The Karadykan, Kondadkan, and Gungegiri farms were started in the early 1900s by Charles Crawford and his brother William Crawford. Gungegiri was among the first of these, and the name tells you everything about why the site was chosen.
The hills of the estate are a copious water source for numerous streams flowing through the farm, which is why it was named after the Ganga. Water at altitude, running through the land year round, is not a minor detail in coffee farming. It means the farm never depends on external irrigation, the soil stays consistently hydrated, and the processing has a reliable clean water supply throughout the harvest season.
Spanning approximately 190 hectares at an altitude of 880 to 1,280 MASL, Gungegiri sits at a range where both Arabica and Robusta thrive. Coffee grows under indigenous species of trees including Atti, the wild fig, Basri, and Neeroli, providing filtered shade across the farm. The estate receives 70 to 80 inches of rainfall annually, making it one of the better-watered farms in the region.
The estate is a haven for peacocks, which are a visible presence throughout the farm, alongside spotted deer and other wildlife. Sitting atop one of the hills is an ancient Shiva temple, which has been there longer than the coffee. Gungegiri naturals in particular have found favour with roasters internationally, and the wild fauna and forest floor that the trees and animals create together contribute directly to that cup character.
Hard hitting story. Same as their coffees