Papua New Guinea Coffee Cultivation History, Coffee Regions, and Introduction to Sigri Estate's Bird of Paradise

Papua New Guinea: The Ideal Coffee Growing Region

Papua New Guinea is the largest island nation in the South Pacific and the second largest island in the world. The country has a typical island climate with high temperatures and humidity year-round. It features tropical rainforests, volcanic rock, and highland terrain with elevations between 1,200-2,500 meters, making it an ideal region for coffee cultivation.

Cultivation History

Coffee cultivation began in the 1890s, but initially was not considered a commercial product. By 1926, 18 estates were established in the country, and Typica coffee varieties were introduced from Jamaica, increasing commercial coffee production. For this reason, Papua New Guinea is also known as the "Little Blue Mountain."

In the 1970s, the government provided a series of programs encouraging small farms to convert to cooperative operations. However, subsequent declines in coffee prices led many estates into financial crisis. Because the majority of Papua New Guinea's coffee is grown by small farmers who are less affected by market fluctuations, coffee production was able to continue. Today, 95% of the country's producers are small farmers, and 95% of the coffee grown is Arabica varieties.

Coffee Growing Regions

Currently, Papua New Guinea coffee is grown in five highland provinces: Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Morobe, and East Sepik. The Eastern and Western Highlands are major producers of Typica coffee, with small amounts of Catimor and Bourbon varieties also grown. Coffee grown in other regions is of lower quality, and most is Robusta varieties.

The Western Highlands Province is the most important and largest coffee-producing province in Papua New Guinea, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,800 meters. This region features an ancient dormant volcano, and its fertile soil produces coffee of exceptional quality. The famous Sigri Estate originates from this region. FrontStreet Coffee also sources Sigri Estate Bird of Paradise coffee beans.

Sigri Estate

The Bird of Paradise, also known as the bird of paradise, is unique to Papua New Guinea and symbolizes freedom and happiness. The raw bean bags at Sigri Estate are also printed with "Bird of Paradise," which is why this coffee bean is called Bird of Paradise domestically.

Sigri Estate was established in 1950 and was a pioneer in the local coffee industry. The estate is located in the Waghi Valley within the Western Highlands Province, at a high altitude of 1,500 meters in mountainous terrain with volcanic soil rich in minerals, cool climate, and abundant rainfall. Additionally, Sigri Estate has maintained high standards of cultivation and processing systems for many years and places great emphasis on ecological protection. To protect soil and water sources, the estate refuses to use pesticides and insecticides. The estate also maintains strict requirements for raw coffee beans, with hand-picked ripe red cherries processed on the same day of harvest, which is why Sigri Estate's coffee has gained worldwide recognition. FrontStreet Coffee also sources Sigri Estate Bird of Paradise coffee beans. This coffee bean is wet-processed, and when brewed using a Kono filter with a 1:15 ratio, it presents caramel, cocoa, and almond flavors, with citrus acidity as the temperature slightly decreases, creating overall balance.

FrontStreet Coffee Sigri Estate Bird of Paradise Coffee Beans

Region: Western Highlands
Estate: Sigri Estate
Altitude: 1,500 meters+
Variety: Typica
Processing: Washed
Flavor: Caramel, cocoa, almond, balanced, citrus acidity at lower temperatures

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