India Baba Budangiri

Hoysala coffee plantation is located 20 km from the city of Mudigere, in the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka state. Founded in 1889, it has belonged to the same family since 1950. Today, Hoysala is managed by the fourth generation.

Coffee is grown in the shade using regenerative and environmentally friendly farming practices. The plantation is home to rich plant biodiversity (coffee, fruit, and various spices such as black pepper, areca nuts, and cardamom) and animal biodiversity (with more than 200 species of birds, insects, and reptiles).

After harvesting, the coffee cherries are sorted twice before being mechanically depulped and washed with recycled water. They are then left to ferment for 12 hours and washed again. Finally, the cherries are dried for 7–9 days, stirred continuously to ensure even drying.

Baba Budangiri is a mountain located in the Western Ghats of India, in the state of Karnataka. Karnataka is India's leading coffee-producing state, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Legend has it that the story of Baba Budangiri is connected to that of an Indian sage named Baba Budan.

Four hundred years ago, during a pilgrimage to Mecca, Baba Budan discovered coffee in Yemen. He brought back seven coffee beans from Mokha, hidden against his chest, since the Arabs at the time were extremely protective of their coffee trade.

He planted these beans in Chikmagalur, in the Karnataka region. This area represents the true origins of coffee cultivation in India. The hills of Chikmagalur are now known as the Baba Budan Hills.

The region produces Arabica coffee at an altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 meters. The appellation covers 15,000 hectares and primarily grows the S795, SL9, and Cauvery varieties.