Here it is, our first ever Indian lot here at Campbell & Syme, and about time! We have been wanting to add one to our offer list for some time now, but had never found the right match for our roasting style and flavour preferences. Incomes our friend Stuart at Osito, insisting he had just the partnerships for us, and was he right.
Two lots stood out for us, with this being the first. An immaculate lot produced by Saif Ulla on Gundikhan Estate. James and I couldn't help but have our heads turned by the uniqueness of this lot, one that stands apart from anything else on our offer list, yet feels at home there. A profile that has rich and sweet jammy raspberry, providing juice and a zingy acidity. A distinctive and unique buttery mouthfeel and note is there throughout, with a lingering and ever so moreish digestive biscuit finish. Thank you Osito!
GUNDIKHAN ESTATE
While all the producers Osito work with in India are genuinely interested in caring for the land and they cultivate and producing specialty coffee, Gundikhan Estate, which belongs to the KaadKaapi group, may be the farm that equally emphasizes conservation and quality coffee production. Saif Ulla's farm is impressive. Located between 1,300 and 1,400 meters above sea level, which makes it some of the highest grown coffee we see in India, Gundikhan is hyper-focused on excellent processing, native tree diversity, and producing coffee in a manner that is friendly to the native wildlife.
The coffee producers Osito work with in India can be broadly classified into two ideological groups. The first group focuses on enhancing the value of Indian coffee through experimental and unique processing techniques. Two examples of such estates are Ratnagiri Estate and Kerehaklu Estate. The second group is dedicated to supporting wildlife conservation through the production of specialty coffee. This second group is an official collective of producers who market their coffee together under the name KaadKaapi. These producers aim to farm coffee in a manner that does not disturb the movement or existence of native animal species. They specifically produce specialty coffee to cover the costs of farming in this way.
This commitment to conservation comes with its challenges. For instance, managing a farm where elephants, tigers, Gaur (Indian Bison), and a rich variety of birdlife roam freely requires significant investments in maintaining dense canopy cover. This dense cover leads to reduced coffee yields and the presence of large. animals can also cause damage to coffee plants. To offset these expenses, these producers focus on producing specialty coffee, which commands higher prices in the market. The premiums earned from specialty coffee sales help cover the additional costs associated with wildlife- friendly farming practices.
(In partnership with Osito)
