Coffee

Nilgiris Coffee is known to have a distinct flavour because of the geography and climatic conditions of the Nilgiris slopes. The Irula and Kurumba communities have agricultural lands which are intercropped with coffee and trees like jack, orange, lime, banana, silver oak and pepper vines. Spices are also grown along with coffee. Arabica is the main variety of coffee grown here. However Robusta variety is also found in some areas.
The whole family is involved at the time of harvest. They pluck and process the fruits with small pulping machines at the village level. Both men and women are involved in the process, without distinction.
The coffee is grown without chemical inputs and as a result, a higher value is derived for the coffee.