Category Archives: World Opinion

No Ordinary Bean

November 30, 2018Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Spit, dung and more — these expensive coffees are not for the faint-hearted

The first sip tastes almost like a regular cup of Joe — it’s earthy, smooth but minus the usual bitterness. In fact, it tastes so unique that no one can pinpoint for sure its complex flavours. Some say it even has a hint of chocolate or fruity taste. Wonder what kind of coffee this is? Considered one of the most expensive coffees in the world, the secret ingredient behind this coffee might make you reconsider your love for the drink. This famous brew called Kopi Luwak or civet coffee is made from the faeces of civet cat and has its roots in Indonesia. Don’t be surprised, because cat poop coffee is just one of the many new trends in the coffee industry.

Civet cats consume coffee cherries for the fleshy pulp of the beans

Civet cats have a natural tendency to roam around in coffee plantations. More often than not, they pick on coffee cherries — the perfectly ripped ones of the lot. These coffee cherries are picked by civets for the fleshy pulp of the beans. During the digestion process, a unique fermentation process occurs, such that after passing through the civet’s intestines, the beans are defecated with other faecal matter. While this might just be faecal matter for some, others consider this a treasure. Rajat Badami, founder and CEO of Kingsmen Coffee says, “The sale of this coffee is primarily outside India. There is demand for this coffee in the US and many European nations.” But the process doesn’t end at collecting cat poop, argues Badami. He says, “Identifying the civet’s faeces, handpicking it and then washing, drying and pounding is a long and tedious process. Since so much effort goes into making it, we sell this coffee at $600 a pound in Western countries.”

On the other hand, Thamoo Poovaiah, managing partner of Ainmane brand of coffee, the first company in India to make Kopi Luwak prefers to keep the rates lower for Indian audiences. He says, “We have more than 235,000 acres of coffee plantations in India and we produce 40% of India’s coffee. Since civet coffee is hard to obtain naturally, we can get only five to 10 tonnes of it per annum.” Ainmane sells civet coffee for 1,060 per 100gms.

While coffee made of litter selling for a few thousands might seem like an absurd concept, there is more to it. The brainchild of Thailand’s Anantara Resort produces coffee straight from elephant dung. Known widely as Black Ivory Coffee, this unique product finds a place in the list of ‘rare and expensive coffees of the world’. A single cup of this coffee is said to cost around $50. Its producer, Black Ivory Coffee Company, maks a very limited amount on an yearly basis, given that this natural process is time-consuming. Blake Dinkin, founder of Black Ivory Coffee is wants to keep the process a secret. He believes many people have mistaken the idea to be as easy as collecting elephant dung containing coffee beans.

Another special coffee with animal component is the monkey parchment coffee produced near Araku Valley. The process of collecting beans is slightly different than the previous varieties. The monkeys, just like the civets, pick on the ripest coffee cherries. The difference being they eat only the flesh, but instead of swallowing the bean, they usually spit it out. The natural enzymes in their saliva give the coffee beans a tinge of acidity. Kunal Ross, founder and CEO of The Indian Bean says, “It is difficult to spot these spit beans in a forest, as compared to civet or elephant litter. A bite mark on a coffee bean is how we distinguish our beans.” This makes the discovery process longer, but once collected, the beans are washed under running water and dried to ensure the consistent roasting. The Indian Bean’s monkey parchment coffee costs around 4,000/kg. These beans are collected around October, and what makes this coffee even more exclusive is its limited number of vendors in India. Coffee lovers are slowly warming up to the idea of artisan coffees, but it would be intriguing to see what new ingredient will join the list next.

source: http://www.outlookbusiness.com / Outlook Business / Home> C’est la vie> The Good Life / by Aishwarya Parikh / July 21st, 2018

‘Who Are We Kodavas?’ By NRI Kodava To Be Released In City Tomorrow

November 25, 2018About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Mysuru:

D.M. Trust has organised a function at Rotary Hall on JLB Road here tomorrow (Nov.25) at 5 pm to release the books ‘Who are we Kodavas?’ (English) and ‘Navyaaru Kodavaru?’ (Kannada), written by Maletira B. Thimmaiah, Attorney-at-Law, USA.

Star of Mysore Editor-in-Chief K.B. Ganapathy will release the books. City advocate J.M. Aiyanna will preside. D.M. Trust President Dr. D. Thimmaiah, Joint Commissioner of Commercial Tax, Shivamogga, H.G. Pavithra and Vaidya Vartha Prakashana Founder-Director Dr. M.G.R. Urs will be the chief guests.

Published by Vaidya Vartha Prakashana, the English version of the book has 84 pages while Kannada edition has 80 pages, both priced at Rs.50.

Here we publish the Foreword to the book by Kalyatanda B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief, Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra:

This is a book about the people of Kodagu, the land inhabited by Kodavas with their own distinct identity recognised and recorded in history as unique. Written by Maletira B. Thimmaiah, Attorney-at-Law, Staten Island, New York, United States of America, the book traces the origin of Kodavas, their customs, rich history of more than 5,000 years and how a land of such uniqueness was being systematically ravaged by invaders, modern laws and urbanisation thereby depriving the future generations of the rich natural beauty and more importantly the environment.

From time immemorial, Kodavas, with their unique folklore culture, have shown affection, tolerance and respect towards the people who helped them regardless of the communities they belonged to. Showing their gratitude in the form of providing them space and work, Kodavas still regard their guests as God — ‘Athithi Devo Bhava’ and perhaps this attitude has cost them dear when it came to preserving their culture, language and properties.

Supported by extensive research on history, religious books, encyclopaedia, customs and physical features and himself as a member of Kodava community, the author Maletira B. Thimmaiah traces the origin of Kodavas and their customs from ancient times. Kodavas must prepare the future generation to stand tough in defending their heritage against intrusion of outsiders. And to stand firm against outside influence and lobby, each Kodava must know his/ her origin, he writes.

