Cumbum Panneer Thratchai

Cumbum Panneer Thratchai is the fragrant Panneer (Muscat Hamburg) grape grown in the Cumbum valley of Theni district, an area so productive it is often called the 'grape bowl of South India'. The variety is known for its sweet, musky fragrance, soft juicy pulp and deep colour, and the valley's warm climate and fertile soil allow the vines to fruit almost throughout the year rather than in a single season. Trellised vineyards along the Cumbum valley let growers harvest multiple crops annually, an unusual advantage that made the region a leading grape producer. The grapes are eaten fresh, sold across the state and also used for juice and traditional wine-making. The crop is the economic backbone of many farming families in the valley and a defining feature of Theni's agriculture.