Once There Was A Coffee Bean
Discover India|March 2018

The story of how one of the world’s favourite beverages came to be grown in India is as fascinating as the place where it transforms from the bean to the cup. Set in the lap of nature and luxury, this is the home of coffee in India—Chikmagalur.

Satarupa Paul
Once There Was A Coffee Bean

A long, long time ago, sometime in 1600 CE, an Indian Sufi saint named Baba Budan went on a pilgrimage to Mecca. On the way back, he made a halt at Mocha, a port city on the Red Sea coast of Yemen—one of the major centres of the early coffee trade and which gave the world the famous Mocha beans. Later, it’d also lend its name to the delicious American invention of caffé mocha. But this isn’t the story of what the Americans did, or as purists would say, undid, to coffee. This is the story of what happened when that Indian Sufi saint visited Mocha.

Apparently, while at Mocha, Baba Budan like all other guests to the city was served a dark liquid drink of coffee. He enjoyed the refreshing beverage so much that he wished to bring it back to his homeland and produce it here. The Arabs however, were very protective of their coffee, and quite understandably so! At the time, coffee was exported to other parts of the world only in roasted or baked form, so that nobody else could grow their own and everybody would be forced to buy this elixir from the Arabs alone. Baba Budan though, was resolute.

The accounts of what he did next vary. Some say he concealed them in his beard, others say he strapped them to his chest, still others recount how he hid them in his tunic. Whichever story you wish to believe, fact remains that Baba Budan secretly brought seven seeds of coffee to India. He then made his way to his hermitage in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. He planted the seven coffee seeds in his backyard, and those grew into the first coffee plants of India. For a considerable time, the plants remained a mere garden curiosity, spreading slowly to the neighbouring areas.

Denne historien er fra March 2018-utgaven av Discover India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra March 2018-utgaven av Discover India.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA DISCOVER INDIASe alt
New Gear For New Travels
Discover India

New Gear For New Travels

Here’s our selection of some nifty new gear that’s certain to add extra oomph to your next vacation.

time-read
9 mins  |
November - December 2021
10 Hidden Gems Of India
Discover India

10 Hidden Gems Of India

The last two years have prepared us to expect the unexpected, so why not explore the unexplored in 2022? India boasts some of the most culturally abundant and visually spectacular places in the world. Pick one or more of these 10 indian destinations to travel to and discover new lands in the coming year.

time-read
8 mins  |
November - December 2021
When Travel Heals
Discover India

When Travel Heals

Going for a holiday just after you have lost your mother to COVID-19 may not be the most popular idea, but it was the only way for a grieving family to escape the agony with which they were living. And so, they headed to the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in search of peace and recuperation.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK
Discover India

BOOKS FOR THE BACKPACK

Journey across India through these books that shed light on the intriguing history and vibrant culture of the country.

time-read
2 mins  |
November - December 2021
Masks of Glory
Discover India

Masks of Glory

Charida is not the most popular tourist spot in West Bengal. But its obscurity is one of the reasons we choose to discover the undiscovered ‘mask village’ of India.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2021
Palace of Grandeur
Discover India

Palace of Grandeur

The Grand Mercure Bengaluru at Gopalan Mall offers a slice of Karnataka’s rich architectural and culinary history and culture. We check-in at the palatial property for a plush staycation.

time-read
4 mins  |
November - December 2021
The Road to My Roots
Discover India

The Road to My Roots

A family finds harmony and plenty of nostalgia in the hilly forests of Ramgarh, Uttarakhand and the Kumaon Himalayas.

time-read
6 mins  |
November - December 2021
GARDEN of FABLES
Discover India

GARDEN of FABLES

On the fringes of Darjeeling, Kurseong is home to India’s most expensive tea, the world’s first tea factory, and a mystical natural phenomenon.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
MORE than just FOOD
Discover India

MORE than just FOOD

Kochi’s boutique cafés go beyond the traditional meal to o er artisanal experiences that reflect the port city’s varied expressions. From artist residencies to couverture masterclasses and upmarket design stores, there’s much to explore and savour.

time-read
5 mins  |
November - December 2021
Magical Moments
Discover India

Magical Moments

Travel blogger and dancer, Nina Okhotina, is also the founder of the clothing brand, The Dress Stories. Her fl owy, one-tone dresses add a touch of magic to her Instagram pictures from her Indian trips. The Russia-born social-media star reminisces about her time in India and the people that made it special.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2021