According to the author, the first advent of human habitation in Kodagu is prior to 3000 BC. Rishabh, a ruler from Magahada, abdicating the throne as King of Ganges Valley Civilisation, shared his kingdom among his 100 sons, renounced everything and travelled to Kodagu, then called ‘Kutaka’ in Sanskrit and named it ‘Kudaga’ in ‘Pali’ and other South Indian languages called ‘Prakrits.’

While the first son of Rishabh named Bharat ruled northern half with Ayodhya as capital, the second son Bahubali ruled the South with Paudanapura as capital. The rest of the 98 sons of Rishabh were given different kingdoms. The final fight between Bharat and Bahubali took place in the south and the battle resulted in Bahubali renouncing his kingdom. Later, all the sons of Bahubali went to Rishabh who lived in ‘Kutaka’ for advice. This was how an uninhabited Kodagu became the place to live for North Indian Ganges Valley people.

According to the author, Rishabh believed in ‘Shramana’ school of thought that did not have God, Soul and Creation and where the philosophy of procreation dominated — human being is procreated by his parents and in turn, parents were procreated by their parents. Thus ancestors were the reason or ‘Karana’ (cause) for the continuity of generations to generations. Explaining this theory, the author draws similarities with Kodava customs where families still worship the ‘Karana’ and ‘Gurukaranas’.

The book then touches upon Hinduism and argues how Kodavas do not belong to Indus Valley Civilisation but Ganges Valley Civilisation. Elder-oriented or elder-centric customs and practices existed in Kodagu before the advent of Hinduism to India. Priests were not involved in Kodava traditions in any manner with a major role played by elders or village ‘Thakkas’. Brahmins had to work under the ‘Thakkas’ and they did not have any supremacy. As such, Brahmins felt belittled and ignored. Hence they considered Kodavas as descendants of Kroda King, born to a ‘Shudra’ woman who was low in caste (according to Hindu caste system) and was unchaste. They called Kodavas as ‘Ugras’ and said the name Kodava was derived from Kroda king.

The book argues that this was the revenge of Brahmins or the priest class against Kodavas who did not allow them to their ‘Ainmanes’, ‘Kannikombare’, ‘Kaimada’, festivals, marriages and other auspicious ceremonies.

The author then traces Lingayat religion and kings who influenced Kodavas. Kodavas were pitted against Kodavas. They killed each other while the Lingayat Rajas watched the fun. Then came Islamic invasion led by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan where Tipu converted a large number of Kodavas into Islam and massacred those who did not comply with his orders.

Next came the Britishers who introduced coffee. They tricked Kodavas to part with their Jamma lands to cultivate coffee and institutions like “Consolidated Coffee Estate” was born. The book describes how the British exploited Kodavas to serve their own interests in India and world over. The physical strength and bravery of Kodavas were well used by the British and moved many Kodavas from paddy fields to war fields. While a few got acclimatised, many Kodavas died unnoticed and unsung. The British even imposed heavy land revenues and brought in land laws for their advantage. Some of the unjust and illogical regulations introduced by the British continue even today even after Kodagu State was annexed into Karnataka.

After the British rule, the elected governments, with ignorant and self-centred lawmakers, brought in more restrictive laws without understanding the ground realities. This was done with no representative from Kodagu while framing such rules. Many land laws have been questioned in the Court of Law. The book illustrates how Kodagu has become a looting place for outsiders since independence. The laws enacted by Karnataka government like Land Revenue Act, Forest Act, Management of Reserved Forest Rules and land tenures have dealt many fatal blows to Kodava customs, traditions and land holdings, says the author.

The book touches upon certain customs of Kodavas that were derived from King Rishabh and the author provides a link from the present customs to the past origins. As the author is an advocate by profession, he goes on to legally analyse the Jamma Tenure and lists out the laws and precedents applicable to customs and usages in Kodagu. Probably the author is unaware of the fact that Jamma tenure is no longer existing since 2011 following an amendment to the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964.

In its totality the book is informative and gives the reader a different perspective, hitherto not heard of, on the origin of Kodavas. It gives a new theory from the existing theories about the Kodava origin. Therefore, it is a good reference material for research scholars who want to study Kodavas and their customs.

The book examines the manner in which the Kodava culture is vanishing slowly. It stresses the importance of preserving the distinct identity of Kodavas against the onslaught of outsiders and the governments. The book seeks to capture the spirit of people and the motivations that shaped their destiny. “Who are we Kodavas?” is the story of who Kodavas are, the historical and political events that shaped them, their traditions and culture that are indeed distinct.

‘Who are we Kodavas?’ by NRI Kodava to be released in city tomorrow

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / by November 24th, 2018

The Academy of Home Staging and Design announces another Student Success Story: Prathibha Kokkalera.

November 14, 2018Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinionadmin

Prathibha has found a way to have a successful business and to help people in the process.

Astaic, Calif. :

Prathibha saw people losing their homes to foreclosure. Not only were they losing their homes, they were losing their futures. Prathibha created a business to help these people.

She buys houses before the bank forecloses on them so the owners can protect their future. She creates a home for a new owner, and the neighborhood gets an upgrade. This helps everyone, including Prathibha who loves combining her passion for interior design with serving people in need.

“My education at AHSD in interior design made it easy for me to visualize, transform and remodel every room I was flipping. And my home staging education helped sell the properties faster!”

Prathibha’s Companies are http://www.iStageElegantInteriors.com and http://www.ReviveProperties.com.

She thanks AHSD and credits Academy owner Kim’s on-going mentoring for her success. For those who have similar aspirations, she believes AHSD is just the ticket. “If you are considering doing one or both these courses as I did, you will have no regrets.

Apart from the knowledge and intense training, the continuing help Kim and her team extend after the program is valuable. It is sure to put you right on the path to success!”

Doing what you love and helping others is how The Academy of Home Staging & Design defines Success. Keep up the great work Prathibha!

source: http://www.virtual-strategy.com / Virtual Strategy Magazine / Home> News> PRWeb> Business / by Kim Kapelluch, The Academy of Home Strategy & Design / November 12th, 2018

The Ghana coffee sector and its economic potential

November 11, 2018Coffee News, Uncategorized, World Opinionadmin

I have been busy during the last few months talking to people (COCOBOD, various ministries, Universities and Research Institute) about the current ‘State-of-the-Art’ of coffee in Ghana. Talking also to plenty friends, colleagues, associates and coffee-lovers too, I realized that very few people are aware that Ghana grows coffee and that coffee does have the potential of boosting our economy if it were to be paid the right attention.

