Lalu to export his 'La Bae Mushroom Coffee' to Gulf

KOLLAM: Lalu Thomas, who returned after losing his job in the Gulf during the Covid period, will now send to the Gulf the mushroom coffee he prepares at his home. Pathanapuram Thalavoor native Lalu Thomas and his family put in two years of arduous labour to create the flavour 'La Bae Mushroom Coffee.'

Lalu, who worked as a chef at Gulf Airlines for 15 years, turned to mushroom cultivation when he returned home. He thought of a new product when he started getting five to 10 kg of mushrooms per day. His wife, Ancy, was fully supportive. One kg of mushroom costs Rs 400. He bought Arabica triple-A grade coffee from Wayanad for this. He then experimented by adding a mixture of five types of mushrooms to this. Lalu became confident as people at home also liked the taste of his coffee. Following this, he installed machines using Rs 10 lakh received under the Prime Minister's Micro Food Processing Entrepreneurship Scheme. With the assistance of Shamsiya, a scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Sadanandapuram in Kottarakkara, he was able to successfully introduce 'La Bae Mushroom Coffee' to the market.

To be exported to UAE

Lalu got permission to export mushroom coffee recently. He has signed MoU with Future Stars Company in UAE. The order is for 280 kg of coffee. 4000 kg of mushrooms will be required for this. Another company from Qatar has also expressed interest.

Regular mushroom coffee

70% coffee, 30% mushroom

La Bae Mushroom Coffee

30% coffee, 70% mushroom

480 rupees: for a packet of 30 grams

10 glasses of coffee can be prepared from a packet