The hill station of Coorg, officially known as Kodagu, is known for its lush green landscapes, coffee plantations and spectacular waterfalls. But did you know that it is also home to some of Karnataka’s top geographically indicated (GI) agricultural produce? Find out more about them in this article, along with Channapatna’s unique toy-making tradition that goes back 100 years.

　　Coorg Orange

　　With a sweet-and-sour taste and tight skin, the Coorg orange is a cultivar from the coffee-producing hill station that was given GI status in 2006. For more than 150 years, Coorg oranges have been cultivated in the districts of Kodagu, Hassan and Chikkamagaluru as a secondary crop in coffee plantations. The high elevation of the area, its well-drained soil and heavy rainfall are ideal for producing the fruit, which is greenish-yellow in colour. Time your visit to Coorg during the harvesting season from November to January to sink your teeth into the rich, juicy pulp.

　　Coorg Arabica Coffee

　　This type of coffee bean is grown specifically in the Kodagu district of Karnataka. It is well-known that coffee cultivation is an integral part of people’s lives in Coorg, but few know that this is because the district has unique biotic and abiotic conditions that impart a certain flavour to the coffee when it’s roasted. One of the top places for a coffee plantation tour is the Riverside Coffee Estate, where you can embark on a coffee-to-cup brewing experience that will stay with you long after you have left.

　　Coorg Green Cardamom

　　Green cardamom is grown in the forest ecosystems of the Western Ghats, but it is the unique climatic conditions of Coorg—warm and humid conditions, well-distributed rainfall and loamy soil—that give its green cardamoms a distinct aroma, faint green colour and small size that sets it apart from those grown elsewhere. Known as the “Queen of Spices,” the native variety is known locally as malay yalakki and is planted after the southwest monsoon recedes. The fruits mature in about 120 days after flowering, and the capsules are harvested from August till December or January.

　　Channapatna Toys And Dolls

　　Favoured by the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and President Barack Obama, Channapatna’s traditional toy-making heritage dates back to the early years of the 20th century. The handicraft established a foothold in the Mysore region thanks to the patronage of Tipu Sultan. Made from locally available softwood of hale wood or ivory wood, the artefacts are manufactured in parts, then assembled and painted using organic and natural lacquer, making them safe for children and the environment. These non-toxic toys are a far cry from the cheap, mass-manufactured plastic ones that can be found in every market in India today.

　　Visit the Channapatna Crafts Park, where over 3,000 traditional artisans are engaged in the production of these wooden and lacquerware products. Spread over 14 acres of land, the park has state-of-the-art woodworking machines and a marketplace where tourists can purchase the GI-tagged product and support the artisans who make it firsthand.