JonDent - Exploring Electronic Music: India

Showing posts with label India. Show all posts

Monday, 1 September 2025

Hottop roaster - auto roast -Indian Monsooned Malaabar AA

This is a washed bean

Indian Monsooned Malabar is one of the World's Most Unusual Coffees.

Monsooned Malabar is not so much a single coffee-growing region as it is a special processing style associated with coffee grown in southwestern India and then exposed to seasonal monsoon winds along the Malabar Coast.

The coffee is one of the most distinctive origins in the world because its flavor is shaped as much by climate and post-harvest treatment as by where it is grown.

Where does it come from?

Most Monsooned Malabar coffee is grown in the Indian states of:

Karnataka (the largest source)
Kerala
Tamil Nadu

The plantations are typically located in the lush hills of the Western Ghats, often at elevations of about 900–1,500 meters.

Unlike Huila, Colombia, where high elevation and acidity are major selling points,

Hottop roaster - auto mode - Colombia Huila -

Indian coffees generally emphasize body, spice notes, and earthier characteristics.

What does "monsooned" mean?

Historically, coffee exported from India to Europe traveled by sailing ship for months.

During the voyage:

Humid sea air and monsoon moisture entered the cargo holds.
Beans absorbed moisture and swelled.
Their color changed from green to pale gold.
Acidity decreased dramatically.

European buyers became accustomed to this flavor profile.

When modern shipping eliminated the long sea voyage, Indian producers developed a process to recreate those conditions.

Today, coffee is spread in open-sided warehouses on the Malabar coast during the monsoon season (typically June–September). The beans are repeatedly turned and exposed to moisture-laden winds for several weeks.

How does it taste?

Monsooned Malabar is famous for having:

Very low acidity
Heavy, creamy body
Earthy character
Woody and spicy notes
Nutty flavors
Tobacco and leather nuances
Mild sweetness

Many coffee drinkers describe it as smooth and mellow rather than bright or fruity.

Characteristic	Huila, Colombia	Monsooned Malabar, India
Elevation	High mountain farms	Moderate mountain farms
Processing	Usually washed	Unique monsooning process
Acidity	Bright, lively	Very low
Fruit notes	Strong (berry, citrus, stone fruit)	Minimal
Body	Medium	Heavy
Sweetness	Caramel, fruit sweetness	Mild, earthy sweetness
Typical use	Specialty single-origin coffee	Single-origin and espresso blends

If Huila is known for clarity, fruit, and brightness, Monsooned Malabar is known for body, smoothness, and earthy depth.

Why roasters like it

Many espresso roasters use Monsooned Malabar in blends because it can:

Add body and crema
Reduce sharp acidity
Contribute spicy and earthy complexity

It's often blended with East African or Latin American coffees to create a more balanced espresso profile.

Is it Arabica or Robusta?

Most premium Monsooned Malabar is Arabica, though India also produces substantial quantities of Robusta. Some monsooned coffees on the market may contain Robusta or be offered as separate monsooned Robusta lots.

Why it's unique

Very few coffees in the world are defined by a weather-driven post-harvest process. While Huila's character comes primarily from terroir (altitude, soil, climate, and variety), Monsooned Malabar's signature flavor comes largely from the deliberate exposure of coffee beans to the humid monsoon environment after harvest.

As a result, a cup of Monsooned Malabar can taste almost the opposite of a classic Colombian Huila: less fruity and acidic, but richer, softer, and more savory.

-------------------

Hottop auto mode
Method 1
200g - start

202C - final temp

start weight 200g

end weight: 172g

% water loss- 14%

thus : medium-dark

--------------

Hottop auto mode
Method 2
200g - start

204C - final temp

start weight 200g

end weight: 171.1

First c - 180C

% water loss : 14.45%

thus : medium-dark

Love this level.

- Indian coffee

Friday, 13 September 2024

Indian Coffee growing regions

India's coffee regions are primarily categorized into three areas:

1. traditional regions in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu in the south;

2. non-traditional regions like Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in the Eastern Ghats;

3. the Northeastern states, including Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Karnataka, particularly the Bababudangiris where coffee was first introduced, is the largest coffee-producing state.

Traditional Regions: Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu

Karnataka: The largest coffee-producing state, with regions like Coorg and Chikmagalur being historically significant.

The Bababudangiri hills are known as the birthplace of coffee in India.

Kerala: A major coffee hub, particularly in the Wayanad district, which cultivates both Arabica and Robusta beans, with Robusta being more dominant.

Tamil Nadu: Coffee is grown in the Anaimalai hills and the Nilgiris, often in high-elevation plantations that produce Arabica with bright acidity.

Non-Traditional Regions: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

Andhra Pradesh: The Araku Valley is a growing specialty coffee region recognized for its tribal cooperative-led production.

Odisha: The Koraput region is another area gaining recognition for growing Arabica coffee.

Northeastern Regions

The "Seven Sister States": This region includes Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.

These states are considered a rising frontier for coffee production, with areas like the Cachar district in Assam growing both Arabica and Robusta.

Key characteristics of Indian coffee

Growing conditions: Coffee is often shade-grown under a two-tier canopy, which can lead to a richer flavor. The variety of altitudes and rainfall patterns (ranging from 800mm to 4500 mm) contribute to diverse flavor profiles.

Monsooned coffee: A unique process where beans are exposed to humid monsoon air, resulting in a distinctively mild, low-acid, pale gold bean known as Indian Monsoon Malabar.

Bean varieties: Both Arabica and Robusta are grown, with notable varieties including Kent and S. 795.

