It is a ravishing beverage that has invaded our lives and made its spot, such that cannot be replaced. Louisa May Alcott quoted in her famous book ‘Little Women’- “I’d rather take coffee than compliments just now.” A hot or cold cuppa of freshly brewed coffee is a perfect excuse to escape in solitude, go on a date or simply catch up with friends.
We’re not talking about the instant coffee packs lying in our cabinets. Jackie Chan says, “Coffee is a language in itself”, and for those who take their brews seriously, clearly know that a perfect cup of coffee is challenging and demanding. From cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes, coffee has evolved to be used as a medicine too.
Going back to roots, the Coffea plant was a native to Africa that was exported all over the world including India. The two most commonly grown coffee beans are the highly regarded Arabica and the less sophisticated but stronger and hardier Robusta. In India, coffee is cultivated using shade-grown method, where the plants are grown under a canopy of trees.
There are a couple of states in India that have taken coffee plantation to a whole new level. With expert marketing and finding new ways to define the coffee culture, the new era has given a rise to Coffee Estates. Just like any other hotel or resort, Coffee Estates offer luxury stays amidst coffee plantations. The activities here involve a trek to get up close and personal in the coffee making process or indulge in coffee picking, or buying their custom made coffee packs and souvenirs.
Chikmagalur is a famous hill station in Karnataka located in the foothills of Mullayanagiri range. It is known as the ‘coffee land’ of Karnataka since it was the first place in India where coffee was introduced. The first seeds of coffee were sown here about 350 years ago.
Coffee Estate: The Coffee Bean Home Stay and Halli Berri Coffee Cottages.
A coffee plantation
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Wayanad is the green paradise of Malabar region amidst the majestic mountains of Western Ghats. It is one of the best hill stations of Kerala that is blessed with coffee in abundance. Hence it has also been named as the Coffee County of Kerala.
Coffee Estate: Coffee Groove Nature Resort and the Coffee County Resorts.
Coffee Fruit
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It is a small and young hill station of Tamil Nadu and is considered as the best coffee forests in India. Coffee at Yercaud is the major source of income in agriculture. It was firts cultivated in the ‘Grange Estate’ in 1820 when coffee plants were brought from Africa to Yercaud by Mr. M.D. Cockburn.
Coffee Estate: MSP Coffee P Limited.
Riped Coffee Fruit
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It is a hill station in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. It is home to India’s first tribal growers’ organic coffee brand that was launched in 2007. The premium organic “Araku Emerald” brand of coffee sells globally.
Coffee Estate: Araku Valley Coffee House
Roasted Coffee Beans
Picture credits: www.coffeeinmotion.net |
Kodagu or Coorg is a popular hill station located in the state of Karnataka, and has its entire valley embellished with coffee cultivation. The revenue obtained from Coffee has helped Coorg in becoming one of the richest districts in India.
Coffee Estate: Tata Coffee Limited Plantation Trails and Orange County.
Freshly ground Coffee Powder
Picture credits: espressoandcream.com |
Another addition to the amazing coffee plantation in India is Daringibadi, which is a hill station in Odisha. Popularly known as ‘Kashmir of Odisha’, Daringibadi is gifted with beautiful coffee gardens amidst tantalizing valleys that are simply mesmerizing.
A perfect hot cuppa
Picture credits: www.herbalogi.com |
