Our State Coffee

Do you know what the Louisiana State Musical Instrument is? Did you know Louisiana has a State Musical Instrument? Find out this and so many more facts about our great state right here. Then tell us about your Community® coffee and Louisiana experience by sharing your thoughts on our weblog. You can also log on to CommunityCoffee.com to share Community coffee with a friend.

Louisiana Symbols

State Flag: Louisiana's flag, though used since the 1800s, was not officially adopted until 1912. The design consists of the pelican group from the state seal, in white and gold, and a white ribbon bearing the state motto, on a field of solid blue.

State Bird: Eastern Brown Pelican The brown pelican is Louisiana's official bird. Pelicans are famous for their large bill, the lower portion of which has a pouch that can be greatly extended. In fact, Louisiana is nicknamed The Pelican State.

State Cuisine: Gumbo Gumbo has been called the greatest contribution of Louisiana kitchens to American cuisine and is a true representation of Louisiana heritage. The dish has its origins in the meeting of cultures that occurred in Louisiana during the 18th century. French cooking techniques provided the beginning with bouillabaisse. The native Choctaw's filé powder and local seafood were a major addition to the local cuisine. West African slaves' imported okra found its way into the Louisiana kitchens, and provided gumbo with its name. Bell peppers, tomatoes and cooked onions were brought to the table by Spanish colonists.

State Flower: Magnolia The large, creamy-white bloom of the magnolia tree was designated the state flower in 1900 because of its abundance throughout the state. The magnolia is an evergreen and the flower is unusually fragrant.

State Seal: The state seal was adopted in 1902 and features a pelican tearing flesh from its own breast to feed its young. The pelican and its three young are surrounded by the Louisiana State Motto, "Union, Justice, Confidence."

State Dog: Catahoula Leopard Dog The Catahoula Leopard Dog is the official state dog. It is a cross of the domestic dog the Indians of the Catahoula Lake region raised and the Spanish "war dog" that came through the area in the early 1500s. The Catahoula has unusual glassy eyes, webbed feet, a spotted coat, and is gentle with children.

State Tree: Cypress The state tree is the bald cypress. Its shape, which varies from columnar to conical (bottle-shaped), depends greatly on the amount and duration of flooding in the area. The bark is reddish-brown, fibrous, thin, and divided into small, flat ridges and shallow furrows. Leaves of the cypress tree spread in flat planes in the feathery pattern on its branches.

State Songs: Give Me Louisiana & You Are My Sunshine- a popular song first recorded about 1940 and declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music star Jimmie Davis.