This gnarled looking trunk is that of a Coffee tree! I am sure all those who have travelled to Coorg would have seen these.. It was wonderful to see the origin of something that was my saviour from drinking plain milk in childhood!
Hence for a long time, Coffee, to me, meant the instant variety in powder form that came out of a bottle.
Later, I was intrigued by the strong aroma outside a coffee bean shop and as the years passed, I made lifelong friends with the 'filter kapi'! The logical next step was to see a coffee plantation but it was only recently that this materialised.
And the wait was worth it.
The brown seeds we use are from the fruit of the plant Coffea canephora or Coffea arabica (Robusta or Arabica varieties) which belong to the Rubiaceae family. It is shrub like or a small tree and blooms profusely in February and I was told they set off a heady fragrance in the entire neighbourhood. Soon green fruit called a Berry develop which turn to red and then black when dry. It has two seeds. The fruit has to be processed to get the seeds which can then be roasted and powdered to give us that out-of-this world, mood elevator, ice breaker, life saver beverage we call coffee!
Here are some more images..
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| Berries PC @puneribaker |
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| Berries ripening to red PC @puneribaker |
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| The trunk is used to make lamp stands which will hold a place of pride in any drawing room. Here it has been used to make a sign post. |
Baba Budan has been credited with bringing coffee to India and the rest is history as they say.
Coffee has the characteristic of creating strong fans who refuse to drink Tea. At least it has done so in my family!!
Have you noticed this?
Have you seen the coffee tree? Do you enjoy Coffee or Tea?
I am joining Parul in her ThursdayTreeLove blog hop. It is live on the second and fourth Thursday every month. Do head over to see some fantastic trees from around the world. Better still, join in with your tree!
14 comments:
I have a tiny coffee tree at my work desk. We can not grow them outdoors and I've never seen a mature one - until now. How beautiful it is!
Nice pics! And you're right coffee blooms are beautiful and the fragrance is heavenly indeed! I was lucky to have once visited just when coffee bloom season was nearing the end.
I have seen those trees and beans. Me too a coffee lover.
That's great @Shilpa! Thanks for stopping by :-)
Living right here in Bangalore and I haven't been to Coorg and seen these trees. Guilty for sure. I am glad you shared because I always thought coffee grew on little shrubs. That tree is short but looks like one that has borne many beans. Thanks for sharing, Archana! Take care and I hope to see you on the 26th.
I don't think I've ever seen a coffee tree. It reminds me of gnarled ancient olive trees in Italy, or old vines. Very cool.
Coorg is one place I tried taking a break in summer, somehow never materialized. Hoping to visit this place. Yes I too enjoy coffee - have not really seen the tree, your photos are simple great. The last one is amazing.
Thanks Parul! Happy to participate in TTL. This post should motivate you to visit Coorg as your first travel destination once this Covid19 madness ends!
@Mali Indeed its a gnarled trunk.. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.. :-)
Thanks Angela. So happy you could stop by :-)
I don't think I've ever seen a coffee tree before. Very interesting! Gnarly trees have so much character.
Indeed yes @JoAnna! Happy to share a 'new'tree with you! Thank you for stopping by :-)
I have seen coffee tree trunk pieces adorning many living rooms in India. They are gorgeous. These are some beautiful clicks you have shared here, Archana.
@Vinitha Thank you so much @Vinitha! :-)
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