Tea Culture in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea produces an average of 7,000 tonnes of tea per year.

Only 10% of the total tea production remains in the country while the rest is exported to the US, UK, Australia, Germany, Indonesia, India, Belgium, and Russia.

Papua New Guinea produces anything from Black and Green teas to Oolong and White tea varieties, all originating from the Camellia Sinensis plant.

History of Tea in Papua New Guinea

Tea plantations in Papua New Guinea started as a governmental experiment in the 1950s.

The main goal was to add a new crop and increase the local economy.

Although the smallholders lacked motivation initially, by the end of the 1970s, Camellia Sinensis plantations in the Western Highlands Province significantly expanded.

Tea Culture in Papua New Guinea

Tea culture in Papua New Guinea is an ever-growing fashion, upgrading through time.

If decades ago only warm tea was acceptable as a tea trend, today, lots of tea shops and restaurants offer iced tea and fruit-infused tea options.

Also, tea has become more present in the culinary world of Papua New Guinea so it’s common to have tea and snack combos on the menus across the country.

Iced teas and fermented tea drinks such as Kombucha are also highly valued in this Oceania nation.

Ordering a tea with food is a regularly seen sight here, most of the time an iced tea.

Although coffee is the number one non-alcoholic beverage in Papua New Guinea, they produce some of the best quality teas in the world that all tea enthusiasts must try.