INDIA Plantation AA Chinennahally Estate

Processing: Washed; Score: 83.75 points

Tasting notes: Silky milk chocolate, hazelnut, and toffee.

India is a colorful country: bowls of spices in shades of brick red and ochre lining lively market streets, turquoise waters meeting golden beaches, and lush volcanic mountains covered in picturesque flora. The state of Karnataka is shaped by the Western Ghats mountain range and is home to one of the world’s most incredible biodiversity hotspots.

According to legend, at the beginning of the 17th century, the saint Baba Budan stopped at the seaport of Mocha in Yemen during his pilgrimage to Mecca. He discovered a coffee plant, wrapped seven coffee beans in his turban, and smuggled them back to India. Once he arrived, he planted the beans in his garden, near the evergreen, lush mountains of Karnataka – and thus the birthplace of coffee in India was established.

The beautiful Chinennahally Estate is located on the outer slopes of the Bababudangiri Range in the Chikmagalur district. This region is known for its high-quality Arabica coffee. The estate is a family-owned business and has been in the family for the past 70 years. Many native tree varieties are grown on the farm, contributing to the region’s rich flora. The coffee is cultivated under a two-tier shade canopy, providing ideal conditions for the cherries to develop excellent quality and flavor. The farm provides free accommodation to all plantation workers. There are also designated areas for social gatherings and relaxation after a hard day’s work on the farm.

During the harvest season, ripe red coffee cherries are hand-selected, depulped, fermented, washed, and finally, the parchment is sun-dried.