Allow me to start with a simple Question and Answer:

Is coffee grown in Ghana? The answer is Yes

Brief overview of the Ghanaian coffee

Known predominantly as the World’s Second largest Cocoa producer, Ghana is increasingly entering the coffee market. Ghana’s relatively small coffee production made it the third smallest coffee producer in sub-Saharan Africa: just behind Liberia and the Central African Republic (which produce about 600 tons each annually). The primary coffee plant variety historically grown in Ghana is Robusta.

General Statistics on Ghana Coffee

– 12,250 tons of green coffee beans exported in 2015 (Ghana Export Statistics); this figure does not include leakages to neighboring countries and internal sales within the country

– An increase of about 550% in coffee price, over the past 5 years
+22% of Ghanaian Coffee Farmers are women

– Currently Ghana has 65% supply deficit that needs to be filled and government is trying to do that by providing new coffee seedling varieties and revamping old farms to increase productivity.

– We also have 15% penetration rate of retailing

– Current price of unhauled coffee of 64kg is going for a price between GH?200 -250 and

– The price of hauled green beans is going for GH?400-500 for same amount

Note: all these statistics are not absolute but estimated.

Coffee regulatory bodies

For every industry to be successful there is a need for institutions to govern their activities to ensure smooth flow within the sector.

Government and private bodies have established such bodies within the coffee industry.

Noted among them are:

– The Ghana Cocoa Board,

– International Coffee Organization and

– The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)

1. The Ghana Cocoa Board (CoCoBod)

Cocobod was established by ordinance in 1947 with the sum of ¢ 27 million (being Ghana’s share of the net profit of the West African Produce Control Board) as its initial working capital. The Board traces its beginning further back to the cocoa hold-up of 1937.

Cocobod’s mission is to encourage and facilitate the production, processing and marketing of good quality cocoa, coffee and sheanut in all forms in the most efficient and cost effective manner, and maintain the best mutual industrial relation with its objectives.

It also issues license to businesses that want to trade (export) coffee by issuing them export certificates; these certificates are issued after due- diligence of course, and require annual renewal.

Support Examples from Cocobod:

– Under the CDP, Cocobod supplied free inputs-seedlings, fertilizers, wellington boots, cutlasses, etc-to Ghanaian coffee farmers to boost their interest in the sector.

– Payments toward land preparation, lining and pegging, weeding and transportation of seedling were also made to participating farmers.

– In addition, Cocobod has developed high stock of planting materials through its subsidiaries, Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) and Seed Production Division (SPD) for distribution for farmers for free.

2. ICO – The International Coffee Organisation

In July 2009 Ghana became a full member of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) at a ceremony at the headquarters of ICO in London. ICO is the main inter-governmental organisation for coffee, bringing together producing and consuming countries to tackle the challenges facing the world coffee sector through international cooperation.

Ghana first assented to the International Coffee Agreement in September 1964, and has been a signatory to all the agreements, with the Ghana Cocoa Board as the implementing agency for the government.

By this deposition of the instrument of ratification to the ICO, Ghana indicated its consent to be bound by the ICA 2007, and has full voting rights as a member of the International Coffee Organisation.

3. Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)

The Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) was administered by the National Research Council, which was later superseded by the Ghana Academy of Sciences and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

The objectives of the Institute were subsequently expanded to include research on other indigenous and introduced tree crops that produced fats similar to cocoa butter.

The Institute’s Mission with regards to coffee is “to undertake research aimed at developing appropriate technologies and strategies for healthy and economic cultivation of coffee”.

4. Coffee Improvement Thrust

The main aim of the Coffee Improvement Thrust is to develop coffee planting material that will meet the challenges of growers by:

– modifying the genetic make-up of the plant

– adopting strategies to improve overall quality of the produce

Sector outlook

Production

The country is the second largest cocoa exporter in the world behind neighbouring Ivory Coast. Production of coffee, which was introduced to Ghana at the same time in the 18th century, trails in comparison.

But it has rebounded in recent years, thanks to a growing overseas demand and a blossoming domestic market that is giving farmers hope of growing a major cash crop. A government scheme launched in 2011 to revive the sector has transformed production and marketing of Ghanaian coffee. It led to 2,400 hectares of new and revitalised coffee plantations, with farmers attracted by the introduction of fair prices for the crop.

Government has since last month begun the distribution of four million coffee seedlings to farmers in the production area of the country under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme, Deputy Local Government Minister, Collins Ntim has revealed.

This, according to him, this would help the country bridge the huge deficit of 65 per cent in coffee production and supply. It is expected that by 2023, this programme will enable coffee production to reach 50,000 tons.

African Challenges

Currently Africa supplies only 10% of global coffee volumes, while coffee was first discovered in Ethiopia.

In most African origins:

– yields are low,

– quality is inconsistent, and

– supply chains are inefficient

Ghana: Do we have a problem?

Coffee industry in Ghana in spite of its ability to rig in millions of dollars as foreign exchange earning to help boost the economy has not receive the kind of attention it needs, noted problems faced by the industry are;

1.low government support – input supply and regulations

2. aging farmers and farms

3. mostly cultivated by small holder farmers

4. unstable pricing

5. inadequate access to market information help investors and farmers

After interacting with some coffee farmers and buyers, there is a need to have a second look at the commodity that some describe as the next oil, looking at the rate of consumption and the foreign income being earned from its export.

Brazil which is known as one of the largest beneficiaries of foreign exchange earners from coffee have adopted various climate smart coffee farming methods that has revamped their coffee industry and put them on top of the world chat.

Sustainable farm gives back as much to the land and people as it receives. Sustainable farming also minimizes pollution, takes steps to care for the environment, and cares for its employees.

