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Third
week of April 03 was very "Special"
for Speciality Coffee Association of India (Scai).For,it
was during this week,SCAA - Speciality Coffee Association of
America, portrayed India as "Portrait Country"
showering all importance and recognition on the country's
produce and producers during their 15th Annual Conference &
Exhibition at Boston,USA.
Scai
was in full force and strength by their participation in the seminar
proceedings including the exhibition.It was a 15 member-contingent
lead by Mr.Ashok Kuriyan, Chairman,
Scai, Mr.Marvin Rodrigues, Chairman-Boston
Committee and others including,yours truly.The Scai team
carried with them all the exhibition materials(to be assembled there),coffee
beans,Aspinwall-sponsored cashewnuts and of course all the excitement
and fond hope of securing the due place for Indian Speciality coffees
in the world scenario!
For
Scai,it was the first-time exposure in any exhibition/coffee
convention.It had put up a neat display in a stall of 30'x10' size.The
unique feature of the stall was that it took hardly 45 minutes to
assemble the stall! Great details and homework went into the preparation
of the stall in India three months prior to the event.
The visuals in the stall provided lots of information for the foreign
delegates visiting the exhibition, such as:
-
Scai's purposes & Objectives
- names
of the Scai members from whom Indian Specialities could be procured
- wild
life, flora & fauna of the Members' estates
- Processing
of coffee from picking till cupping
- A
collage of Scai's activities like plantation visits,India Barista
championship etc
All
generic varieties of Specialities coffees of India were on display
along with its features.
A
portion of the stall also talked about Exporter's association and
its members.
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The
stall was managed by the participating members by turn. It was a
Herculean task as one had to call on the other stalls for culling
information,participate in the other proceedings and on top of this
look after the stall and the visitors!At the end of the day however
it was exciting albeit strenuous.
There
were two other main events during this period.
One,"Flavour of India - The fine Cup Award Cupping Competition
-2003".The best coffees in different regions and in different
categories were adjudged by the International Jury of coffee eminence.
It was a proud moment for Scai as most of its members' coffee hit
the winning tape at the cupping marathon! Kudos to the winners and
better luck for the other participants!
Another
event worth mentioning is
WBC - World Barista Championship.Members' memories went back
to the IBC conducted recently in India and started comparing the
features with WBC, learning in the bargain for the future IBCs .About
30 countries sent in their champions for this world event,Vikram
Kurana representing India.It was an interesting show demonstrating
the importance of Barista community being an important link in the
Coffee chain!
Vikram secured the 5th position,an achievement indeed!
The
conference was approaching its logical end and it was time to reflect,
review and carry the fond memories of the Boston coffee party (Pun
intended)!
What
was the take-away from the participation?
Decibel level of India as a coffee country was high.The right noise
and the Message was clear that it is a coffee country to be made
a note of and it can't be ignored any more.Closer association with
the Speciality coffee community.Lots of learnings on coffee and
its people.
What more can one ask for?
It was a party worth the time and other resources.I fee that more
should join in future to make it merrier!
D.M.Purnesh
Secretary - Scai &
Member of Scai Boston delegation
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