Coffee - Varieties under Cultivation

At Bettadamalali Estate we grow both Arabica and Robusta coffee under the shade of both native trees, and silver oak which we have planted. Arabica is grown at in altitudes ranging from 1100 m to 1350 meters, while Robusta is grown in altitudes under 1100 m.

Selection 795

Alarge tract of our area under Arabica has the Selection 795 plants. This variety was developed by the Coffee Board of India in the 1940's and has been very popular owing to its yield, cup quality, and longevity.

Chandragiri

A semi-dwarf cultivar released by the Coffee Board of India. We have planted this variety in the blocks that we have been renovating since 2012. It is resistant to the coffee leaf rust disease and beings to yield sooner than the conventional varieties.

Selection 6

Another variety developed by the Coffee Board and popular in the Arabica circles for its high yields. It is a slow ripening variety, meaning the berries are ready for harvest a little later than the other varieties. The late ripening helps avoid the crop loss due to unseasonal rains that we sometimes receive towards the end of November and early December. There are several variations of this variety based on source of the seeds but the plant characteristics are almost similar. Our plants were raised with seeds sourced from the nearby Coffee Research Station located in Balehonnur.

Selection 9

An early ripening variety which is also popular for its good yields, cup quality, and resistance to leaf rust. Selection 9 plants are second to Sln 795 in the acreage under cultivation at our farm.

Selection 4595

A trial variety that has shown some degree of tolerance to the white stem borer, a pest of Arabica plants. A trial plot with tissue cultured and seed raised plants has been established at our farm to evaluate this variety.

Hemavathy

A semi-dwarf variety. We have planted this variety in a plot that we recently renovated. The seeds of this variety were sourced from Cowcoody Estate located in Coorg district. It is similar in characteristics to Chandragiri.

Sarchimore

A variety that we have selected for its tolerance to leaf rust.