The growing popularity of coffee culture today has made coffee activists in Indonesia strive to provide premium coffee beans. In 2022, coffee from Papua called Paniai Coffee got its spotlight. The coffee was brought to the G20 event and entered as a finalist for Jakarta Coffee Week 2022.
What makes Papua coffee beans so unique that the local and central government is pushing its popularity to be more recognized worldwide? Find out below!
What is Paniai Coffee?
Paniai Coffee is one of the best coffee beans from Paniai Regency, Papua. Paniai Regency is 1700 to 2000 meters above sea level, so this coffee plantation area is in the highlands.
The Arabica Coffee seeds farmers use come from the Blue Mountains, Jamaica. The flavor of coffee from Jamaica Blue Mountains (JBM) is relatively mild. When drinking coffee, you can feel the low acidity, minimal bitterness, and floral aroma.
The arrival of the JBM originated from missionaries who began planting and cultivating it after World War II ended. At that time, even the coffee here was served during Queen Wilhelmina’s meeting with Papuan officials.
The Popularity of Paniai Coffee Has Declined
Coffee was popular in the past due to the efforts of missionaries. But when the missionaries left Papua, the management of coffee cultivation declined. People switched to growing sweet potatoes to fulfill their daily needs.
It made more people unfamiliar with Paniai Coffee and more familiar with coffee from Wamena and Dogiyai.
Seeing the great potential of Paniai coffee, the Paniai Regency government is trying to develop its coffee cultivation aggressively. This is great because the local community is eager to repeat the glory of coffee in the past.
Moreover, based on research from coffee experts from Puslitkoka (Coffee and Cocoa Research Center) and SCOPI (Sustainable Coffee Platform Indonesia), arabica coffee from Papua is grade A and has an excellent taste.
Evidence of the enthusiasm to raise the prestige of coffee can be seen in the Paniai Regency government’s collaboration with IPB (Bogor Agricultural University) in 2021.
The Regent of Paniai Regency, Meki Nawipa, stated on September 2, 2021, that this collaboration is an effort to develop the local people’s economy. Because the region’s potential is coffee, the development of coffee cultivation is sought to create.
The proof of this effort is that more than 100 thousand trees have been planted and are ready to harvest large quantities.
Paniai Coffee Achievements
The efforts of farmers and the local government paid off in 2022. At least two significant achievements have been achieved by coffee from Paniai Regency.
1. G20 Event
At the G20 event in Nusa Dua Bali in 2022, the government tried promoting various local products to the guests who came.
Paniai Coffee was chosen from the Papua region to represent Papua’s superior coffees. Head of the Office of MSMEs and Papua Labor, Omah Laduani, stated in May 2022 that Paniai coffee and several other excellent products were present to enliven the event.
Promotion and marketing of the coffee have started since June 2022 at a location determined by the government. Laduani also stated that he had prepared a container of coffee and brought several local communities to introduce it.
2. Jakarta Coffee Week 2022 Finalist
This coffee from Agadide district, Paniai, has made its presence known as one of the 20 finalists for Jakarta Coffee Week 2022. The coffee, owned by Kris Kadepa, competes with other coffees from various parts of Indonesia that are famous for their coffee production.
Although it only made it a finalist in the unique arabica and robusta coffee event, this is undoubtedly a significant achievement for coffee from Paniai. It shows that the efforts of the community and government are paying off and can continue to grow.
Seeing the ups and downs of Paniai Coffee, it is fitting that it is getting more attention from the world and can advance the local economy.
