The production of coffee requires specific kind of weather conditions. It needs a mean temperature of 230 to 280C and rainfall up to 60 to 80 inches on an average annually. Kerala has these very favourable climatic factors along with a fairly dry spell of 70 to 90 days that makes it an ideal place to grow coffee. An important feature of coffee in Kerala is that it is grown to a very large extent in small holdings by small-scale farmers.
The main regions where coffee estates abound in large number are Wayanad with 60200 hectares, Gavi with 67800 hectares and Nenmara with 77400 hectares area. These areas are also famous for tea plantations. In fact, the Keralite planters go for multi-crop pattern in which coffee, tea and spices are all grown in a big plantation to make optimum use of resources and insulate the farm from vagaries of nature or market which really keeps changing for the farm products every year. A special feature of the coffee plantation in Kerala is that the coffee plants are grown under the shade of tall shady trees.
Monsooned Malabar Coffee
Monsooned coffee is a special delicacy of Malabar region. A less known fact about this Malabar coffee is that it was discovered by accident. There was a consignment of coffee sent to Europe in 1950. By the time it reached the destination, the coffee beans had swollen in size due to absorption of moisture. This moisture-swollen coffee gave a wonderful taste and became very popular. Now the same monsooning is done in Malabar and Konkan areas by exposing beans to moisture in an elaborate procedure running into weeks.The main coffee growing areas in Kerala are as follows:
Coffee Estates in Wayanad
Wayanad is often called the green heaven of Kerala. The region has high hilly areas and places of tourist attraction. Coffee is grown in Wayanad as a single crop as well as with pepper. The area under coffee in Wayanad is more than 33% of the total farm area of the district. It is also termed as the coffee county of Kerala. The main areas where coffee estates are found in Wayanad are Mananthavady, Thirunelly, Sultan Bathery and Vythiri other than some in in Panamaram, Vazhavatta and Kolagappara.The distribution of coffee growing areas according to the coffee board is such that Meppadi has the highest acreage of around 5562 hectares followed by Noolpuzha 2900, Ambalavayal 2400, and Tavinjal 2000 while Mullenkolly with 50 hectares is the smallest panchayat area of Wayanad. There is a very small 10-acre farm at Coffee Aroma resort which is merely an added attraction to this tourist place away on the slopes of the Chembra Peak. The Coffee Board of Kerala used to control selling of the product till 1996. It has changed since. Plantation owners can directly sell it to buyers now.
Coffee Plantation in Idukki
Vandiperiyar region of the district is a famous trade centre. It is blessed with the pure waters of the Periyar River that runs through the middle of the town. The presence of this river has done wonders for the tourist trade of the area. It waters the plantations of coffee, tea and pepper and invites scores of tourists to the area to have a stay in the lap of nature. The agricultural farm of the state government and the rose garden adds to the beauty of the station. Besides being a centre for tea and pepper, the town is known for its coffee plantations spread over a vast area in the vicinity of Vandiperiyar and Thekkady.Murikkady
The small town of Murikkady is also a famous area for coffee estates spread all the way up to Thekkady. The town of Murikkady has a special place in the area because of the ever present scent of spices in the air.
Coffee Plantation in Odamedu
Odamedu is situated at a distance of 8 kms from the town of Kumily. This and the nearby place called Vellaramkunnu are areas of famous coffee estates.Coffee Plantation in Peermade
The town is a localized expression of the name of a Sufi saint Peer Muhammad. This area is famous for its coffee and tea estates. A special factor of growing of coffee in Kerala is that more than 77000 coffee farmers of Kerala are holders of small estates.Some coffee plantations spread over Kerala are as follows.
G R Company
Eramalloor
Allleppey-688537
PH-91-9447150008
Poddar Plantations
Ripon Estate
Meppadi-673577
PH-04936-280206
Spring Valley Coffee Estate
Idukki-6855507
Be Be Rubber Estate Ltd.
Punalur-691305
Ph-91475222608
The Malabar Agricultural Co. Ltd.
Kallooparambil
Pallom-686007
Ph-91-481-2430328
Vellanadi Estate
P O Box-4
Koottokal-686514
Ph-0481-2563291
Elavanam plantations ltd.
Cherpunkal
Kotttayam-686003
Windermere Estate
Munnar-Bison Valley Road
Pothamedu
Munnar-685612
Ph-04865-230512
Malankara plantation ltd.
Kodimatha-686003
Ph-0481-2568335
South Indian Plantations
Alappuzha-688011
Kutttikkanam Coffee Estate
Kuttikkanam
District Idukki -685531
Glenmary Estate
Peermade
Idukki-685531
PH-91-4869-232078
Coffee Acres Plantation
Kalpetta
Wayanad-673121
Ph-91-9446504080
Aswati Plantations Ltd.
Kuppamudi Coffee Estate
Kolaagapara-673591
PH-91-4936-220244
Paradisa Plantations
Thekkady-685536
Parisons Estates and Industries Pvt. Ltd.
P.O. Chirakkara
Wayanad-670644
Ph-04935-272025
Thalapuzha Coffee Estate
Thalapuzha-670644
Perunad Plantations Ltd.
Distt. Pathanamthitta
Perunad- 689645
Peninsular Plantations Ltd.
Pattom Palace
Trivandrum-695004
Meenpara Estate
Palakkad
Nelliyampathy-678508
Ph-0471-2321132
Kurchermala Plantations Ltd.
Puzhuthana
Waynaad-673575
Vadakkekalam Plantations Ltd.
Pambadampara Estate
Cumbum
Idukki-685556
The Anthraper Estates Pvt. Ltd.
Cherthala
Distt. Alleppey688524
K V T Estates Pvt. Ltd.
Kalathypady
Vadavathoor
Kottayam-686010
TAS Hills Plantations Pvt. Ltd.
Paingana
Mundakayam
Kottayam-686513
Devagiri plantations
Kovilkadavu
Kanjirappally-686507
Elixir Plantations Pvt.Ltd.
K K Road
Kottayam-686507
The Kolarie Estates Pvt. Ltd.
Thayathangady
Kottayam-686005
Poothundu Plantations Pvt.Ltd.
Mullackal Ward
Alleppey-688011
Rock Side Plantations Pvt. Ltd.
South Beach Road
Calicut-673001