Sustainable coffee farming looks at aspects like modern farming practices, which include:

– planting shade trees to check erosion

– using organic or animal waste as fertilizer to reduce carbon emission

– water efficient irrigation methods and mixed cropping

– proper harvesting practices, and

– reuse of coffee husk as manure

Many countries like Ethiopia, Togo, Rwanda, Gabon, Kenya, Brazil just to mention a few through the support of organizations like Solidaridad and CABI have successfully introduced such practices to coffee farmers in these countries and have seen significant improvements in their coffee industry.

These sustainable coffee projects after implementation in the above mentioned countries have resulted in

1. improvement of quality of coffee,

2. farmers are able to keep records which enable them to access financing

3. using of advanced processing machinery in the coffee value chain

4. and a significant increase in gourmet coffee export

Prospects in the sector

To know the prospects in a particular industry the value chain of that industry has to be well defined and clearly stated in order to identify opportunities and various aspects needed to make the industry successful. This also applies to the coffee industry in Ghana; below is a brief showing a possible coffee value chain that can be taken advantage of both for job creation and economy improvement.

Coffee Farming

In Ghana coffee is mostly grown in six (6) of the regions out of the ten (10). This means that there are large areas of land available for anyone to inter into coffee farming.

Coffee harvesting run from September through to January and planting mainly starts on the onset of the rains in May.

A well- maintained farm can produce an average of 1.8 tons of coffee cherries per hectare.

Through effective regulations and stakeholder engagements, average farm gate price of unhauled coffee rose from GHc40 for 65kg in 2010 to GHc250 for 65kg in 2016. In addition, under good farm management practices, an average net income of about GHc6, 988.30 (US$ 1,767.50) per hectare is estimated to be obtained by the farmer.

Processors

1. Haulers/Agents – there are very few people in this sector of the value chain and they all have their charges or approved means of making income; they tend to double as agents for both the farmer and coffee beans buyers they normally charge about GHC 1.00 for kilo to source for the beans for any interested buyer and they employ women to sort and grade the beans paying them about GHC 1.00 per kilo for well sorted beans.

Currently, there are thirty (30) Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) registered to engage in internal purchasing and exports of coffee in Ghana and there is room for more.

2. Coffee Roasting in Ghana

Other than cafe retailers who brew per cup, roasting is the point on the value chain where coffee experiences its most lucrative transformation.

For any potential new roasters, coffee roasting can be profitable both locally and off shore. The export market provides avenues for revenue generation so far as quality standards are met, granting producers access to a multi-billion dollar industry.

Locally, there has been an increase in coffee consumption as a result of Ghanaians growing appreciation for cafe culture and an influx of expatriate residents. The rising number of cafes in the country, distributed coffee products and machinery are key indicators.

The increase in demand for roasted coffee is an excellent opportunity for local manufacturers, especially with raw material availability being secured long term through government initiatives to boost local coffee cultivation.

3. 3Retailers – in recent times many coffee shops are springing up in Ghana,.

This might be the start of coffee culture, even though most people still prefer the instant coffee, Ghanaian taste are becoming more sophisticated leading to a booming coffee shop business.

There is a very stiff competition in this sector from foreign franchise operated coffee shops but one that source fresh coffee locally has a competitive advantage over the rest.

In conclusion

Coffee may contribute to sustainable development in Africa’s rural areas. In 2007 and 2008, for example, Ghana received modest earnings of US$1,331,308.36 and US$2,767,378.00, respectively, from coffee exports.

The Ghanaian Coffee sector presents opportunities for Ghana to make great strides towards economic transformation. The following conditions can to help boost or move the Coffee Sector:

– Enhanced access to extension services,

– Favourable weather for the Robusta,

– Competitive and growing local market characterized by high demand for the produce.

– Reliable and increasing farm gate prices.

– Increasingly high farmer motivation.

– Growing interest among the youth.

– Buyer- perception of the quality-value of certain coffees from Africa.

– Our potential to increase volumes to meet growing demand.

This implies that coffee production, if boosted, can generate substantial income to supplement revenue generated by government from other sources and has good investment opportunities for private sector.

Let’s all work together to position our Ghanaian Coffee produce as the Best possible one(s)

Thank you,

Benedicta

About the Author:

Coffeepreneur Benedicta Tamakloe, is the Founder of Bean Masters (www.BeanMasters.Coffee ), a Ghanaian StartUp focused strictly on the coffee trading business.

She can be reached at +233 20 296 2988 and she also welcomes all remarks/questions/ feedback via email at coffeeinghana@gmail.com

source: http://www.ghanaweb.com / Ghana Web / Home / by Benedicta Tamaloe / November 07th, 2018

‘Paarane’, film on identity crisis, first Kodava movie to debut in festivals

November 9, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Paarane will be the first ever Kodava language film to compete in international film festivals.

Kodava’s movie Paarane’s first look poster and teaser will be released by the director Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, of Sexy Durga fame, today. This is yet another film that digs into identity crisis in the border area of Karnataka and Kerala. It is an experimental film by Shreelesh S Nair, who is a Keralite currently residing in Bengaluru.

Interestingly the film is made in Kodava, a language which is rarely explored.

The film is titled after a village named Paarane located in Kodagu, and the story is based on the struggles of existence and identity faced by the people,” says the debutant. “Paarane explores the land and culture of the region, and has people revolting against the invaders who try to encroach on their native land to safeguard their motherland. This is the theme of my story,” explains Shreelesh.

Interestingly, this film is made with a shoestring budget of Rs 3.5 lakh and has non actors in its cast. The cinema was shot without a written script. “We considered the actors from the same village Paarane, and filmed around Coorg district, which has sync sound and mise en scene,” says the director.

Director is thrilled to know that Paraane has been nominated for a couple of festivals. “A Kodava langauge film making it to film festivals, which is first time in India, has definitely excited the team. It has been nominated at Indonesia Film Festival and a small festival to be held in Berlin,” he mentions.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Kannada / by Express News Service / November 08th, 2018

Basketball: After success at FIBA Asia U-18 C’ships, Coorg girl Harshitha aims for bigger targets

November 5, 2018Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinionadmin

Harshitha was India’s leading scorer as the team progressed to Division A after beating Kazakhstan in the final.

