Explained | Why Was Koraput Coffee Chosen Over Coorg, Chikkamagaluru and Other Indian Coffees at BRICS Summit?
New Delhi: While India is known for established coffee varieties from Coorg, Chikkamagaluru, Wayanad and the Nilgiris, it was Koraput coffee from Odisha that found a place in the kits distributed to delegates and journalists at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
Odisha’s Koraput coffee has found an unusual platform to showcase its growing reputation — the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. A 250-gram packet of ‘Tiger Bright’, a premium Koraput Arabica coffee, was included in kits distributed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to delegates and journalists attending the summit.
What makes Koraput coffee special?
Koraput coffee is cultivated mainly in the Nandapur and Machhkund areas of Koraput district, at elevations of around 920-950 metres. It is predominantly 100% Arabica and is grown under the shade of trees such as mango, jackfruit and citrus.
The coffee cherries are handpicked when they reach peak ripeness. They are then procured, dried, graded, processed and marketed with support from the Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd (TDCCOL).
Tiger Bright is marketed as a premium Arabica, with a flavour profile featuring tropical citrus notes along with caramel, chocolate and cocoa undertones. The beans are sun-dried on raised wooden beds and processed following hygiene and quality standards.
How did Koraput coffee grow?
The ‘Koraput Coffee’ brand was launched in September 2019 to create a structured market for coffee produced by tribal farmers and strengthen the coffee value chain.
The initiative has since recorded a significant increase in procurement. During 2025-26, TDCCOL procured a record 102.54 tonnes of coffee fruit, compared with 34.68 tonnes in 2022-23 and 34.41 tonnes in 2024-25.
The growth has benefited around 360 tribal families.
What does the BRICS recognition mean?
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi welcomed the recognition, saying the BRICS platform would help showcase the State’s local produce.
For Koraput’s tribal coffee growers, the inclusion of Tiger Bright in the summit kits is more than a promotional opportunity — it places a relatively young regional coffee brand on an international platform.
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