From Koraput Hills to BRICS Summit, Tiger Bright Coffee Puts Odisha’s Tribal Enterprise in Global Spotlight

Bhubaneswar: A coffee grown under the shade of mango, jackfruit and citrus trees in the hills of Koraput has found an unexpected place on the global stage. Tiger Bright, a premium Arabica coffee cultivated by tribal farmers in Koraput, was served as a gift to guests at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, taking the story of the region’s coffee growers beyond Odisha.

For the tribal farming communities behind the coffee, the journey represents more than the success of a local brand. It reflects the gradual transformation of coffee cultivation from a farm-level activity into an organised value chain involving procurement, processing, branding and marketing.

The coffee is grown primarily in the Nandapur and Machhkund areas of Koraput at elevations of around 920–950 metres. The plantations benefit from the region’s natural shade-grown environment, while ripe coffee cherries are handpicked and carefully processed.

The Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd. (TDCCOL) provides end-to-end support, taking the coffee through procurement, drying, grading, processing and marketing before it reaches consumers.

The organised journey began with the launch of the ‘Koraput Coffee’ brand on September 11, 2019, aimed at creating a structured market for coffee produced by tribal farmers and ensuring that a larger share of the value generated by the crop could reach the communities involved.

Since then, the coffee ecosystem has expanded considerably. During the 2025–26 season, TDCCOL procured a record 102.54 metric tonnes of coffee fruit, nearly three times the 34.68 MT procured in 2022–23. Procurement in 2024–25 stood at 34.41 MT.

The increase has benefited around 360 tribal families, underlining the growing role of coffee cultivation as a livelihood opportunity in Koraput.

The procurement system has also been made more transparent through direct digital payments. TDCCOL transferred ₹1.07 crore directly into the bank accounts of tribal coffee farmers, replacing traditional cash transactions. Among the beneficiaries were 71 tribal women farmers.

Smart Cards have also been introduced for growers, with 45.7 per cent of coffee farmers covered so far, enabling easier identification and digital tracking within the supply chain.

Tiger Bright has developed a distinct identity in the premium coffee market. The 100 per cent Arabica coffee carries bright citrus notes, including orange, lemon and sweet lime, alongside hints of caramel, chocolate and cocoa. The beans are naturally shade-grown and sun-dried on raised wooden beds before being processed under controlled hygiene standards.

The brand’s growing reputation has received national recognition as well. Koraput Coffee won two Fine Cup Awards at KYK 2024 and secured fourth position in the Coffee Board’s Flavour of India Fine Cup 2024.

The effort to build a market around Koraput Coffee has extended beyond the plantations. TDCCOL has established eight Koraput Coffee cafés across Odisha and Delhi, including one at NALCO Damanjodi. The cafés generated ₹1.64 crore in sales during 2023–24, providing the brand with direct consumer-facing platforms.

The product range has also expanded, with Tiger Bright, roasted beans and instant coffee available to consumers. More than 10,634 packs of Tiger Bright have been commercialised, indicating a shift from selling coffee primarily as an agricultural commodity to marketing it as a branded, value-added product.

Against this backdrop, its presence at the BRICS Summit carries particular significance. The international gathering provided a platform for showcasing India’s economic and cultural diversity, and the inclusion of coffee produced by tribal farmers from Koraput offered a glimpse of a regional enterprise emerging from one of Odisha’s tribal heartlands.

The journey of Tiger Bright also points to a broader change in the approach to tribal livelihoods. Instead of stopping at the production of raw commodities, value addition, quality improvement, branding and market access are increasingly becoming part of the development model.

From the coffee plantations of the Eastern Ghats to cafés in cities and finally to an international diplomatic gathering, Tiger Bright has travelled a long way. Its journey shows how a crop rooted in a remote landscape can acquire a wider identity when farmers are connected to the value chain beyond the farm gate.