Drinking Coffee, Tea and Cocoa are a Universal phenomenon, with significant cultural, historical and social importance in many parts of the world. These beverages or drinks are deeply intertwined with cultural practices and daily routines worldwide, providing a sense of ritual and comfort.  A day will not begin without a cup of Tea/coffee/cocoa in most of the houses in India especially south India. Beverage crops in India are the main segment of horticulture crops, earning substantial foreign exchange. Coffee, tea, and cocoa are among the most traded agricultural commodities worldwide, generating billions of dollars in revenue.

They play important role in development of nation in general and rural area in particular. India is lucky to have varied soil types and agroclimatic conditions so as to grow all these beverage crops easily without much difficulties. These are crops whose primary use is to produce beverages or products that have a stimulating effect on the human body, typically due to the presence of alkaloids. Beverage crops are vital to global economies and cultures, providing a wide array of stimulating, refreshing, and nourishing beverages. They support the livelihoods of millions of farmers, processors, and traders, particularly in developing countries. This book offers a holistic and interdisciplinary exploration of the India’s major beverage crops.

This book offers a holistic and interdisciplinary exploration of the India’s major beverage crops. The book covers major and emerging beverage crops like coffee, tea and cocoa and provides both foundational scientific knowledge and practical insights into cultivation and management so as to intricate processing techniques that unlock their unique Flavors and aromas. We will examine the socio-economic impact of these crops on producer communities, the environmental challenges and sustainable solutions in their production, and their profound historical and cultural roles in societies.

Dr. Raviraja Shetty G

Dr. Raviraja Shetty G is a distinguished Professor of Horticulture and a nationally recognized expert in the conservation of endangered medicinal plants, as well as the production and crop improvement of plantation, spices, and beverage crops. He completed his Ph.D. in Horticulture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore.

With an illustrious career spanning biodiversity exploration, crop improvement, propagation, and conservation of plantation, spices, medicinal, and aromatic crops, Dr. Shetty has made significant scientific contributions to Indian horticulture. His excellence has been acknowledged through several prestigious awards, including:

• Environmentalist of the Year (2010) – National Environmental Science Academy (NESA), New Delhi

• Young Scientist of the Year (2014) – Scientific and Environmental Research Institute, Kolkata

• Scientist of the Year (2020) – National Environmental Science Academy, New Delhi

• Biodiversity Conservation Award – Karnataka Biodiversity Board

Dr. Shetty has chaired multiple technical sessions and delivered invited lectures at numerous national and international conferences. His global exposure includes academic visits to Serbia, Portugal, France, Israel, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, and the USA for research presentations and advanced training programs.

He has guided more than 25 M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholars and has published over 70 research papers in reputed national and international journals. He has successfully implemented research projects funded by DST, NMPB, ICAR, NHM, and the Government of Karnataka. He is also a member of the Medicinal Plant Specialist Group and Species Survival Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Currently, Dr. Shetty serves as Professor and Head, Agricultural & Horticultural Research Station, Theerthahalli, Shivamogga, under Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga.

Tamanna Arif

Tamanna Arif is a promising young researcher currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot. She completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga, where she excelled academically and is slated to receive a Gold Medal for her postgraduate degree.

A meritorious scholar with a strong research orientation, she has actively presented abstracts, posters, and research papers at various national and international conferences. Her innovative research on soilless cultivation of ginger earned her the Best Poster Award from the University.

Tamanna has authored around 20 articles in reputed journals and magazines, several of which have won recognitions and special mentions. Her academic achievements were further acknowledged with the Emerging Scientist Award at the International Scientist Conference on Engineering, Science and Medicine (2021).

Dedicated, innovative, and academically driven, she is currently in the first year of her doctoral program at UHS, Bagalkot, and continues to work toward becoming a leading scientist in horticultural sciences.

Chapter 01: Prospects and challenges in cultivation of beverage crops
Chapter 02: Coffee
Chapter 03: Tea
Chapter 04: Cocoa
Chapter 05: References