Information about Monsooned Malabar

Monsooned Malabar (or Monsoon Malabar) is one of the worlds most unique and sought after coffee beans. These exotic beans originate from the Malabar Coast of India and undergo a very unique process to produce their phenomenal flavour profile.

:: History ::

Coffee beans grown in India used to make a long, treachorous sea journey by ship to Europe. During this time the beans were exposed to the sea air and monsoon winds that whirl around the coast of India. Many ships were wrecked and many sailors perished undertaking this precarious sea journey.

When sea transport and shipping was modernized during the early 20th century, the journey which these Indian coffee beans undertook was transformed. The journey was faster and the cargo was protected from exposure to the harsh environment. Whilst this meant a faster, safer journey - the Europeans noticed that the coffee beans arriving in their ports lacked the depth and character of the coffee beans they received in days gone by.

When it was determined that in the past the coffee beans were in fact being transformed by the journey they undertook, with exposure to the sea air and monsoon winds and rain - an alternative process was sought to replicate these conditions, so that these incredible coffee beans could be enjoyed once again.

From this demand for the unique, captivating qualities of 'monsooned' or 'weathered' coffee beans - Monsooned Malabar as we know it was born. To learn more about the incredible processes that create these Monsooned Malabar coffee beans, continue reading below.

:: Cultivation and processing ::

The Arabica beans used for Monsooned Malabar are grown in the Karnataka region in South West India. After harvesting, these medium to medium-large Arabica beans are naturally dried under the Indian sun.

These dried, green coffee beans are then warehoused in the port city of Mangalore, on the Malabar Coast. These warehouses have large openings that expose the beans to the elements, the sea air washing across the beans.

During the Monsoon season from around June to September, the moisture-laden monsoon winds circulate around the warehoused beans. All this encouraged exposure to the moist, sea air swells the beans, and also fades the colour to a pale, almost yellow complexion.

In addition to the cosmetic changes, this process reduces acidity in the beans and produces notes of spice, mustiness, wood, chocolate and nuts.

This deliberate exposure of the coffee beans to the sea air and monsoon winds replicates the environment that Indian coffee beans experienced in times gone by - stored in the holds of sailing boats on a long and dangerous journey to Europe.

:: Locations ::

The Arabica coffee beans used for Monsooned Malabar are grown in the Karnataka region in South West India. The map below shows the location of the Karnataka region in India.

This image was sourced from Wikimedia Commons and edited for use on MonsoonedMalabar.com.

Once harvested, the naturally dried Arabica beans are warehoused in the port city of Mangalore on the Malabar Coast. The map below shows the location of Mangalore City in the Karnataka region of India.

This image was sourced from Wikimedia Commons and edited for use on MonsoonedMalabar.com.

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