There’s a sense of inevitability when Harshitha Bopaiah picks up the basketball for her sixth free throw in the Division B final of the FIBA Under-18 Women’s Asian Championships. Her body language doesn’t attempt to mask with fake nonchalance the pressure within. Her face doesn’t give false looks of insouciance. She’s focused.

Kazakhstan’s an easy opponent on paper as they lost two of their three group games and only won against Samoa. But they are in the final after beating Syria.

This is Harshitha’s first final of any tournament as an India player. She’s performing in front of her family and friends at Sree Kanteerava Stadium and the home crowd has not stopped cheering. There’s tension which you can see on her face. But all her five previous free throws of the night – and two in the semi-final – were executed to smooth perfection. Hence, the sense of inevitability.

Harshitha picks up the ball, pauses for a fleeting moment, breathes twice and, once again, makes the perfect parabola that earns her team an additional point. Six free throws out of six.

The point stretched India’s lead in the third quarter to 47-24 in the third quarter. They eased to a 68-45 win over the Kazakhs to earn a berth in Division A of the Championships in 2020.

Harshitha, who’ll turn 20 by then, won’t be there to play that tournament. It’s been just three years since started playing basketball. But she reluctantly admits to having bigger ambitions.

“I would like to play for the Indian senior team, and perhaps, play abroad as well,” she tells Scroll.in.

But she barely had those ambitions when she began hooping back in Coorg.

The 18-year-old was encouraged to participate in various sports as a kid as sports ran in her family but of a different kind. Her dad played hockey for the state team and her brother represented his University side.

However, Harshitha excelled in athletics – long jump and high jump – at school.

“I’d come for a selection trials for athletics. A coach there told me that I have the height (now 5’9) for basketball. So, I went for the selection… and, got into the team.”

As a 15-year-old she joined the sports hostel in Vijaya Nagar for further training. Initially, she would face challenges on the court having never trained in the game before. But with time she adjusted.

“But I enjoy playing the game a lot,” she says.

The Indian team was without the injured teenage sensation Vaishnavi Yadav, who scored 71 points in a Junior Nationals Game in Ludhiana. But in her absence, Harshitha stood out, scoring 75 points in five games to finish the tournament as India’s leading scorer.

Putting the ball in the basket, of course, is fun for Harshitha. But she finds greater relish whilst defending – blocking and stealing the ball from the opposition (she made four steals in the final against Kazakhstan).

But Harshitha never imagined herself playing in front of her home crowd in the Indian jersey. Atleast not so early in her career.

“I never thought I’d make the side. I gave my best in the national camp. And, when I got into the team, it was a little scary because I knew I would be playing in front of my home crowd. But, two-three matches later, I got encouragement from the crowd, the coach. I felt proud of myself that I ended up as my team’s leading scorer in the tournament,” she said.

Certainly, India coach Zoran Visic was proud of her. He is incharge of India’s three teams – U-16, U-18 and the senior – in Bengaluru. But he was more than impressed with her consistent performance.

“Harshitha was very good, on both the rebounds as well as scoring points for us. In the semi-finals, too, she got a double-double, almost triple-double. And, she’s an important member of this team,” Visic said.

Both Harshitha and Visic would hope that she can be an important member of the senior team as well.

source: http://www.scroll.in / Scroll.in / Home> The Field> Basketball / by Praveen Sudevan / November 04th, 2018

Here’s how the world brewed its most favourite drink

November 3, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Coffee News, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Coffee is indisputably one of the most favourite and widely consumed beverages in the world. It is estimated that more than 200 crore cups of coffee are consumed by people around the globe on a daily basis. The coffee plants originated in the African continent, and Arabica and Robusta are the most commonly grown varieties.

The tale of coffee

There are many legendary accounts related to the origin of the coffee. The most popular among them is the tale of Kaldi, the Ethiopian shepherd, who noted how his goats have become excited and active after eating the leaves of a plant which bore red shiny seeds. He took the leaves and seeds of this plant to the nearby monastery to know more about it. It is said that the monk at the monastery brewed a special drink using the seeds brought by the shepherd. After drinking the concoction, the monk discovered that he could indulge in his works with renewed energy and remain wake at night to offer prayers. So many believe that the first cup of coffee was brewed in an Ethiopian monastery by a monk.

It was in a 9th century document that coffee was mentioned for the first time. Crassus, a Persian apothecary has written about a drink called bunchum. It was noted that bunchum was brewed from a fruit called bun, which means coffee beans in the Ethiopian language. Historians thus surmise that Craussus had mentioned about coffee brewed from coffee beans. In the meantime, Arab merchants had begun cultivating coffee plants in Yemen, which were brought from Ethiopia. Their coffee cultivation was based on the hilly areas in the south western parts of Yemen. This coffee variant, known as Arabica, had reached almost all the Arab countries as well.

Turkish brew

Ozdemir Pasha, the Turkish Ottoman governor of Yemen had taken tons of coffee to Istanbul. He, in fact, is credited for introducing coffee to Turkey. It was the Turkish people who brewed the coffee, for the first time, in the way in which it is consumed today. They roasted the coffee seeds, ground it to fine powder and then mixed in hot water to make the beverage. As per the historical records, the Ottoman emperor Suleiman had created a special title called the ‘chief coffee maker,’ and the person who bore that title enjoyed a special position in his royal court as well. It was during the reign of the Ottoman Empire that coffee reached various parts of the world and became one of the most prominent drinks.

Unique flavour

In this image taken on May 13, 2013, glasses of cold-brewed iced coffee for summer are shown served on a tray in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Matthew Mead)

By the 17th century, coffee had become popular in Europe and North America. When Britain imposed tea tax in America in 1773, the Americans resorted to coffee. The Arab merchants tried to retain their dominance in coffee export when the demand increased significantly in Europe and America. They had exported only roasted coffee beans or the seeds which were boiled in water, to prevent the cultivation of coffee in other parts of the world.

