Hello readers, it has been a while since I wrote about my beloved birthplace, Karnataka. If you have been a consistent reader of TechNews, you might already know I wrote multiple times about Mysuru (a city in Karnataka) and Karnataka. In this article, we will go over how Karnataka contributes to overall crop production in India.
Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee in India, responsible for nearly 70 percent of India’s total production. Coffee plantations in Karnataka are mostly concentrated in Kodagu, Chikmagalur, and Hassan, which also happen to be the best places to observe the coffee processing and taste some good coffee. Taj Garden in Chikmagalur is especially loved by coffee lovers since it grows Panduranga coffee beans organically with great care. Also, the “Bhadra Tiger Reserve,” next to the Taj Garden, is surrounded by green forests, and if you are lucky enough you might even spot some wildlife. You can rent a bicycle and ride along the roads to explore peaceful and beautiful places with ease.
While Karnataka is not necessarily that well-known for tea, there are some absolutely beautiful tea gardens here. The top district that produces tea in the state is Kodagu with small tea plantations spread throughout. One of the most well-known places is probably the “Glenlorna Plantation,” where in 1914 Karnataka’s first tea bush was planted and still thrives today. The plantation runs over 1,200 acres of neatly maintained green cover and is a reflection of British heritage at its best. On a bicycle ride along the curving mud tracks, the cardamom and coffee trees give way to rolling tea hills. The British bungalow with its elegant architecture and frequent visits from exotic birds and butterflies creates an impression as if you have stepped back in time.
Karnataka is also India’s leading cashew nut producer. Karnataka is teeming with tropical cashew trees that are picked annually between February and May, three years apart. Normally, the cashew nuts ripen and fall to the ground, and they are picked. Meanwhile, the cashew fruit is also used in making syrup, juice, jam, and the Feni drink. If you take a Feni tour, you will be able to see how the cashew apples are plucked from the trees, de-seeded, and crushed to produce this popular beverage. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkaballapur, Belgaum, Kodagu, Kolar, and Uttara Kannada are some of the best cashew-growing regions in Karnataka. Ride along these green routes on your motorbike and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way.
Cardamom, or the “Queen of Spices,” is another major crop of Karnataka and contributes to about 23 percent of India’s total production. It is mainly grown in the Western Ghats, along with areas where Karnataka borders Kerala and Tamil Nadu, occupying over 100,000 hectares of land. It is an aromatic spice that is widely used to flavor tea and coffee. It is also a key spice in the majority of Indian sweets, such as Kheer, Gulab Jamun, Gajar Halwa, and Kulfi. A visit to the peaceful cardamom plantations and homestays of Karnataka and along the Karnataka-Kerala border is an experience that one will never forget. There are more interesting crops and plantations to look out for in Karnataka however it is most famous for Coffee and Tea production, in my opinion, a short visit to these places in the peak winter season is an amazing way to experience the real beauty of it and I am sure it leaves a great impression on you.
My Kodagu tea plantation visit pictures during the summer break of 2024.
