SHANTI VALLEY | India | Anaerobic Natural

Shanti Valley Estate, with more than 100 years of heritage, is located in Mallenahalli, Chikmagalur, and is currently managed by the 4th generation of the family. The soil measures above-average levels of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which is an indicator of good plant health. It is home to more than 66 species of birds, 40 species of butterflies and 11 types of wildlife mammals. Apart from coffee, Shanti Valley boasts more than 20 other varieties of fruit-bearing and medicinal plants and trees. The farm is located at the foot of Bababudan Giri hill in Chikmagaluru, at an altitude of 3,400 ft to 4,250 ft above sea level. It primarily grows Arabica coffee, with the cultivars S-795, HDT Catuai, Cauvery and Chandragiri. The coffee is shade-grown, hand-picked and mountain-fresh. The coffee, fruits and spices are grown in harmony with the existing environment at the plantation. Indigenous spices, fruit and jungle trees provide shade to the coffee and contribute a unique flavour. The primary source of water is rainfall, which is channelled into the coffee area for optimum use. There is also a natural stream flowing through the plantation, as well as a man-made lake. A part of the plantation is irrigated. 50 % of the fertiliser used is organic, and the compost is prepared on the farm itself. There is minimum or no use of fungicides, and no pesticides have been used in the last 5 years. Fully ripe cherries are selectively hand-picked, hand-sorted and density-sorted in water to remove floaters and foreign matter. The selected cherries undergo 72 hours of anoxic fermentation in sealed food-grade barrels, followed by approximately 25 days of drying on raised beds and/or patio, using a combination of shade drying and polyhouse drying. Once the desired moisture level is achieved, the dried cherries are cupped, quality-assessed and segregated into lots before being stabilised in storage. The coffee is then machine hulled, colour sorted and hand sorted to ensure consistency and defect control, before being packed in hermetic GrainPro bags.