However, the Dutch, French, and the Portuguese had begun coffee cultivation at their various colonies around the globe. The Dutch had cultivated coffee in South East Asia, while the French had coffee plantations in the Caribbean islands. The Portuguese, too, had large plantations in their South American colony, Brazil. By the 1830’s Brazil became the largest exporter of coffee in the world, and still continues its leading position in coffee export followed by Vietnam and Colombia. Robusta coffee which originated in the central and western Africa is largely grown in Vietnam.

Coffee in India

It was Baba Budan, a Sufi monk who is believed to have smuggled coffee out of the Yemenese harbour town Mocha to India, while returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca. There are many portraits of Baba Budan in which he is portrayed as smuggling 7 coffee seeds by hiding them under his long beard or strapping them onto his chest. It is said that Baba Budan, who was a resident of the Chandragiri hills in Chikmanglur, Karnataka, had grown those coffee seeds here in 1670. Today, these hills are known as the Baba Budan hills. In 1870, the first first coffee plantation in India was set up near the Baba Budan hills. J H Jolly, who was the manager of the Parry and Company, had requested the king of Mysore to allot 40 acres of land for coffee cultivation. Later, the coffee reached other places in south India like Wayanadunand Nilgiri.

Indian special

Though the British had tried to cultivate coffee in India, it wasn’t as successful in the beginning.They had faced a backlash when the Arabica variety was affected by the coffee rust disease. However, in the 19th century the British had managed to grow coffee in more than 3 lakh hectares of land. In the initial stages, the coffee plantations were opened mainly in places like Mysore and Coorg, and the Robusta variety was grown here. Later they began to cultivate S795 variety of the Arabica coffee which was immune to the coffee rust disease.

In the mid 19th century, India emerged as a leading exporter of coffee. But the market crashed due to the severe financial constraints which arose during the world wars. To effectively tackle this a coffee cess committee was formed in 1935. As per their recommendations, Indian coffee house outlets were opened in 1940. It was during this time that the renowned Indian filter coffee emerged.The filter coffee prepared by mixing roasted coffee beans, chicory, milk, and sugar became instantly in popular in South India. The Coffee Board of India was formed in 1945 to regulate the coffee exports exports and to aid the small scale coffee cultivators.

The Indian Coffee House

In the 1950’s, the Coffee Board of India decided to shut down the India coffee house outlets opened during the British era, and to terminate the labourers who worked at these outlets. However, the labourers, led by the charismatic communist leader A K Gopalan, formed the India Coffee Board Workers’ Cooperative Society on 19 August 1957 at Bangalore. The first outlet of the Indian Coffee House was thus opened, in the same year, in Delhi. The next year, the Indian Coffee House was opened in Thrissur, making it the first outlet in Kerala. More outlets of the iconic Indian Coffee House were opened at various places like Thalassery, Lucknow, Nagpur, Jabalpur, Mumbai, Calcutta, Pune, and Tamil Nadu.

Expensive brew

It is in the south Indian states that coffee is cultivated in abundance. Karnataka produces 71% of the total coffee production while Kerala has 21% and Tamil Nadu produces 5%. The Indian coffee is in great demand around the globe as coffee here is mostly grown in mixed farming, getting ample shade under the cardamom, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon crops. The Indian Monsoon coffee has a distinct flavour and aroma. There are coffee plantations in states like Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and many north eastern states as well.

The unique coffee produced by the tribal people of the Araku valley in Andhra Pradesh is one of the most famous organic coffee brands in the world. The Araku brand of coffee has achieved an international honour by winning the Prix Epicerie Award 2018. It is for the first time that an Indian coffee brand has won this prestigious award. The brand which sells 100% authentic Arabica coffee now has an outlet in Paris as well. Five different varieties of Araku coffee are sold at this outlet, and the premium coffee variant costs up to Rs 7000 per kilogram.

source: http://www.food.manoramaonline.com / OnManorama / Home> Food> Foodie / by M Muhammmad Shafi / November 02nd, 2018

The World’s Best Destinations For Coffee Lovers

October 31, 2018Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

Are you a coffee addict with a penchant for travel? Then you’ve come to the right place! From one-of-a-kind coffee academy in Brazil and elegant Italian coffee bars to Colombia’s innovative coffee themed-park, here are some of the most fascinating holiday destinations that need to be on your bucket list:

Vienna, Austria:

Austria’s capital is as renowned for its coffeehouse culture as it is for its historic monuments. Thanks to numerous coffee houses that dot the city, Vienna was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011. From traditional coffee houses like Café Schwarzenberg, which was established in the 19th century, to progressive, third wave cafés such as Fürth Kaffee, Vienna offers something for every coffee connoisseur. The most popular vintage Viennese coffee shops include Café Central and Café Prückel. But if you like all things contemporary, hit up cafés like Sassmünd Kaffeebar, Zweitbester and Waldemar. Oh, and if you fancy enjoying brunch in the company of furry felines then Das Augustine is the place to go! The best time to visit Austria is from April to May and September to October.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam:

Coffee was introduced to Vietnam by French colonialists in the 19th century. According to Topdeck Travel, Vietnamese-style coffee often includes added ingredients like egg yolk and yogurt to make the beverage more flavorful. Traditionally, the rich drink is served in a glass with sweetened condensed milk at the bottom. Shin Coffee in old Saigon is one of the best places to sample Vietnamese specialty coffee. The Coffee Ship is yet another must-visit stop for coffee enthusiasts. Housed in a boat that floats on the Kenh Te Canal, it’s hands down one of the trendiest coffee shops in the city. Meanwhile, if you dig the idea of sipping coffee in the warm embrace of nature, you cannot go wrong with Du Mien Garden Coffee. Other popular cafés in Ho Chi Minh City include Yoko Café, The Workshop Specialty Coffee and The Snap Café. For an ideal vacay in Vietnam, plan your trip between January and March.

