The Historical Origins and Growing Regions of Indian Coffee - Characteristics and Introduction to Premium Indian Coffee Brands

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I. Country Profile

India is one of the four great ancient civilizations of the world. Between 2500 and 1500 BC, the Indus Valley Civilization was created. In 1600, the British invaded and established the East India Company. In 1757, India became a British colony. On August 15, 1947, India and Pakistan were partitioned, and India gained independence. On January 26, 1950, the Republic of India was established as a member of the Commonwealth.

India is the world's second most populous country and is one of today's BRICS countries, as well as one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. India's economy is diversified, encompassing agriculture, handicrafts, textiles, and services. To this day, two-thirds of India's population still relies directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood. Today we will discuss India's coffee agriculture.

II. Historical Origins

1. The legendary story of Indian coffee began in a humble way.

In 1600 AD, Saint Baba Budan carried a few sprouting coffee seeds and planted "Mocha Seven Stars" in his own courtyard in Karnataka. Initially, everyone paid no attention to these "visitors from outer space" in the garden. For a considerable period of time, the coffee seedlings began to grow and spread on their own. By the 18th century, due to British colonial rule and the demand for coffee, British entrepreneurs entered India to seek their fortune. These entrepreneurs successfully conquered the forest areas of southern India. From then on, India's commercial coffee began to expand cultivation and developed rapidly.

2. The growth and decline of the Indian coffee industry

Like Indonesian coffee, India's coffee industry has also experienced great ups and downs, causing huge fluctuations in wealth for the Indian coffee industry. Initially, commercial coffee was mostly grown with Arabica varieties, with plantations mainly distributed in the mountainous areas of today's Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Until 1860, white stem disease, green bug disease, and leaf rust disease posed serious threats to the booming coffee industry. In the following years, the continued destruction by white stem and leaf rust brought almost devastating blows to Arabica plantations. Coffee production decreased severely, and the planting area began to decline significantly. Until 1900, the government intervened and began research to find remedial measures, introducing Robusta varieties from Indochina (the Indochinese Peninsula) for large-scale cultivation, which enabled the rapid development of India's coffee industry. Today, India's annual coffee production accounts for 25% of Asia's total production, ranking second in Asia. Indian coffee has maintained a unique identity on the world coffee map.

III. Main Growing Regions

1) India's coffee growing regions can be divided into three distinct categories:

1 Traditional southern growing regions: such as Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and other areas.

These are the main coffee growing regions, with coffee planting area exceeding 90%, and coffee production accounting for 95% of the country's total production.

2 Non-traditional eastern growing regions: including Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and other areas. Limited cultivation.

3 Traditional southeastern growing regions: Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, and other regions. Limited cultivation, mainly growing Robusta varieties.

2) In the past 60 years, India's coffee growing area has increased by more than four times, with a planting area of about 400,000 hectares. Among them, the planting area of Arabica has gradually narrowed, accounting for about 40% of the total planting area. The planting area of Robusta has continued to expand, accounting for about 60% of the total planting area.

IV. Coffee Characteristics

1 Coffee characteristics: Indian coffee generally has a mild taste, low acidity with excellent quality, rich exotic flavor and intense aroma, full of spiciness, with a persistent aftertaste. It is acclaimed as one of the world's best "mild" coffees.

2 Growing conditions: The climate conditions in India's coffee growing regions are diverse, suitable for growing different types of coffee. Some high-altitude areas are most suitable for growing Arabica varieties, while those with warm and humid conditions are most suitable for growing Robusta varieties.

India places all its coffee under a well-defined two-layer mixed shade canopy composed of evergreen leguminous plants. In coffee plantations, there are nearly 50 different types of shade trees. Shade trees prevent soil erosion on sloped land; they enrich the soil by recycling nutrients from deeper layers, protect coffee trees from seasonal temperature fluctuations, and serve various flora and fauna.

India's coffee plantations are also essential spice worlds: intermittently planting various spices and fruit crops, such as pepper, cardamom, vanilla, oranges, and bananas, all growing alongside coffee trees.

India is the only country that uses full-area shade cultivation for coffee. It has been producing and exporting various high-quality coffees for over 150 years while maintaining consistently high quality.

V. Main Export Regions

More than 80% of coffee produced in India is exported, mainly to Europe. Among them, Italy, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Belgium, Poland, Jordan, Spain, and other countries are the main coffee trading nations.

VI. Indian Specialty Coffee

1: Monsoon Malabar

Several centuries ago, when coffee beans were being shipped to Europe, a "wonderful" accident occurred. The monsoon caused the beans to swell, change color, and acquire a strong flavor that won the appreciation of connoisseurs. Today, "monsooning" the best Arabica coffee beans creates a world-renowned specialty coffee. Taste characteristics: mellow, low acidity, rich aroma.

2 Mysore Nuggets

On the Chamundi hills of Mysore, the huge, exotic Arabica coffee beans reflect this rare, high-end specialty coffee, which is a connoisseur's delight. These wonderful and exotic coffees are grown in regions such as Chikmagalur, Coorg, Biligiris, Bababudangiris, and Shevaroys. The coffee beans are very large, uniform in color, bright in appearance, and neat. In the cup, the coffee exudes a rich aroma, moderate mouthfeel, moderate acidity, delicious taste, with a hint of spiciness. This is a rare high-quality coffee that truly represents India's best premium coffee.

3 Robusta Kaapi Royale

This is the emblem of Indian royalty. Like this distinctive Indian "King of Kaapi," it is brewed from bold Robusta coffee beans. This coffee is made from Robusta parchment from Coorg, Wayanad, Chikmagalur, and Travancore regions. The beans are bold, with pointed ends, and gray to blue-gray in color. The coffee characteristics are soft, smooth, and mellow.

Indian Coffee Bean Brand Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee's roasted Indian coffee beans - such as Monsooned Malabar coffee - are fully guaranteed in terms of brand and quality. More importantly, they offer excellent value for money. A half-pound (227g) package costs only about 80 yuan. Calculated at 15g of coffee per pour-over cup, one package can make 15 cups of coffee, with each single-origin coffee costing only about 5 yuan. Compared to the price of dozens of yuan per cup sold in cafes, this offers extremely high cost-effectiveness.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse variety of beans, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans. They also provide online store services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473