Willoughby's Coffee & Tea, our sister company, garnered a whopping 95 point rating from Coffee Reviewthis month (May, 2007) for its roasted version of this coffee. Elkhill coffee estate is located in the Coorg hills, 100 miles south of Mysore, and coffee was first planted there in 1854. This fine quality coffee is truly "Forest Grown", under Rose Wood and White Cedar trees. The great emphasis placed on sustainable agricultural practices combine with a 150+ year growing tradition.
Elkhill Estate is teeming with wildlife, from an impressive variety of birds to wild elephants which frequently pass through the farm. This is a large plantation, with 500 full time staff, plus dependents, who are provided with excellent care including free housing, childcare, a quality medical facility including a full time doctor and 3 nurses plus a small hospital on premises. The employees are paid salaries rather than being paid by the weight they pick, thus insuring only ripe cherry is harvested. This is a washed coffee, so wetmill operations including depulping and fermentation, followed by sun drying and drymill operations, are entirely done on the estate.
This is new crop coffee. We recommend roasting this coffee lightly, to a City roast, to bring out its citrus character.
Cup characteristics:Smooth, sweet mellow flavor, with an elegant flavor and spicy background reminiscent of nutmeg and cinnamon.
Quantity in Basket: none
India coffee facts:
Population (2006): 1.095 Billion people Coffee Production: 4,930,000 bags (60 kg)Country bag capacity: 132 pounds - 60 kgDomestic Consumption: 1,450,000 bagsCoffee Export: 3,480,000 bagsCultivated Area: 220,000 Hectares (545,000 acres)
Harvests: October to February for arabica coffees.
Arabica Introduced:Introduced from Yemen in 1670 by a muslim pilgrim, Baba Budan, into the state of Karataka.
Specialty Coffee Regions:Karataka (formerly Mysore) for North and South Coorg, Mysore, Bababudans, et al; Kerala for Malabar et al.
Grades: AA, A, "Monsooned"
Farms: About 90,000 farms.
Botanical Varietals:Old Chick (Chickmagalur origin), Coorg, Kent
Comments
Arabica coffee has been planted aggressively in India since early in the 19th century. Several varietals were attacked by coffee rust and in the 1920s the dominant varietal Kent ushered a new era for Indian coffee production. In addition to some high quality arabica coffees, about 2/3 of India's coffee production is lower, commercial grade robusta.