It is unthinkable for most people to begin (or survive) their day without a cup of coffee. It's a delicious beverage that's simple to make at home. The states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana produce the majority of coffee beans in India. If you enjoy coffee and are curious about the most popular kind of coffee beans in India, you've come to the right place!
Types Of Coffee Beans
1. Arabica
Botanical Name: Coffee Arabica
Arabica, as the name implies, is a gift from Yemen, a country in the Arabian Peninsula. The aromatic, oval-shaped beans have a sweet and bitter flavour combination. It also has low caffeine content.
2. Robusta
Botanical Name: Coffea Canephora
Robusta beans have a bitter, gritty and hint of peanut flavour. The caffeine content of robusta beans is double that of Arabica beans. Robusta produces a better yield and contributes 25 per cent of global demand.
Robusta coffee beans are produced twice as much as arabica coffee beans in India.
3. Liberica
Botanical Name: Coffea Liberica
The flavour of these coffee beans is smokey and nutty, with a hint of dark chocolate. Liberica is one of the most expensive beans in the world due to its uncommon cultivation. It is not as well-known in India as the other two.
Majorly Cultivated Coffee Beans Variety In India
1. Kent
Kent is a well-known Arabica cultivar. The beans are less prone to rust damage and have an excellent cup quality.
2. S.795
S.795 is one of India's and Southeast Asia's most well-known cultivars. Growers prefer it because of its light flavour, rust resistance, and high yield.
3. Cauvery
Crossbreeding between Caturra and Hybrido-de-Timor produced this hybrid. The coffee bean possesses both the taste and the pest resistance of the former.
4. Selection 9
Tafarikela and Hybrido-de-Timor were crossed to create Selection 9. This rust-resistant cultivar got the Fine Cup Award for the best Arabica flavour in India at the Cupping Competition in 2002.
Indian Coffee Varieties Awarded The GI Certification
India produces some of the world's best coffee. Indian coffee is one of the most highly valued coffees in the world, particularly in Europe, where it is promoted as a premium product. In fact, India is the only country in the world where all coffee is grown in the shade, handpicked, and sun-dried.
In India, the majority of coffee is grown in the southern states, with 54 per cent in Karnataka, 19 per cent in Kerala, and eight per cent in Tamil Nadu. Coffee is grown in non-traditional places such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and the North East. Around 3.66 lakh farmers, 98 per cent of whom are small farmers, cultivate coffee on around 4.54 lakh hectares.
The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, issues Geographical Indication (GI) certification. The acceptance and protection of GI certification allow Indian coffee growers to invest more effectively and preserve the unique attributes of the coffee grown in that region. It also helps growers receive the greatest price for their premium coffee by making certain coffee varietals more popular around the world.
Five Indian coffee types have recently received GI certification: Coorg Arabica, Wayanad Robusta, Chikmagalur Arabica, Araku Valley Arabica, and Bababudangiris Arabica. Monsooned Malabar Robusta, a unique specialty coffee, had already received GI certification.
The following are some specifics concerning these varieties:
1. Coorg Arabica is grown in the Kodagu region of Karnataka.
2. Wayanad Robusta coffee is grown in the Wayanad district of Kerala's eastern coast.
3. Chikmagalur Arabica is grown exclusively in the Deccan plateau's Chikmagalur district. This district is located in Karnataka's Malnad area.
4. Araku Valley Arabica is a type of coffee grown in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha's mountainous regions. It's cultivated between 900 and 1100 metres above sea level. The people who grow coffee in Araku adopt an organic strategy that emphasises management practices such as organic manure, organic pest management, and green manuring.
5. Bababudangiris Arabica coffee is grown in India's central Chikmagalur district, the origin of coffee. This high-grown coffee varietal ripens slowly in a mild climate, giving the bean its distinct flavour and aroma. The coffee is hand-picked and fermented naturally, giving it a robust body, acidity, mild flavour, and scent with a hint of chocolate.
In Conclusion
Now, sipping your morning cuppa gets all the more interesting once you know where your coffee comes from. Which variety do you prefer?
FAQs
Q. Where is coffee grown in India?
A. In India, the majority of coffee is grown in the southern states, with 54 per cent in Karnataka, 19 per cent in Kerala, and 8% in Tamil Nadu. Coffee is grown in non-traditional places such as Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and the North East. Around 3.66 lakh farmers, 98 per cent of whom are small farmers, cultivate coffee on around 4.54 lakh hectares.
Q. Which Indian coffee varieties have been awarded the GI certification?
A. Five Indian coffee types have recently received GI certification: Coorg Arabica, Wayanad Robusta, Chikmagalur Arabica, Araku Valley Arabica, and Bababudangiris Arabica. Monsooned Malabar Robusta, a unique specialty coffee, had already received GI certification.