Bhubaneswar: From the lush coffee plantations of Koraput to the global diplomatic stage of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, a distinctive Odisha story has travelled a remarkable distance.
Tiger Bright, the premium Arabica coffee cultivated by tribal farmers in the Eastern Ghats of Koraput, was gifted to guests at the BRICS Summit, giving the world a taste of Odisha while showcasing the potential of tribal enterprise and sustainable livelihoods.
Grown at 920-950 metres in the Nandapur and Machhkund zones under the shade of mango, jackfruit and citrus trees, the 100% Arabica cherries are handpicked at peak ripeness and sun-dried on raised beds. The coffee offers bright citrus notes of orange, lemon and sweet lime with undertones of caramel and chocolate.
Under the end-to-end support of the Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd (TDCCOL), the initiative has grown into a full value-chain model. Launched as ‘Koraput Coffee’ brand on September 11, 2019, it has seen record growth.
During 2025-26 season, TDCCOL procured a record 102.54 MT of coffee fruit – almost three times the 34.68 MT in 2022-23 – benefiting around 360 tribal families, including 71 women farmers. The corporation has shifted to direct digital bank transfers, paying Rs 1.07 crore directly to farmers, with 45.7% growers now using Smart Cards.
Recognitions have followed. Koraput Coffee won two Fine Cup Awards at KYK 2024 and secured 4th rank in Coffee Board’s Flavour of India Fine Cup 2024.TDCCOL has established eight Koraput Coffee cafes across Odisha and Delhi, including at NALCO Damanjodi, which generated Rs 1.64 crore sales in FY 2023-24. Over 10,634 packs of Tiger Bright have been commercialised so far.
The presence at BRICS Summit marks a milestone – transforming a tribal livelihood product into a branded premium product that now represents India’s rural economy before an international audience.
