Without question the highlight of this trip was my time at the Veer Attikan Estate located in the Biligiriranga Hills. At first glance the estate appears to be more rainforest than coffee plantation, especially from above. The Estate utilises much of the natural canopy (wild fig trees) from the rainforest to shade its selection of verities, mainly: Catimor, Selection 9 and majority S795 at the perfect coffee plantation height of 1400-1700MASL. The natural terroir and commitment by Sangameshwar to specialty production have this coffee from India producing at an impressive level that I believe leads the India specialty market.
To witness and experience many of the lots and estates, the annual coffee bloom/ flowering (at Karadykhan Estate) and amazing wildlife was the absolute pinnacle of the trip if not my travels to origin to date.
In case you missed it, here’s all the twitter action!!
#SangameshwarCoffee & #SunaliniMenon experiment w #honeyprocessing & fermentation times. Stunning! @rich_austin pic.twitter.com/IdPKOLudQQ
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 5, 2016
Honoured to cup coffee w #specialtycoffee legend #SunaliniMenon at her lab, Bangalore! #matchingaprons @rich_austin pic.twitter.com/ffPrElTZo7
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 5, 2016
Morning view from #KaradykhanEstate, India! ^ @rich_austin#SangameshwarCoffee #FSCorigins pic.twitter.com/atfWtuuib2
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 6, 2016
Indian coffee bloom happens once yearly over 2-3 days, a highlight in my travels to origin thus far! @rich_austin pic.twitter.com/OyPmYMjXbc
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 7, 2016
Rare moment as wild bison move thru coffee trees #KaradykhanEstate, leaving a path of destruction! ^@rich_austin pic.twitter.com/93L47rnanc
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 7, 2016
Goodbye beautiful #KaradykhanEstate! Now for an 8 hour drive to #VeerAttikan. #IndiaCoffee #FSCorigins ^@richaustin pic.twitter.com/tFegSj476S
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 8, 2016
Wild elephants decided to grace us with a visit at #VeerAttikan! Another rare experience in India! ^ @rich_austin pic.twitter.com/uZv9oVmW6m
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 8, 2016
View of #VeerAttikan Estate in Biligiriranga Hills, surrounded by a nature reserve. #FSCorigins ^ @rich_austin pic.twitter.com/IlxcHvEiwD
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 8, 2016
Flying through the Attikan Estate Forrest. Via @rich_austin #drone #origintrip #india pic.twitter.com/orDgzYJv9f
— Five Senses Coffee (@5Senses) April 9, 2016
