Expedition to Kenya February 2020
When Maharajah Coffee was first established in 2017, it had a meaning toward it. My brand not only focuses on providing my customers an excellent specialty coffee, but also focuses on being part of the positive changes to the environment and to its people. Millions of coffee cups & bags are not being recycled; I wanted Maharajah Coffee to be something meaningful, so I decided to pack my coffees with biodegradable bags & sell my coffees using compostable cups and lids. Maharajah Coffee has only been trading with fair and direct trade coffees. Maharajah means King, so as a king should, we help give back to the people. I partnered up with the Amazon Conservation Team & Eco-Sikh. Each month, a portion of profit will help them. My regular & prospective customers ask me, "Manveer, why does your taste coffee so MAGNIFICENT?" I tell them my coffee is grown & crafted with love, respect, and honor to all the coffee farmers from different countries. I hereby thank them—they work really hard to provide an excellent cup of happiness to the world. I always wonder can we truly be happy without coffee? Coffee is a healing medicine for me. If I get sad then coffee is the problem solver, isn’t it!?
While in Kenya at the elevation of 4,000 feet, I heard nothing but the sound of birds & monkeys. I smelled a fruitful coffee scent rather than polluting diesel fumes choking down my lungs. Farmers and children who were in Catholic schools smiled upon me because they were excited to meet a foreigner with this spectacular drone gadget flying around the coffee fields, snapping pictures of the coffee farms. They have never seen anything like this before. I tried to chase the children down; one was smart enough to play dead like a sheep. I found it truly funny and mesmerizing. I will never forget the smile that instantly came to the farmer farmer because they were just so appreciative.
On the 6th of February, it was a cold, misty morning. Wind was blowing upon my face while driving into the Northern part of Kenya. I check on the coffee farms once a year to see if all the productions are flowing smoothly. Thankfully, the coffees were not damaged due to the rain we've had from December 2019 - January 2020. The farmers said, "It was raining like lions & elephants!" People had difficulty going up the hills; they had to use a rope tied to a tree to climb up. The hills were really muddy. I put my long boots on and still slid down. My legs were having a serious workout—even more than a treadmill machine. The farmers were still able to do their work without any burden on their shoulders. Some of the roads were really damaged by flooding, but the Kenyan farmers still risked their lives by going to work. They chose to go for the sake of their families: feeding them & providing shelter over their heads. Some workers have been there for more than 20 years.
One farmer I went to see was Edward, who lived behind a former president’s home: Jomo Kenyatta. Edward said after Jomo Kenyatta retired, he wanted to live in the countryside of Nairobi, away from people. Edward, a 75 year old man, was born and raised in the same house ever since his parents moved there. Edward and his family have met with the former president. Edward said, “after retirement, Jomo only wanted to speak and be in touch with vegetations & coffee. They were his family and he looked after them. He said they are simple: all you need to do is water them, nurture them and they feed your soul, then they reincarnate the next year.” I really liked that phrase and it is true.
I’ve met with another worker, Elizabeth, who's been working as a sorter, bean washer & dryer, for 30 years. She is happy that this job has given her the opportunity to become an independent strong woman. Elizabeth’s mother and father used to own a Banana plantation for nearly 45 years; unfortunately in 2000, they had to sell off their lands due to debt. Sadly, Elizabeth’s parents passed away 3 years ago. Nowadays, farmers are either committing suicide or selling their lands to settle their debt. I find it really disturbing that these things are happening, not just in Kenya, but also in Punjab, India. A problem like this is common. I saw her friends were carrying a large 60-kilo bag of coffee on their backs and walking like it was not a problem. One had a child in front of her and a coffee bag behind her. That is a true woman with special strength, empowering other women. I asked to help her and she said, “you think I need help? I am a strong mama.” I smiled because of her positive attitude.
“I always wonder can we truly be happy without coffee? Coffee is healing medicine for me. If I get sad then coffee is the problem solver, isn’t it!? ”
