The Untapped Potential of Robusta Coffee
When Mattel Estate was founded in 1927, we first grew Arabica coffee. But in the coming years, we completely switched over to Robusta coffee, having realised that the growth of this variety is far more well suited to the region of Wayanad.
For the longest time, we have been conditioned to believe that specialty coffee and high quality coffee is synonymous with Arabica. As a result of this bias, Robusta coffee has been reserved primarily for exports or to be used in instant coffee blends. What is the main reason behind this perception?
The US-based Coffee Quality Institute has stated that “Robusta is often overlooked because of its traditionally unfavourable cupping quality, which traces directly to the way it is processed.”
Though this variety of coffee is known for being resilient towards harsh weather and crop pests, it is often targeted for its supposedly “rubbery” and “bitter” flavours. However, most people are completely unaware that Robusta coffee plants are generally not given the same care and attention as their Arabica counterparts. Cultivators consciously choose to favour Arabica for its fruity and floral flavour notes that are considered more palatable for most people.
West Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam are major global producers of robusta coffee- and nearly all the plantations in these areas grow their coffee crops under the sun. You might be surprised to know that India is the only country that grows its Robusta coffee completely under the shade! From its soil and landscape to its weather conditions, India has always been an ideal spot for Robusta coffee to flourish.
In recent times, coffee lovers- be it connoisseurs or consumers- are starting to recognise the incredible potential of Robusta. In fact, Wayanad Robusta coffee was awarded a GI Tag in 2019. When given the care and treatment it deserves, Robusta coffee truly shines, developing rich and intense tasting notes of dark chocolate, caramel, malt and nuts.
La Boisson Noire is a pioneer of authentic, 100% Robusta coffee, spearheading a revolution that discards superficial biases and values coffee solely for its quality and taste.