The eastern half of the south-western Pacific tropical island of New Guinea belongs to a country that goes by the name of Papua New Guinea. Coffee thrives here among the country’s many mountains. In fact, it grows so well that the Papua New Guinea coffee industry provides a livelihood for over 2.5 million of the country’s inhabitants.
Due to topographical limitations, the vast majority of coffee plantations are only 0.5 hectares or less in size. To put that into perspective, that’s slightly less than the size of a football field. As a result, up to 85% of all Papua New Guinea coffee is grown on these small holdings.
Papua New Guinea Coffee Industry Corporation Limited (CIC)
CIC is the Papua New Guinea (PNG) coffee board. The board has helped the country’s coffee industry grow by supporting the improvement of infrastructure and accessibility in coffee-growing regions. Furthermore, CIC provides regulation for the coffee industry in PNG, supports sustainable practices, and puts in place quality measures. In addition, the board provides coffee growing communities with access to research and training. As a result, the quality of PNG coffee has improved drastically over recent years, allowing speciality markets to be penetrated.
Papua New Guinea Lamari Washed
The John Watt Coffee of the Month this June is the Papua New Guinea Lamari Washed.
The coffee beans are brought down into the Lamari River Valley after having been dried on the hillside farms where they grew. It is here where the various crops are hulled, sorted and graded.
The combination of varietals that go into this coffee, and the diversity of environmental conditions in which they were grown, results in a delightfully eclectic flavour profile. Chamomile flowers, for instance, contribute strongly to the coffee’s aroma, whilst summer berries and brown sugar provide a pronounced sweetness to the flavour. In addition, black tea, dark chocolate and mandarin may also be detected. The finish is clean and the body light to medium.
Indeed, with a cupping score of almost 84, you can rest assured that the Lamari Washed will provide you with a cup of pure satisfaction.
Region: Obura-Wonenara, Eastern Highlands
Altitude: 1700 – 2000 meters above sea level
Processing: washed
Variety: Bourbon, Arusha, Blue Mountain, Typica
Aroma: chamomile flowers
Flavour: summer berries & brown sugar
Every month we source an ethically and sustainably grown, single-origin coffee from across the globe and award it the title of Coffee of the Month. To get the coffee of the month delivered directly to your door either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, head over to our subscription page and eliminate the hassle of ever having to order coffee again!
References
Coffee Industry Corporation Limited. (2016, July 14). Welcome. Papua New Guinea Coffee Industry Corporation Limited. https://www.cic.org.pg/2016/07/14/welcome/
Reviving the coffee industry in Papua New Guinea. (2020, August 13). The Crop Site. https://www.thecropsite.com/news/17946/reviving-the-coffee-industry-in-papua-new-guinea/
Standish, W., & Jackson, R. T. (n.d.). Papua New Guinea | Culture, History, & People. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Papua-New-Guinea
Sucafina Specialty. (n.d.). Sucafina Specialty: Lamari Washed: Sucafina Originals. https://sucafina.com/na/offerings/lamari-washed
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