Wild coffee plants, probably from Kefa (Kaffa), Ethiopia, were taken to southern Arabia and placed under cultivation in the 15th century. One of many legends about the discovery of coffee is that of Kaldi, an Arab goatherd, who was puzzled by the queer antics of his flock. About AD 850, Kaldi supposedly sampled the berries of the evergreen bush onwhich the goats were feeding and, on experiencing a sense of exhilaration, proclaimed his discovery to the world.
Whatever its historical origin, the stimulating effect of coffee undoubtedly made it popular, especially in connection with the long religious service of the Muslims. The orthodox priesthood pronounced it intoxicating and therefore prohibited by the QurÆ(n, but despite the threat of severe penalties, coffee drinking spread rapidly among Arabs and their neighbours.