OVERVIEW:
From the legendary Baba Budangiris region of southern India, this Grade A Fully Washed Arabica from the Tiger Mountain estate is a refined and silky cup. With notes of orange, honey, caramel and milk chocolate, its sweet citrus acidity carries through to a smooth body and a creamy, nutty finish of lime, almond and cream. Elegant and comforting, this is an Indian coffee that speaks to heritage, quality, and quiet complexity.
PRODUCER & REGION:
Tiger Mountain coffee comes from the Baba Budangiris, a high-altitude range in Karnataka, South India, named after Baba Budan, the Sufi mystic who, according to legend, smuggled the first coffee seeds out of Yemen and planted them here in the 17th century. Grown on traditional farms under a two-tier canopy of shade trees, coffee here is often intercropped with spices like pepper, vanilla, and cardamom, contributing to complex soil health and ecosystem richness. Farms are mostly small—under 10 hectares—and harvesting is typically done by hand.
ALTITUDE AND LOCATION:
Grown at 700–1,200 meters above sea level, the Tiger Mountain coffee benefits from the rich loamy soils and tropical highland climate of Karnataka. These hills are steeped in history and are considered the birthplace of Indian coffee. The elevation and cooler nights slow down cherry maturation, allowing for more sugar development in the bean, which is reflected in its sweetness and layered acidity.
PROCESSING – FULLY WASHED:
This Grade A lot is fully washed, the most controlled and cleanest processing method. After selective handpicking, the coffee is pulped, fermented to remove mucilage, washed thoroughly, and then sun-dried on patios or raised beds. This processing enhances clarity and accentuates the natural sweetness and citrusy brightness of the cup. Larger estates, such as Tiger Mountain, maintain consistent post-harvest protocols and drying infrastructure, ensuring stable quality and flavour expression.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
India’s coffee journey began before tea, in the 1600s, with the legendary journey of Baba Budan bringing beans from Mecca. By the 1840s, under British colonial rule, coffee plantations flourished across the southern hills. However, the coffee leaf rust (CLR) epidemic in the late 1800s devastated Arabica crops, leading to the introduction of Robusta and hybrids.
Despite this, the Baba Budangiris remained committed to Arabica, protecting older varietals and refining processing methods. The Coffee Market Expansion Act of 1942 and subsequent liberalization in 1995 helped stabilize and modernize India’s coffee trade. Today, India exports nearly 70% of its coffee, but domestic consumption is rapidly growing, fueled by an expanding middle class and the rising status of coffee as a social and cultural staple.
COFFEE THAT GIVES BACK: SUPPORTING THE WILD TIGER
One hundred years ago, over 100,000 wild tigers roamed freely throughout Asia. Today, fewer than 3,200 remain in the wild. In just a century, Asia’s wild tiger range has shrunk to only 7% of its indigenous habitat due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and illegal wildlife trade.
Tigers are now confined to isolated protected areas, disconnected from one another. Demand for tiger skins and parts used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, coupled with ongoing population pressures, is pushing these magnificent animals dangerously close to extinction.
Tiger Mountain coffee helps change that.
For every 30kg bag of Tiger Mountain coffee sold, US$1 is donated to 21st Century Tiger, a collaborative initiative between the Zoological Society of London and Dreamworld Wildlife Foundation in Queensland, Australia.
These funds directly support on-the-ground tiger conservation projects in India, especially in the Western Ghats, home to one of the highest tiger and prey densities in the world — and possibly up to 400 wild tigers.
Projects include:
-Education programs to reduce human-wildlife conflict
-Environmental protection and forest patrols
-Conservation initiatives around Nagarahole National Park
-Community awareness and sustainable cohabitation strategies
Matte Black Coffee Bag Bundle - With Valve & Rippa Zippa
Matte Black Coffee Bag Bundle - With Valve
