Straight out of the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, the Okalu is an exceptional coffee from a chronically underrated origin.
PNG might not enjoy the plaudits and press of some other coffee-growing nations, but the soaring mountains, volcanic soils and lush rainforest of this country are classic specialty coffee growing conditions.
PNG Okalu is the work of smallholder farmers, who plant the trees as a cash crop amongst their kitchen gardens. Most have a few acres, and bring their harvests into the Lass Malo mill in the Eastern Highlands capital of Goroka where they can process their beans and sell to exporters together.
This co-operative lot is the product of the producers of Lufa and Opaka who have washed, dried and processed their lots together.
They’ve produced a delicious cup. Freshly ground, the fragrance is smooth and rich, with notes of cedar, malt and molasses.
Once brewed, juicy raspberry is balanced with smooth almond notes, and the delicate sweetness of rosewater. Medium bodied, the almond note carries through into the finish, where it is rounded out with a rich dark chocolate flavour.
It’s a sweet treat reminiscent of a raspberry friand, and works well as a filter and espresso.
The Eastern Highlands Province is a mighty and rugged terrain with peaks of the Kratke and Bismarck Ranges soaring to 3700m above sea level.
There are abundant river systems, Asaro and Lamari, flowing into the Purari, and lush tropical rainforest valleys rolling throughout.
Home to a phenomenal number of fauna and flora, plant species here are especially diverse. This rich ecosystem and fertile climate provide the incredible potential for high-quality coffee.
Since its introduction in the late 19th century, coffee has always grown well under careful farm management, with little to no fertiliser required.
The greatest challenges stifling the progress of specialty coffee are lack of infrastructure and economic instability.
Freshly ground, the fragrance is smooth and rich, with notes of cedar, malt and molasses. Once brewed, juicy raspberry is balanced with smooth almond notes, and the delicate sweetness of rosewater.
Medium bodied, the almond note carries through into the finish, where it is rounded out with a rich dark chocolate flavour.