INDIA CHANDRAGIRI

It took sooooo much to finally get this coffee here!  Cheers to our dear coffee friend and 3rd Generation Indian Coffee Roaster, Tanya Rao from Kaveri Coffee! She inquired about needing help importing coffee from India and we connected the dots for her with coffee friends of ours from Algrano.  Algrano was just beginning their Beta Program here in the United States where they created an app connecting farmers to roasters and logistics assistance.  We had been waiting for nearly 5 years for this program to begin and finally it was here!  We were Blessed to be in the first group of just 10 roasters in the United States to test it out.  It worked!  All this delicious Indian coffee made it here!
 
Prior to arrival Tanya connected us to the family growing this wonderful coffee. We were honored to speak with  T.Nirmala Reddy.  We then learned about the long time family vision of finding a favourable climate, ideal altitude, and preferred soil conditions to succesfully grow coffee.  Nirmala calls it the Proverbial "Pot of Gold at the end of the "Crema Rainbow"!  This "Cream Rainbow" is in a magical place set high in the Eastern Ghats of the Koraput region in Odisha.  Nirmala said, "she and her husband T.Govinda Reddy transformed a vast barren mountainous land into a thriving heartland almost 25 years ago.  This is where they could support dreams, crops, and a safe haven for a wide and diverse range of flora and fauna that was absent from the area before.  Govinda voluntarily retired early from a respectful government position to grow this award winning coffee.  Nirmala and Govinda did what many don't even dare to try.  It was a remote area where initially there was no road access, no electricity, no water, no telecommunications, and limited access to equipment.  Nothing could stop them.  Not even in the devastating events that took place in 2014.  Govinda was diagnosed with cancer and then a cyclone Hudhud smashed through the narrowing band of the region with the eye of the storm on the plantation.  They held on tight as the storm raged through.  When dawn broke they were presented with over 6000 silver oak trees completely uprooted and tossed like matchsticks across the entire plantation.  This damaged thousands of fruit bearing coffee trees.  This meant that hopes and dreams of future profits were gone!  Can you believe things got worse after this?!?!?!?  In 2015, Nirmala's husband Govinda of nearly 50 years passed away.  Nirmala said, "Many would have walked away after this, but I could not!  It was our dream, our passion, and it was the livelihood of our family and crucial for the survival of many others in the communities that surround us."  This is when her eldest daughter Raji left her career in Australia where she was managing hotel chain services and had plans for owning her own restaurant in Brisbane, Queensland.  Raji was full time and just as determined as her mother to make everything right again.  They had lost everything!  It took 3 months to restore power and a full year to remove all the silver oak trees.  After this incident Nirmala said they were heartbroken, but they made it to the other side and the phoenix was ready to rise!  This type of determination comes from only from FAITH and PASSION!
 
There is so much to consider when drinking a cup of this coffee.  The hardships that they have overcome just to get this coffee out to you is remarkable.  The perserverance is really real y'all!  Stay tuned for more of the story being sent out through our mailing list and amazing photos being added here on the site.  We have sooooo many stories to share!  For now, can you believe this is just a little taste?
 
Without further a due we would love to introduce you to the Madhu Agro Plantation!  Thank you Nirmala and Raji for this beautiful gift of coffee from you all :)
 
A little bit more about it:  This coffee is from a "newer" coffee growing region in East India called Koraput. The state government promoted coffee cultivation in the late 80s/early 90s to provide economic opportunities to local communities that are mainly tribal.  Madhu Agro Plantations is run by a mother-daughter duo and is the only women-powered farm in the area. You can find even more information about the farm at: https://kalingadesiagro.org/index.php/madhu-agro-plantation
 
COUNTRY: India
REGION: Koraput
FARMER: Nirmala & Rajeshwari Reddy
VARIETY: Chandragiri
TASTING NOTES: 
Toffee, Plum, Candied Oranges, Caramel, Velvety Body,
Smooth across the whole palate.