Did you know coffee blossoms can smell sweet and heady, with notes like citrus or jasmine? That surprising detail — and many more — came from today’s guest, Accamma Nanjappa, owner of Bean Song Coffee, which ships internationally from India.
If her name sounds familiar, that’s because Accamma was featured in last week’s episode as well. In that conversation she shared stories about Puthari, the harvest festival celebrated by Kodavites in the high, forested hills of Kodava. Our discussion ran long, so we divided it into two parts.
Today we focus on coffee — especially the beans and blends sold under the Bean Song Coffee label. Accamma’s selections come from her hometown and from other historic coffee-growing regions in India, and she brings deep family and personal experience to the table.
Thank you, Accamma, for another rich and informative conversation — and thank you all for listening. See below for links to follow Bean Song Coffee and learn more about their offerings.
Highlights
- The two main coffee varieties grown in India: Arabica and Robusta.
- Accamma’s family plantation spans three generations.
- Personal hardships: how Accamma lost her father and later her husband at a young age.
- The legend of coffee’s arrival in India from Yemen and its early history.
- Ideal geographical conditions for coffee cultivation in India.
- The route coffee takes from Chikmagalur to Coorg and surrounding regions.
- Single-origin and single-estate coffees versus blends — what each offers and when one might be preferred.
- Wet (washed) and dry (natural) processing methods and how they affect flavor.
- Accamma’s travels with her husband and how those experiences shaped her coffee knowledge.
- India’s scientific support for the coffee industry as it faces climate change.
- How the pandemic closed Accamma’s travel business and encouraged her to focus fully on coffee.
- Bean Song’s sustainable practices, including creative uses for coffee husks.
Find Accamma and Bean Song Coffee
- Bean Song Coffee Website: https://beansongcoffee.in/
- Sustainable coffee-husk products available from Bean Song Coffee.
- Instagram: @beansongcoffee
- Multi-day Coffee Trail Tours hosted by Bean Song.
Listen to Accamma Now
Follow The Storied Recipe in Your Favorite Player
Images from BeanSong Coffee
Accamma’s Storied Recipe: Thambuttu
Thambuttu: Festive No Bake Banana Dessert from Coorg (India)
The Storied Recipe Needs Your Help!
Please leave a 5-star review for the podcast right here!
This link will present all review options available on your device; choose one and leave a review. Thank you!
The Storied Recipe Print Shop
Where every print tells a story.
High-end prints for your kitchen walls are available for immediate download and printing.
The Storied Recipe Newsletter
The Storied Recipe is a community that believes food is a universal love language. Join for episode and recipe updates every Friday morning, along with occasional free gifts.
Print of the Month Sale!
Dogwoods and Strawberries
Digital print of April-blooming pink daffodils and ruby red strawberries.
Soft, subtle, and elegant, this print is designed to complement kitchen walls and brighten your space.
More Episodes with Food Professionals
- 201 The Midwestern Mom and The Coming of Age Breakfast
- 200 The Vindicated Mother and Her Lebanese Lamb Chops
- 199 The Foremost Wild Food Authority and His Favorite Taco
- 196 The Tireless German Oma and Her Creamy Quark
More South Asian Recipes
- Rajmah Chawal (Kidney Bean Curry)
- Indian Drinks for Summer: 27 Traditional Cool Drinks
- Thambuttu: Festive No Bake Banana Dessert from Coorg (India)
- Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani Recipe (Lamb Biryani)