Papua New Guinea Sigri Coffee

Coffee production in Papua New Guinea dates back to the 1920s when the first Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee seeds were planted. 18 coffee plantations were established with Sigri being one of the higher quality ones. Sigri coffee is known for its well-rounded character, delightful fragrance and subtle flavour.

Papua New Guinea produces approximately 1% of the worlds coffee. It is their second largest export with Palm Oil being the largest. The coffee is grown mainly in three areas, namely the Eastern highland province, the Western highland province and Simbu. Although coffee was introduced to Papua New Guinea in the late 19th century production did not really take off until the mid-1920s when the first Jamaican Blue Mountain bushes were planted and 18 commercial coffee plantations were established. However, the majority of coffee grown in PNG is produced by small holders with as few as 20 coffee bushes per plot grown alongside subsistence crops. Due to the nature of this production the majority of Papua New Guinea coffee is organic by default as many of the small-holders cannot afford fertilizer or pesticide, although having said this they cannot afford the certification to prove that is organic either.

Our Papa New Guinea Sigri is classed as a ‘plantation A coffee’ and uses the Arusha and typica varietals. It is washed, cleaned and bagged at a mill in the Waghi valley owned by Sigri Plantations Limited. The 4 estates that make up Sigri cover over a thousand hectares (over 40,000 acres) and are at 1550m (over 5000feet) altitude. The name Sigri comes from the name of the fresh water spring that runs all the way through the estates. Its water is used for irrigation and the washing process that is carried out on the green beans before bagging.

Since we started stocking this coffee in 1995, we have roasted these beans to a consistent medium roast. This gives a beautifully well-rounded character to this coffee with a full-body and a hint of gentle acidity. I often take Sigri home with me as my coffee of choice to serve to guests.

Several of my friends have spent considerable lengths of time in Papa New Guinea and although I have never visited I have heard any stories and amusing anecdotes about the Island, with some of my favourite being about ‘Tok pisin’ which is the general language spoken in Papua New Guinea. Some of my favourite translations are listed below:

• liklik box you pull him he cry you push him he cry – an accordion
• skru bilong han (screw belong arm) – elbow
• gras bilong het (grass belong head) – hair
• maus gras (mouth grass) – moustache
• bel hevi (belly heavy) – the heavy sinking feeling that often accompanies extreme sadness
• magimiks bilong Yesus (Magimix belong Jesus) – helicopter
• pen bilong maus (pen belong mouth) – lipstick
• bun nating (bone nothing) – a very thin person
• sikispela lek (six legs) – man with two wives
• susok man (shoe sock man) – urbanite
• frok-bel (frog belly) – obese person
• pato-lek (duck legs) – waddling person
• emti tin (empty tin) – person who speaks nonsense
• flat taia (flat tire) – exhausted person
• poket bruk (pocket broken) – out of money
• belhat (belly hot) – angry