India Gargekhan Estate Natural Lot 1 (2022)

Peach, lime, lavender, strawberry, tropical
On Sale
TOP LOT
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Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Harvest Season 2021/22
Status Spot
Lot Number P8001840-2
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About This Coffee

Garigekhan Estate is a large (2630 hectare) farm operated by Kelachandra Coffee Group, a company with a focus on sustainable and socially-conscious coffee production in India's Western Ghats. The estate is adjacent to the Methodi Sanctuary range of the Bhadra Tiger Reserve in Chikmagalur. Garigekhan was first established by a British national D.A. Graham, who named it when he first arrived on the estate and was welcomed by two large 'Garige' (Red Cedar) trees. It was developed into an estate in 1976 and acquired by Kelachandra Coffee in 2002.

The farm boasts an enviable position for arabica production in the inner Giri range of Chikmagalur. A visit to Garigekhan is an experience in permaculture - arabica coffee, pepper, turmeric, oranges and lemons grow in harmony alongside a canopy of native Ficus, some of which are nearly 100 years old. 

Origin India
Subregion Sagudvani, Chikmagalur District, Karnataka
Harvest Season 2021/22
Producer Type Single Estate
Farm Name Gargekhan Estate
Processing Natural/Dry Processed
Plant Species Arabica
Variety Catuai, S795, Obata
Coffee Grade IND CA NAT CH AB
Screen Size 15 Up
Bag Weight 60 KG BAG
Bag Types Grain Pro / Ecotact

History of Coffee in India

If coffee was born in Ethiopia and grew up in Yemen, then it left home to make its own way in the world through India in the 17th Century, when Baba Budan, returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, smuggled seven beans and planted them in hills of the Chikkamagaluru district, a hill region now known as Baba Budan Giri. Green coffee cultivation grew slowly in India and the first formal plantations were established by the British in 1840 in the same region where the first coffee was planted. 

Over the years, repeated battles with leaf rust and an emphasis on yield caused India to increase planting Robusta and prioritize shade growing conditions. Today, India grows more than twice as much Robusta as Arabica and nearly all coffee is grown under shade, much of it in forest conditions. Over 21% of India’s coffee is exported to Italy, where Robusta has long been a part of traditional espresso blends. In recent years, Olam has been finding coffee for the specialty market. India is poised to attract increasing attention from specialty markets, and not only because quality is quickly improving. Coffee plantations in India are home to abundant wildlife, including tigers and elephants, because of the forest-like conditions. Compared to shade grown coffee in other parts of the world, coffee in India is grown in dense shade conditions, and almost always intercropped with peppercorn, cardamom, areca nut, oranges, bananas, and other crops.

The Art of Production

This natural process is augmented to increase the opportunity for cherry fermentation prior to drying. Ripe cherries are kept in sealed, temperature-controlled water tanks for 3 days and then dried on raised beds under shade for an average of 23 days. 

  • Subregion Sagudvani, Chikmagalur District, Karnataka
  • Farm Name Gargekhan Estate
  • Producer Type Single Estate
  • Processing Natural/Dry Processed
  • Bag Types Grain Pro / Ecotact
  • Plant Species Arabica
  • Variety Catuai, S795, Obata
  • Min Growing Altitude 1250m
  • Screen Size 15 Up
  • On Sale Yes
  • Top Lot Yes
  • Price Per Kg £6.95
  • Status Spot
  • Coffee Grade IND CA NAT CH AB
  • CTRM Contract Number P8001840-2
  • Origin India
  • Warehouse Vollers Group Uk