THE HISTORY OF ARIVEN PLANET'S FAMILY-OWNED COFFEE PLANTATION

 

ARIVEN PLANET'S FAMILY-OWNED COFFEE PLANTATION IS KNOWN AS THE AJ CARDAMOM AND COFFEE ESTATE. IT'S LOCATED IN THE FERTILE REGION OF MEGHAMALAI, TAMIL NADU IN SOUTH INDIA.

 

During the 1930s, an adventurous and nature-loving entrepreneur named Richard Barker, trekked through the dense jungles in colonial Southern India with the objective of reaching a mountain range in the Western Ghats called Meghamalai. In the Southern Indian language of Tamil, Meghamalai means “adorned in clouds". Upon reaching the mountain range after 21 miles of footpath, Barker was inspired by the vistas and vegetation and decided that he would create a coffee plantation called The AJ Cardamom & Coffee Plantations of Meghamalai.​ ​

 

The AJ Cardamom & Coffee Plantations of Meghamalai were unique in that they received year-round rainfall due to the dual monsoons of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The coffee plants were unique in that they blossomed and bore fruit throughout the year. They produced coffee beans that had a distinct sweet, yet slightly spicy aroma with a subtle chocolate flavor. Though their yields were low compared to other plantations, Barker realized the rarity of these plants and had hopes for the special coffee.

 

In 1981, The AJ Cardamom & Coffee Plantations of Meghamalai were offered as a sale to the established Bose family of India. The family was invited to take a tour of the plantation on early on the morning of a sunny day. They were told that the walk to the plantation was an hour walk away and that lunch would be prepared for them when they arrived. Mr. A.S.C.Bose, along with his wife, sister, and two children thus started walking towards the plantation thinkingthe walk would be a nice, casual picnic. ​

 

To the Bose family's surprise, their walk soon became a trek. The first 6 miles of their walk was a progression along mountain trails, and the next 19 miles became steep with narrow and dangerous pathways. The land broker and assistants kept affirming that the plantation would appear after every mile.

 

The family finally reached the plantation 14 hours later, as the final rays of the sun crested behind the majestic hills. The lush, healthy coffee plants, fruit trees, and overall air of well-being at the plantation made them very happy. They were offered a taste of the plantation's coffee, and it was the best they had ever tasted. ​

 

For years, the Bose family operated the plantation with annual revenue losses that were attributed to the plant's low yields because they believed in sharing this unique coffee and insisted upon natural growing and harvesting prcesses that did not rely upon chemicals and syntheitic fertilizers. They knew, that one day, it would be treasured by coffee lovers all over the world.

 

THIS COFFEE IS NOW HERE FOR YOU TO TASTE AND LOVE AS 'ARIVEN COFFEE'.