrestlers participating in the tournaments, etc. This has also become a regular gathering place for many people interested in oil wrestling. In Brazil, cafés like Café Capoeira, Batuque Café have become places for Capoeira enthusiasts to exchange and share knowledge, and organize Capoeira performances.

Originally a drink of awakening, coffee has become a source of energy accompanying warriors on all fronts, from intellectuals diligently researching to soldiers on the battlefield, and even boxers on the ring… Coffee has given warriors physical, mental, and intellectual strength to face challenges, overcome them strongly, and move towards a more successful and better future.

PHILOSOPHICAL COFFEE - Coffee shops and Hungarian national spirit

Read next episode: Coffee and the essence of martial arts

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ky-108-ca-phe-nang-luong-cua-chien-binh-185250106212429697.htm