Milan, Italy:

Among Italy’s famous culinary contributions are some of the finest coffee beverages including espresso, cappuccino, macchiato and caffè d’orzo. Moreover, it’s the Italian capital’s coffee culture that inspired former Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz. Some of the most notable cafés in Milan are Orsonero, Marchesi, Taglio, Caffé Napoli and Moleskine Café. The city also boasts of a variety of lavish al Bancos or coffee bars such as Pavé, Bar Luce and Caffè Baglioni. The best time to visit Italy is in May. Or, in September and October, if you’d like to avoid high tourist footfall.

São Paulo, Brazil:

Brazil has been the world’s largest producer of coffee for the past 150 years. Particularly known for its Arabica and Robusta coffee, the Latin American country is one of the best destinations for coffee buffs. São Paulo is home to an array of coffee shops and roasters. From traditional gems like Sofá Café, Café Floresta and The Little Coffee Shop to contemporary cafés like Beluga and Octavio. And if you take your coffee very seriously, a visit to Coffee Lab is a must. The innovative café doubles as a microbrewery and coffee academy. Visitors can sample different kinds of Brazilian coffee, choosing from a vast selection of beans and brewing methods. Meanwhile, for a great farm to cup experience, Isso é Caffè is the place to go. Located near São Paulo Museum of Art, the brewery serves coffee made with dark roasted beans in a small glass tumbler known as cafezinho. Summer and spring is the best time for a Brazilian getaway.
Istanbul, Turkey: Strong, sweet and black as night, that’s Turkish coffee for you. The full-bodied beverage is prepared with finely ground, unfiltered coffee. It’s served in traditional porcelain cups known as fincan. With its plethora of coffee shops, Istanbul is a dream destination for avid coffee lovers. For an authentic Turkish coffee experience, check out Pierre Loti Café and Fazil Bey’s Turkish Coffee House. If you’d like to explore more trendy establishments, visit The House Café, Java Studio Istanbul and Midpoint Café. And if you prefer your cuppa joe accompanied by a stunning view, look no further than Galata Konak Café. The best time to visit Istanbul is between September and early November.
Jakarta, Indonesia: Coffee is an integral part of the Indonesian lifestyle. The South-Asian country is known for its exceptional coffee varieties, including Java, Sumatran, Toraja and Gayo coffee. More adventurous coffee aficionados might also want to try its Kopi Luwak or civet coffee which also happens to be the most expensive coffee in the world. Jakarta boasts of a rich coffee culture. The bustling capital city is dotted with coffee shops that will please every kind of coffee lover. For those looking for a cozy spot to get their caffeine fix, Lucky Cat Coffee and Kitchen will fit the bill. And if you like all things vintage, Trafique Coffee and Bakoel Koffie should be on your checklist. Meanwhile, if you’re in the mood for some exquisite specialty brews, check out cafés like Anomali and Coffee Grounds. Alternatively, for an immersive cultural experience, enjoy a glass of herb-infused coffee at one of the streetside stalls called warung kopi. If you’re planning a trip to Jakarta, the best time to go is from July to October.
Seattle, Washington, USA: Home to world’s first Starbucks located in Pike Place Market, Seattle is a perfect place for coffee snobs. Fancy elegant indie cafés? Try Elm Coffee Roasters, Lighthouse Roasters, Analog Coffee or Victrola Coffee Roasters. If Instagrammable latte art is your thing, check out Moore Coffee Shop on the 2nd Avenue. Hit up Milstead & Co, if you’d like to sample hard-to-find caffeine treats in a cosmopolitan setting. For fans of traditional establishments with an old-world charm, Café Allegro and Seattle Coffee Works’ Express Bar are highly recommended. Best time for a visit to the rainy city is in late June or between September and October.
Other must-visit destinations include Cuba, Portugal, Finland and Colombia – home to the National Coffee Park – a theme-park complete with attractions like a coffee garden, coffee museum and cable car.

So, where would you head for a caffeine-packed getaway? Let me know in the comments below!

I’ve been a digital journalist and writer for the past four years, primarily covering lifestyle and wellness. After completing my post graduation in International Journalism, I worked as a Features Writer at Cosmopolitan India where I wrote extensively on pop culture, society, and everything lifestyle. I’ve also contributed to The News Hub, Zee News, Business for People and Planet and OneWorld South Asia, among other publications. Other than that, I’m an avid reader and enjoyer of quality procedurals. When not penning articles or chasing deadlines, I like to travel, bake, dabble in poetry, and make DIY craft projects.

source: http://www.forbes.com / Forbes / Home> Lifestyle / by Nomah Nazih, contributor / October 28th, 2018

Rwanda beats Brazil, Colombia as “Best of the Best” coffee producer

October 27, 2018Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

Rwanda has made strides in being competitive in the global market, producing quality cash crop.

It only came as a surprise to many who have not followed the growth of Rwandan coffee over the years.

Rwanda’s efforts to produce one of the best quality in the coffee sector has indeed paid off. Rwanda’s coffee has now scooped two awards in the 3rd annual Ernesto Illy International Coffee Awards that took place on October.

Ngororero Coffee Washing Station bagged a brace of prestigious accolades including “Best of the Best” and “Coffee Lover’s Choice” awards, marking a historical milestone. No coffee from any part of the world has ever picked up both awards, which was an achievement that will go down into the history books. Indeed the strategies to make the world’s best coffee bore fruits.

In its bid to be competitive in the international market, Rwanda has made a series of changes in the coffee sector, to ensure high-quality production of the cash crop. Last year, the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) implemented new approaches that ranked the country’s export among the best, globally.

Based on the beans’ aromatic richness, complexity, balance, elegance and aroma intensity, and strength, a jury of coffee experts in New York, USA considered Rwanda’s coffee as “Best of the Best.” The exposure was vital for the country to learn more about the global market and areas to improve to be at the top of the log.

Bagging the two awards this year, Rwanda edged top producers of coffee in the world including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, and Nicaragua. The country eased past both South American and East Asian countries that as well are potential competitors in producing top-notch quality coffee.

llycaffè S.p.A. an Italian coffee roasting company that specializes in the production of espresso announced Rwanda’s coffee milestone in the gala. The company that was founded by Francesco Illy in 1933 is a global leader in high-quality coffee, passionate about perfection.

