Country: India
Region: Bababudangiri, Western Ghats
Farm: Ratnagiri Estate
Elevation: 1300 - 1450 MASL
Variety: Catuai
Process: 96hr Carbonic Maceration Natural
Tasting notes: Caramel, Dried Fruit and Chocolate
Our India Ratnagiri coffee is back by popular demand.
India is more renowned for its tea production and robusta coffee varietals, however in recent years the quality of its Arabica has improved beyond all recognition .
The Hindi word 'Ratnagiri' means 'Pearl Mountain', a reference to the dense silver oak canopy which surrounds this farm. Ratnagiri was established in 1920 and is owned and operated by Ashok Patre, having been passed down from grandfather to father to son.
This carbonic maceration naturally processed coffee is sweet and perfectly balanced with notes of dried fruit, caramel and chocolate.
We would recommend this for your pour-over or any filter brewing method.
Processing
The coffee cherries are harvested once they have reached optimum ripeness.
Whole cherries are then sealed in stainless steel tanks and are purged with carbon dioxide. This process expels oxygen from the tank, creating an anaerobic environment, encouraging anaerobic fermentation to occur within the bean.
This process is extended over a period of 96 hours, producing a sweet, balanced coffee with more pronounced fruity flavours. These flavour are more easily locked into the bean due to the cherries remaining intact.
The cherries are then naturally processed and are left to dry over a period of 29 days, prior to having the pulp removed.
The Producer
Ashok Patre has been working with our importing partner Covoya for 6 straight seasons and is consistently producing some of the best coffees in India.
For all intents and purposes Ratnagiri Estate is an organic/biodynamic farm and also maintains official Rainforest Alliance Certification. They use ionic seawater and sea weed extract to improve plant immunity and sugar levels of the fruit.
The estate has a lush shaded environment with 3 stories of shade trees. This not only improves the biodiversity on the farm but also increases the quality of the coffee by slowing the maturation of the coffee plants.
The estate is home to over 48 recorded bird populations, monkeys, leopards, wild boar, tigers, mongoose and - on occasion - elephants. The rich biodiversity of the farm is a testimony to Ashok's dedication to farming ethically and sustainably - Ratnagiri truly is one of the leading farms in India.
