Papua New Guinea – Kainantu

Tairora Smallholder coffee is a project from the Baroida Plantation, located in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The Colbran Family grows and processes their own coffee from the Baroida Estate, which we sell under that name, as well as buying coffee cherry direct from smallholder farmers in the area. Some of these are communities that the Colbrans have worked with for years, and others walk to the Baroida mill to sell their coffee fruit because they offer a premium price. These farmers can have as few as 100 trees, and produce only handfuls of coffee cherry at a time, but are situated from 1800 up to 2000 meters. I visited this season, and noticed that the price they were paying was higher than what other buyers, including multinational mills, were paying. Many small farms hand-pulp their own coffee, and sell wet parchment. This is not ideal, as the multitude of musty-smelling bags of this coffee attested to.

The dry fragrance had a strong range of sweetness, like raw honey, sugars, and traces of fruits. After adding hot water, the aroma revealed further compelling sweet notes with a slight sweet-smokey hint, caramelized sugars, potent honey notes, and wisps of dried fruits, like apricot, and berry. The cup has a nice fruited sweetness, and acidic impression. Flavor profiles are bright and a little delicate in the light roasts, and hinted at sweet citrus, tart red berries, and tropical punch. The honey aspect came through in flavor as well, especially in the light roast. The brightness is malic (apple-like) and with the crispness of a Bosc pear.

Like a sweet, everyday, Pacific Region coffee? Try this PNG with our Java!