12. Papua New Guinea A/X Kenta

83.75 Cupping Score

Coffee serves as Papua New Guinea's second-largest agricultural export, predominantly cultivated in the highlands, spanning approximately 210,000 acres. Smallholder farmers cultivate coffee alongside other crops, often earning organic certification for their produce.

Renowned for its captivating acidity and diverse flavor profiles, Papua New Guinea's coffee production is emblematic of the island's breathtaking mountainous terrain and cultural richness, boasting thousands of indigenous groups.

The evolution of infrastructure has transformed traditional centralized plantations into decentralized "coffee gardens." These gardens, composed of small plots with as few as 20 plants, intermingle with subsistence crops. As modern processing techniques are introduced, these exceptional coffees continuously elevate in both quality and consistency.

According to a new national grading system, A-grade Papua New Guinea coffees exhibit uniformity, cleanliness, a well-balanced profile, pronounced body and acidity, and a rich, distinct fragrance and aroma. The designation X signifies the exclusion of the largest and smallest beans, ensuring greater uniformity in the coffee sample.

One such stellar offering is Kenta, the A-grade coffee from NGHCE. This exceptional coffee originates from the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, cultivated near Goraka at an impressive altitude of 1600 meters above sea level.

The journey of Kenta coffee begins with cherries handpicked by the entire clan, followed by immediate pulping and a meticulous 36-hour fermentation process in cement vats. Post-fermentation, the coffee undergoes a meticulous washing process, utilizing pure mountain stream water from the nearby Tua River. Subsequently, the coffee is sun-dried for 7 to 12 days, resulting in an alluring bluish hue, indicative of its superior quality.

The processing operations rely on labor from surrounding villages, involving a workforce ranging from 20 to 60 individuals during peak seasons (excluding the clan's cherry pickers). Notably, the coffee exports significantly impact the lives of around 10,000 to 12,000 community members in the area, highlighting its profound socioeconomic importance within the region.

Origin: Papua New Guinea

Region: Kenta, Goraka, Eastern Highlands

Altitude: 1,600 m.a.s.l

Varietal: Typica, Arusha, Bourbon

Processing: Washed

Flavours: Very nice soft citric acidity, delicate body, high sweetness. Notes of brown sugar and red berries.

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11. Banka - China