I'm Kamei, the owner of Gokujo Mold-Free Coffee.

Green coffee beans travel by ship for several months from production areas directly on the equator. As they pass through the hot and humid equatorial region, conditions inside the container become harsh, and the risk of mold growth increases significantly. To avoid this risk, various measures are taken in general distribution channels.

1. Antifungal agents as post-harvest pesticides

Some conventional coffee beans, based on mass production and consumption, may have "antifungal agents (fungicides)" sprayed on them after harvest to suppress mold growth during transport.

These are called post-harvest pesticides, and there is concern that they are more likely to remain in the beans directly than pesticides used during normal cultivation. It's ironic that chemicals intended to prevent mold could potentially become impurities harmful to our bodies.

2. "Antifungal agents" are not used in organic coffee

What's important here is the existence of organic certification.

Coffee beans with organic certification, such as Organic JAS, are strictly prohibited from post-harvest treatment (spraying antifungal agents) as well as during cultivation. Therefore, choosing organic coffee can be said to be one of the surest defenses against ingesting chemical antifungal agents.

Beans managed by trusting the power of nature and without relying on chemicals are the first step towards a clean cup that doesn't put unnecessary strain on our internal organs.

"Organic certification ensures food safety and environmental protection by restricting not only pesticides and chemical fertilizers but also post-harvest chemical treatments" (Source: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, "Organic JAS Standards")

3. The paradox of "mycotoxins" that awaits beyond "no antifungal agents"

However, not everything is solved just by being organic. Here lies a difficult "paradox" in choosing coffee.

Organic beans that do not use antifungal agents are, in that sense, defenseless against mold. If transportation and storage are not properly managed, there is a risk of "mycotoxins" occurring instead of chemicals.

As Dave Asprey, author of 'The Bulletproof Diet,' points out, mycotoxins are heat-resistant and do not completely disappear even after roasting. This can cause inflammation in the body and reduce performance.

Why we insist on "organic x mycotoxin testing"

Avoid "antifungal agents (pesticides)." And precisely because no chemicals are used, we also do not tolerate "mycotoxins" which are more likely to occur. This balance is the core of the cleanliness our shop pursues.

• 100% organic green beans used: Zero worries about post-harvest pesticides or antifungal agents.

• Mycotoxin testing by a third-party organization: Precisely because no chemicals are used, scientific evidence confirms the absence of mold.

• Thorough temperature and humidity control: Maintaining an environment free of impurities from ocean shipping to storage.

Without relying on any chemicals, and unaffected by mold. Only such miraculously clean beans can truly awaken your brain and body from within.

Sources and References

• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "Japanese Agricultural Standards for Organic Agricultural Products"

• Dave Asprey, "The Bulletproof Diet," Diamond Inc.

• Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Notification on Residual Pesticides in Food"