Thursday, 14 May 2015

Mehrangarh Fort - Jodhpur, India

Mehrangarh Fort, located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest forts in India.

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Friday, 3 April 2015

Chittorgarh and the legend of Lady Padmini

It's hard to separate fact from fiction in regard to the first sacking of Chittorgarh on August 26th, 1303.
Many details of the historic battle & the eventual fall of this great city are lost in legend.

At the time, most of Northern India was ruled by the Mughals of Delhi. The period came to be called the "Sultanate of Delhi". It's ruler, Alauddin Khilji came to power after murdering his uncle Jalaluddin Khilji.

A. Khilji was a great strategist and military commander. He is remembered in history for being one of the few rulers in the world to have repeatedly defended his empire against Mongol invasions.
After suppressing these invasions in the north, Khilji began expanding his empire by subjugation first of Gujarat in 1299 and then Ranthambhor in Rajastan in 1301.

"Khilji dynasty 1290 - 1320"

He then turned his attention towards Chittorgarh in Mewar, Rajasthan which was ruled by Ratan Singh.

The Rajput King, Rawal Ratan Singh.was described as a brave and noble warrior, a loving husband and a just ruler. His wife Padmini was renouned throughout the land for her ravishing beauty.

The story goes that the Sultan of Dehli heard about her beauty & decided to confirm this for himself. However, Padmini never left her quarters uncovered and the sultan's request was refused.

Not to be outdone, the Sultan amassed his huge army, and lay seige to Chittorgah.

It's debatable whether the Sultan would have attacked a city just to see the face of one woman.

Chittorgarh itself was of great strategic importance and had earlier blocked his armies advance on

Gujarat so there were many reasons for its subjugation. (But these details would ruin a good story).

Padmini's husband, knowing that his forces were severely outnumbered relented to letting the Sultan gaze upon the face of his wife.... but only under strict conditions. He could only enter the castle unarmed, and could only gaze upon the face of Padmini through the reflection of a mirror.

Just to be sure, she would be well out of his reach -- sitting in a special pavillion in the middle of a lotus pool. :-)

It's amazing to see the pavillion & pool. ......one wonders what is fact & what is fiction.

One glimpse was all that was needed to convince the sultan to destroy the whole city in order to

possess Padmini. (He was probably also carrying out a survey of the castle's defences while inside).

It appears that the sultan managed to convince King Ratan to accompany him back to Delhi. Maybe his was a condition for lifting the seige ?? Anyway, looks like Khilji tricked him, for once they were outside the walls, the sultan declared the King of Chittorgah hostage. (Well, what can you expect from a man who kills his own uncle). The ransom for this safe return was none other that Padmini herself.

The palanquin was the prefered method of travel for royal ladies.

On hearing this news, rather than submit to the Sultan, Ratan Singh's generals, Gora and Badal, decided to trick Khilj. They told him that Padmini would be sent the following morning in a palanquin. At daybreak 150 palanquins left Chittorgarh. This was not unusual for a lady of her standing. As the palanquins went past the tent in which King Ratan Singh was being held captive, they stopped and out came armed soldiers who freed the king.

.... Sounds very much like a Trojan horse story. :-)

It's recorded that General Gora died during this skirmish. (he laid down his life for his king). The second general, Badal, survived.

The Sultan was of course furious. The city was surrounded. This time there would be no mercy.

Chittorgarh's troops were heavily outnumbered. Supplies to the city were cut. Rather than slowly starve to death or be eventually invaded, the women of the city chose mass suicide ( by fire.. called jauhar).

The men then rode out to face their enemy. They bravely fought, but were outnumbered and all perished against the Sultan's army. These were brutal times.

So the Sultan never did get get his way with Padmini. She died a horrible way, but preserved her honour.

A rather grim end! The practice of mass suicide carried out in medieval times by Rajput women to save their honor from invaders.seems to have occured on numerous occasions. Their alternative was most likely slavery, rape and death.

"Among the well-known cases of Jauhar are the three occurrences at the fort of Chittaur (Chittaurgarh, Chittorgarh), in Rajasthan, in 1303 AD, 1535 AD, and 1568 AD. Jaisalmer has witnessed two occurrences of Jauhar, one in the year 1304 AD during the reign of Alauddin Khilji, and another during the reign of Firuz Shah Tughlaq. Another occurrence was in Chanderi". (Wickipedia)

Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Travel Postcards - Jondent - Index

Travel Postcards - Index

My travel postcards are all over this blog. They are sometimes hard to find. So I thought it would be good to put them into some sort of order. Thus this index:

* Australia

   - Fremantle - Western Australia (Historic Convict jail)
   - Tathra (Southern NSW)
     - Bodalla - old cheese factory NSW
     - Tilba Tilba (NSW)
   - Joadja Distillery - NSW Southern Highlands
   - Skydiving Mission Beach - Queensland , AUSTRALIA

- Mission Beach - Queensland

- Barrington Tops , Cape Tribulation Queensland

- Cairns to Darwin - Bus trip - (CAIRNS TO CROYDON) - Day 1

- Cairns to Darwin - Bus trip - (CROYDON TO MT. ISA) - Day 2

- Cairns to Darwin - Bus trip - (MT. ISA to Cape Crawford) - Day 3

- Cairns to Darwin - Bus trip - (CAPE CRAWFORD TO Darwin) - Day 4

- Devils Marbles - NT

- Western Australia, Tree top walk

- Pemberton WA - Fire Lookout Climbing Trees

- Kakadu National Park - Northern Territory Australia

- Bundenna to Otford hike - NSW

- Tasmania, Australia - Lake Lilla Track