Over the decades, Italian botanical gardens have served as green lungs and experimental sites for non-native botanical species, fostering the dream of self-sufficiency in certain food products. In the north, tea plants were tried, while in the south, coffee was the focus.

Specifically, in the early 20th century, Palermo's Botanical Garden attempted to cultivate Coffea arabica plants. However, the harsh winters of the past, which were indeed cold even in Palermo, took their toll. Only a few plants survived, still standing tall at three meters in the historic Serra Carolina.