Goyal savours Araku coffee with Andhra's top leaders
Synopsis
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal shared a cup of GI-tagged Araku coffee with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, and Nara Lokesh on 12 November 2026, calling it one of the world's finest and urging visitors to try it.
Key Takeaways
Piyush Goyal publicly endorsed Araku coffee during a visit to Andhra Pradesh on 12 November 2026 .
Araku coffee is a GI-tagged Arabica variety grown by tribal farmers in the Araku Valley of the Eastern Ghats.
The GI tag was awarded in 2019 , protecting the coffee's unique regional identity.
Goyal shared the coffee with CM N.
Chandrababu Naidu , Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan , Nara Lokesh , and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu .
The endorsement aligns with central government efforts to promote GI-tagged Indian agricultural products in global markets.
A Union minister's travel tip, a cup of GI-tagged coffee, and the company of Andhra Pradesh's most powerful political names — Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal turned a visit to Andhra Pradesh into a quiet endorsement of one of India's most celebrated origin-specific brews on Thursday, 12 November 2026.
Goyal shared that he never misses a chance to taste Araku coffee when in the state, and on this occasion, his company made the moment more notable: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Nara Lokesh, and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu were all at the table. 'I never miss a chance to have it,' he wrote, recommending the brew as a must-try for any visitor to the state.
From tribal hillsides to a GI tag
Araku coffee is no ordinary cup. Grown by tribal farming communities in the Araku Valley of the Eastern Ghats, it is an Arabica variety that earned its Geographical Indication tag in 2019 — formal recognition that its character is inseparable from its origin. The valley's elevation, soil, and the generations of indigenous growers who tend its shade-grown estates have earned it a reputation among specialty coffee connoisseurs well beyond India's borders. Goyal described it as 'one of the finest coffees in the world.'A minister's endorsement and what it signals
For a Commerce and Industry Minister who oversees India's GI certification framework and agricultural export policy, the shout-out is more than casual appreciation. Central ministers have increasingly used social media to spotlight GI-tagged products as part of a broader national push to build global markets for origin-specific Indian goods — from Darjeeling tea to Mysuru silk. An offhand travel tip from a minister of Goyal's portfolio carries real promotional weight for the farmers behind the brand. The gathering with Naidu, Kalyan, and Lokesh also reflects the active working relationship between the BJP-led Centre and Andhra Pradesh's TDP–Jana Sena alliance, partners in the current National Democratic Alliance government.Point of View
Pawan Kalyan, and Lokesh also reinforces the visible solidarity between the BJP-led NDA and its Andhra allies ahead of ongoing state development negotiations. For Araku Valley's tribal growers, ministerial-level visibility on a national platform is the kind of marketing no trade fair budget can easily replicate.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Araku coffee and why is it special?
Araku coffee is a GI-tagged Arabica coffee grown by tribal farmers in the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh's Eastern Ghats. It received its Geographical Indication tag in 2019 and is recognised for its distinct flavour, which specialists attribute to the valley's elevation, soil, and shade-growing methods.
When did Araku coffee get its GI tag?
Araku coffee was awarded its Geographical Indication tag in 2019 , formally recognising it as an origin-specific product tied to the Araku Valley region of Andhra Pradesh.
Who was Piyush Goyal with when he had Araku coffee?
Goyal shared Araku coffee with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu , Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan , Nara Lokesh , and Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu during his visit to the state on 12 November 2026.
Why is a Commerce Minister promoting Araku coffee significant?
Piyush Goyal oversees India's GI certification framework and agricultural export policy. His public endorsement of Araku coffee aligns with the central government's strategy of building global markets for GI-tagged Indian products, giving the tribal growers behind the brand considerable national visibility.
Where is Araku Valley located?
Araku Valley is located in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh , in southern India. The valley's high altitude and unique soil conditions are central to the coffee's distinctive taste.
