A tribal-farmed Eastern Ghats coffee region with its own arabica GI and a reputation for citrus, floral and jaggery-sweet cups.
Araku Valley lies in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh, in the Eastern Ghats near the Odisha border, at about 910 m (ICB gives 900-1,100 m). Coffee grew after independence: in 1956 the Coffee Board appointed the Andhra Pradesh Girijan Cooperative Corporation to promote plantations with tribal farmers, and plantations were handed to tribal families at two acres each. Araku Valley Arabica Coffee is a registered GI (2018-19) covering Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. ICB reports certified lots scoring 85+ on the SCA scale.
Field notes
- i
Araku coffee is grown by Girijan tribal smallholder families rather than large estates, and in 1956 the Coffee Board appointed the state's Girijan cooperative corporation to promote plantations.
- ii
ICB reports that certified Araku lots score 85+ on the SCA 100-point scale, with premium lots reportedly above 90.
- iii
Araku launched its own Araku Coffee brand in 2015, with cafes opening in Paris (2017) and Bengaluru (2021).
- iv
Araku coffee won gold at the Prix Epicures OR 2018 in Paris, described as a first for any Indian coffee brand.
- v
The Board's Araku Valley page lists about 20,000 ha of arabica and an average of 3,100 MT a year, and the Araku Valley zone had 17,969 ha in 2022-23.
In the cup, according to guides
- Tropical fruitOften notedAraku lots have been described with citrus, tropical-fruit and floral notes.
- SweetnessMoreJaggery and milk-chocolate sweetness is reported in cupping notes for Araku lots.
Within Araku Valley
Elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh
Sources · 7 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- Araku Valley · Wikimedia Foundation
- Geographical indications in India · Wikimedia Foundation
- Coffee Regions of India: A Complete Guide · Indian Coffee Beans (roaster/retailer)
- Coffee Board of India: coffee regions and grades · Coffee Board of India
- Database on Coffee, July 2023 · Coffee Board of India, Market Intelligence Unit
- Winners list, Flavour of India Fine Cup Award 2014 · Coffee Board of India
- Non-traditional coffee growing regions in India are having a moment in the sun · Kodagu First