India RFA Cascara - Ratnagiri "Pearl Mountain" Estate

This is an RFA Cascara from Ratnagiri "Pearl Mountain" estate in south India's Western Ghats. Cascara - literally "husk" or "shell" in Spanish - is the dried coffee cherry skin & pulp that is normally discarded during processing. When carefully processed, cascara can be brewed like a tea, with a high caffeine content and a sweet, complex flavour.

Ratnagiri or "Pearl Mountain" estate is situated at the top of a mountain range in the Western Ghats region of India. The local Hindi name Ratnagiri translates to "Pearl Mountains" in reference to the dense silver oaks which tower over the estate and provide a natural shade canopy for coffee. This estate has been in operation under the Patre family since 1920, being passed down from grandfather, to father to son. While initially the son, Ashok, continued with traditional farming practices, he has since spent many years travelling to origin countries, visiting well-known farms and taking from the best of their practices and incorporating it into his operation at Pearl Mountain.

For all intents and purposes Ratnagiri Estate is an organic/biodynamic farm and also maintains official Rainforest Alliance Certification. The estate is a lush shaded environment with 3 stories of shade. It is home to over 48 recorded bird populations, monkeys, leopards, wild boar, tigers, mongoose and - on occasion - elephants. The rich biodiversity demands that Ashok and his family have an approach to farming which places ecology and harmony with the environment at the forefront