PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea — Smallholder coffees excelled at the 2018 Papua New Guinea Coffee Cupping Competition, with top lots achieving over 85 points on Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) scoresheets.
This is the third annual event organized by PNG’s Coffee Industry Corporation (CIC), in partnership with the Australian Government-funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA).
From September 10-13, sixty-seven (67) coffee samples were collected from Eastern Highlands, Enga, Jiwaka, Morobe, and Simbu Provinces.
All were evaluated by a panel of twelve judges, including five national cuppers and seven international cuppers from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. Coffees were evaluated blind using SCA cupping protocols and recorded by judges using Cropster Cup software.
When all scores were tabulated, Habina Resource Centre Group (Obura-Wanenara District, Eastern Highlands) received top honors with 85.45 points. Judges described the winning coffee as “tropical fruit, brown sugar, tea, and bright lemon-lime acidity.”
The top position was followed closely by six other groups above 85 points: Kamora (Obura-Wanenara) 85.41 points, Untoa Kosa (Obura-Wanenara) 85.32 points, Pandai (Enga Province) 85.27 points, Tibunofi (Kainantu, Eastern Highlands) 85.23, Obura-Wanenara Coffee Cooperative Society with 85.16 points, and Besser block holder (Obura-Wanenara), 85.01 points.
Five of the top seven entries above 85 points, including the winning lot, were from the Eastern Highlands. Many of the top-scoring lots participated as a part of the World Bank Productive Partners in Agriculture Project (PPAP), which is implementing improvements in producer communities.
At an awards ceremony on September 14, CIC Chief Executive Officer Charles Dambui awarded development funds and equipment to groups in tiers achieving 83, 84, and 85 points or higher in recognition of their performance.
A roadshow of winning lots is being organized by Liberty Coffee of Singapore, with tastings expected in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Perth in November and December. For more information, contact knockbox@libertycoffee.sg or visit www.instagram.com/libertycoffee.
For additional information about the event or winning coffees, including a small number of lots available from the event, please contact Jacqueline Ruguna, CIC Marketing Officer at jruguna@cic.org.pg or Jane Ravusiro, PHAMA Senior National Coordinator at j.ravusiro@phama.com.au.