Rwanda made its official debut at exporting roasted coffee to the USA in 2017, a ten-tonne consignment with the first shipment valued at U$77,000. The business partnership opened up other investment opportunities for the Rwanda coffee to expand its market and increase its share of export revenue. It also boosts trade in the agriculture sector between the U.S and Rwanda, furthering the partnership between America and Africa.

Rwanda seeks to export at least 24, 500 tonnes of quality coffee in a year, 1,500 tonnes more than 2017 and 2,500 tonnes more than 2016. As part of NAEB’s strategies to produce quantity and quality coffee, they aim at planting 34,000 new coffee trees by the year 2024.

Global prices should increase the export receipts given that the country sells quality cash crop. Rwanda’s total coffee export revenue rose to $59.8 million in the first 11 months of 2017, up from $53.8 million earned over the same period in 2016, registering a growth in value of 11.1 percent or $6 million.

source: http://www.exchange.co.tz / Exchange / Home> Industry & Trade> Agribusiness / by John Green / October 18th, 2018

The Jews’ Café Society

October 26, 2018Coffee News, World Opinionadmin

A coffee shop in Midtown, Manhattan. Flickr CC/ Neo_II www.habenbacher.at

Perhaps because I’m writing this as I sit in a vibrant, quirky coffee shop in Washington Heights, its walls decorated with graffiti-inspired art and fake ivy, it strikes me that whenever I arrive in a new city, I make a beeline for the nearest independent coffee house. But it wasn’t until I read Shachar Pinsker’s new book, “A Rich Brew: How the Café Created Modern Jewish Culture” (NYU Press), that I learned that Jews and coffee shops have been connected for at least a century; Jews, especially Jewish writers, he argues, have made the café their primary gathering place and, in many cases, their collective muse. (Read The Jewish Week’s review on the book here.)

Pinsker, who teaches Hebrew literature at the University of Michigan, chronicles the history of cafés in six cities (Odessa, Warsaw, Vienna, Berlin, New York and Tel Aviv), showing that major Jewish journalists, novelists, poets and playwrights, from Sholem Aleichem to Isaac Bashevis Singer, were not just inspired by coffee shops but frequently used them as the settings for their work.

Jews have a long history with coffee. While coffee houses first sprang up in Constantinople, Cairo and other Middle Eastern cities during the mid-sixteenth century, it was a Jewish entrepreneur who brought the coffee house to Europe, opening one in Livorno in 1632. The first café in England was opened in 1651 in Oxford by one “Jacob the Jew,” who was an immigrant from Lebanon.

A Rich Brew” tells the story of how cafes “created modern Jewish culture.” Courtesy of NYU Press

As coffee drinking became popular throughout Europe, according to the late Robert Liberles in “Jews Welcome Coffee: Tradition and Innovation in Early Modern Germany,” engagements between Jewish couples were sealed by the parents over a cup of coffee rather than a drink at the local tavern. David Liss’ 2003 historical novel, “The Coffee Trader,” centers on a 17th-century Jewish refugee from the Portuguese Inquisition who tries to corner the market on coffee only to be caught up in all kinds of commercial and romantic entanglements.

The kinds of food served in cafés also often had a Jewish connection; think of the Viennese Jewish pastry maker Franz Sacher and his famous creation, Sacher Torte, or Stephen Klein, also from Vienna, a Jewish chocolatier who escaped to America in 1939 and started Barton’s Candy Corp.

Donald Schoenholt is the president of Gillies Coffee Company, the oldest coffee maker in the country. The business, which was started in 1840 by a Scottish family, was taken over by Donald’s uncle, Mac, in 1912. I first met Donald in the late 1980s, when I joined the Little Neck Jewish Center, which he served as president. It was the era of the yuppies; Starbucks (acquired in 1987 by Howard Schultz, a Jewish guy from Brooklyn) was just emerging on the scene and “specialty coffees” were all the rage. As Schoenholt put it, “People were starting to eat brie instead of Velveeta,” and they needed a more upscale coffee to go with their meals.

Schoenholt told me that Jewish merchants participated in the American coffee trade since the 18th century, and that, “with each wave of Jewish immigration, more Jews were drawn to it.” While New York was the center for manufacturing coffee, he said, the major port for the importation of coffee was New Orleans, where Jewish merchants like Jacob Aron traded in both coffee and gold. By the 1880s, Philip Wechsler, an immigrant from Austria who became a major donor to the United Jewish Appeal, had opened a coffee-roasting factory in New York. William Black (né Schwartz), who started by selling shelled nuts under a stairway in Times Square, founded the chain of luncheonettes known as Chock Full o’ Nuts. And Samuel Schonbrunn, a Jewish immigrant from Hungary, created the Savarin brand of coffee, which was served at the Waldorf Astoria.

In our time, coffee shops loom large in pop culture — think of Monk’s Café, where the characters on “Seinfeld” hang out in almost every episode, sitting in a booth near the front door. (The exterior shots were taken, of course, at Tom’s Restaurant, an actual diner at Broadway and 112th.) Ruth Cohen (that’s her real name), the cashier, appears in more episodes than any other character besides the stars. Jerry Seinfeld went on to create and host the web series “Comedians in Cars Having Coffee,” now in its 10th season; it has featured Mel Brooks, Bob Einstein and Sarah Silverman.

And who could forget “Diner,” Barry Levinson’s semi-autobiographical 1982 valentine to his hometown of Baltimore; the film is about a group of 20-something Jewish friends in the 1950s who made the local diner their gathering spot.

Even non-Jews associate coffee with the Chosen People. As a sign outside a church in Harveys Lake, Pa. (in the Poconos) asked last summer, “How does Moses make coffee? Hebrews it.”

Ted Merwin’s column appears the fourth week of the month

source: http://www.jewishweek.timesofisrael.com / Times of Israel / Home> The New York Jewish Week / by Ted Merwin / October 23rd, 2018

Kodagu First

a Celebration. Positive News, Facts & Achievements about Kodagu, Coorgs and the People of Kodagu – here at Home and Overseas