The Indonesian island of Java is the most thickly populated island in the world. Practically lying on the equator, it is home to 57 per cent of the Indonesian population, and was the centre for Hindu-Buddhist empires.
Java was formed mainly by volcanic eruptions, and has an east-west chain of volcanoes. During the colonial periods of the 17th century, the Dutch introduced the cultivation of commercial plants in Java, including sugar cane, rubber, tea and coffee. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Javanese coffee gained global popularity.
This is in fact why the name ‘Java’ is commonly considered being synonymous with coffee. With more than 450 different bird species, Java is also a birdwatcher’s paradise.
