Balmadi Green Coffee

114,00 € – 456,00 €

The product is an unroasted green coffee bean for home coffee roasters. Balmaadi Estate’s Demeter and organic certified coffee comes from the Tamil Nadu province of South India, in the heart of the Silent Valley National Park. Farmer Unna Thiagarajan has been running her biodynamic organic estate for 20 years, together with her skilled staff, some of whom have been dedicated to the farm for generations. The farm is remote from the city at an altitude of about 1500 m in the rugged mountains. The coffee is hand-picked in three rounds and processed using natural and honey methods. Arabica varieties (s795, caturra, kent) are grown on the farm.

Määrä

Poista

Variety and process

Arabica natural

Origin

1400-1900 m, Tamil Nadu, India

Price Breakdown (estimation)

Farmer’s/producer’s cost: 38 %, country of origin’s export costs: 7,8%, import costs: 12 %, transportation: 6%, storage: 6%, supplier’s margin: 16,2%, local taxes: 14%.

Balmaadi Farm coffee grows in the jungle on the edge of Silent Valley National Park. The coffee farm is the highest speciality coffee farm in India. The farm has been growing Demeter and organic certified coffee for 25 years. The farming practices are 100% organic and the Demeter certification represents values beyond organic. Demeter certification means that the coffee has been grown using biodynamic methods. Biodynamic methods holistically take into account all the forces of nature. Demeter farms strive to be self-sufficient in their production. No commercial fertilisers or pesticides are used, even if certified organic. Vedic and biodynamic methods are constantly monitored and developed on the farm. Biodynamic farming and systems pre-date organic, and the organisation was at one time involved in the creation of the organic certification system, so it is natural that the older system is more holistic in its understanding and more advanced in its approach.

While visiting the farm, the Forest Roaster noticed that coffee trees are growing wild on the farm, with little or no intervention. The farm does produce self-sufficiently, using fermentation methods, also “pesticides” and fertilisers, which are used when necessary. Self-sufficiency is based on the diversity of life on the farm. This includes wildlife, plants, fruit trees, birds and farm animals such as cows, as well as cosmic energies. Many useful crops are left to feed the animals and are not exploited commercially.

The main asset of diversity is healthy and living soil. When the soil is healthy, vibrant and nutrient-rich, healthy coffee trees will grow. A healthy tree has good immunity, so fertilisation and pesticides are often unnecessary. Farmer Unna said that when coffee trees and other wild plants are collectively healthy, diseases do not spread, although they do naturally infect weak individuals. He says that diseases and pests are part of nature and have their place in the cycle of life, but that the health of the plants (and soil) prevents the spread of a disease pandemic or pest to a harmful extent on the farm. Plant health comes from healthy soil and healthy soil comes from diverse life. In particular, certain grass species, known as weeds in Finland :), play an important role in maintaining soil moisture and acting as a protective zone for coffee trees. This simple thinking creates a virtuous circle where human involvement is minimal, but the benefits for all creatures and nature are immense. Biodynamic farming is carbon positive, meaning that the farm consumes more carbon dioxide than it produces. This CO2 positivity is significantly influenced by the fact that no commercial fertilisers are consumed – not even organic.

Balmaadi coffee has won the Indian Fine Cup Award twice – each time it entered the competition. Forest Roastery also has an espresso roast of Balmaadi farm coffee for lovers of darker roasts. More about this very special coffee on the ‘Discover the Farm’ tab.

Paino	0,3 kg (kilogramma)
Alkuperä	India Tamil Nadu 1450m – 1900m
Lajike	Arabica Natural

BALMAADI ESTATE

Pavut: Arabica (s795, caturra, kent)

The coffee comes from Tamil Nadu in southern India, near the Silent Valley National Park. Farmer Unna Thiagarajan has been running her biodynamic organic farm for 25 years, together with her skilled staff, some of whom have been dedicated to the farm for generations. The farm is remote from the city at an altitude of around 1450 - 1900 m in the rugged mountains. The coffee is hand-picked in three rounds and processed using natural and honey. Arabica varieties (s795, caturra, kent) are grown on the farm.

The Balmaad farm combines biodynamic (Demeter) and ancient Vedic farming methods. Biodynamic farming is man's service to nature and its biodiversity, supporting nature by it's own means. It is therefore not just a method for increasing production or growing healthy food. Biodynamic farming is organic, but even more extensively, it is also self-sufficient. Fertilisers and pesticides are made from own resources using fermentation methods. Biodynamic farming is therefore about more than just producing healthy food.

The farming method is not based on efficiency in terms of yield or labour use, but focuses on producing high quality food in support of nature, recognising the human connection to nature. When we visited the farm, the idea of moderation and wisdom often came to mind, and the natural feeling that this is a wise and truly sustainable activity for all involved. In addition to the biodiversity on the farm, you could sense a harmonious and communal atmosphere, which was a pleasure to witness on the spot and now to be part of the community as an EU importer and roaster of the estate's coffee.