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India — Veer Attikan

Biligiri Rangan Hills, or Biligiris, is located to the South of the Heritage City of Mysore. The name literally means “White Hills” as it is perpetually soaked in a hanging mist. The imposing mountain range is home to over 1800 acres of coffee plantations including the 120 year old Attikan Estate which is crucial to the development of coffee production in the area.

The pioneer behind Attikan, responsible for transforming the shrub land into a ‘coffee best’, is Mr Randolph Hayton Morris. He came to the Hills in 1888, ignoring those who discouraged him from pursuing his mission. Their argument was that the area housed dangerous animals with virtually no human habitation in sight. However thanks to Mr. Morris’ single minded devotion, determination and courage to act on his convictions, Attikan today is not only a producer of specialty coffee, but being flanked by a sanctuary, is wonderfully linked with its natural environment.

The name “Veer Attikan” comes from the word ‘Veer’ which means valour, courage and strength – all the things exhibited by Mr Randolph Morris when turning shrub land into a coffee belt. (The current management is still in contact with the descendents of Mr Morris who live in the U.K.)

There is also another angle to the word ‘Veer’ which has had a large impact on this estate. A notorious bandit named Veerappan was wanted in the States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for abduction, poaching and smuggling sandalwood. He used the B.R. Hills as one of his hideouts. After evading police for nearly two decades, he was shot dead in 2004. During his reign of terror, none of the management team visited the estate, fearing kidnap and ransom.

Attikan Coffee has regularly featured in the “Finals of Flavour of India” Fine Cup Award conducted by the Coffee Board of India. This year, Attikan Coffee was also judged the ‘Best Arabica’ in the ‘Flavour of India Fine Cup Award’ for the year 2010/2011. The competition was held in Maastricht in the Netherlands.