Norfolk Porpay Jelly & a Jam!

Norfolk Porpay Jelly & a Jam! - 

What is porpay?

Seasonally, Norfolk bestows a delicious gift, the red guava fruit. They grow in thickets in many parts of the island.  We call them "porpay" in the Norf’k language and they grow wild here.

To look at, the porpay grow about as round as a ten cent piece, and when they are ripe they are a very deep, dark burgundy colour and they have a glorious taste, something like a cross between a cherry and a sweet lemon. 

AUDIO>> In the warmth of her home kitchen, Ruth McCoy shares with us how she makes porpay jelly with all the delightful sonic ambience of gentle bubbling of fruit and sugar on the stove and the cooking preparation sounds as captured with my audio recorder. 

Highlighting how much we love our porpay, a local singing group have chosen to call themselves the 'Porpieh Jam’. It’s far more  than a clever name—they have forged a perfect circle connecting music, our Norf’k language, food, and community spirit. Their choice of name for their performance group represents the deep understanding that traditions are not compartmentalised into separate components, but are interweaved through all aspects of daily life, connecting the songs we sing to the food we prepare, to the language we speak and to the gifts that we share.

AUDIO>>> Have a listen now… to the local singing group ‘Porpieh Jam’

When guava season arrives on Norfolk Island, kitchens across our whole community come alive with purposeful activity. Each jar of porpay jelly represents hours of careful attention, but more importantly, it embodies the spirit of generosity that defines island life.

Jars of porpay jelly are tokens of affection and gratitude strengthening the social fabric that holds small communities together.

This practice of gifting transcends simple neighbourly kindness—it highlights our community networks of reciprocity and mutual support that are essential to our island life. When someone receives a jar of lovingly made porpay jelly, this jelly serves as a delicious reminder that some of the most valuable things in life cannot be purchased; they must be cultivated through patience, shared through generosity, and received with gratitude.

In a world increasingly dominated by digital connections, the simple act of making and sharing homemade jam represents a return to authentic human values. It reminds us that true wealth lies in the relationships we nurture, the traditions we honour, and the care we show for those around us.

We look forward to welcoming you to the island!

Thanks so much for joining me this week!

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Transcript

Norfolk Porpay Jelly & a Jam!

Welcome to Episode 46 of the Untold Norfolk Island travel podcast series.

My name is Jodie Williams and as a Norfolk Islander & Churchill Fellow, I am your ‘on island’ podcast host.

AUDIO >>You have just heard a song as composed and sung in our Norf’k language by the local singing group ‘Porpieh Jam’.

What is porpay?

Seasonally, Norfolk bestows a delicious gift, the red guava fruit. They grow in thickets in many parts of the island.  We call them "porpay" in the Norf’k language and they grow wild here.

To look at, the porpay grow about as round as a ten cent piece, and when they are ripe they are a very deep, dark burgundy colour and they have a glorious taste, something like a cross between a cherry and a sweet lemon.

AUDIO>> In the warmth of her home kitchen, Ruth McCoy shares with us how she makes porpay jelly with all the delightful sonic ambience of gentle bubbling of fruit and sugar on the stove and the cooking preparation sounds as captured with my audio recorder.

Highlighting how much we love our porpay, a local singing group have chosen to call themselves the 'Porpieh Jam’. It’s far more  than a clever name—they have forged a perfect circle connecting music, our Norf’k language, food, and community spirit. Their choice of name for their performance group represents the deep understanding that traditions are not compartmentalised into separate components, but are interweaved through all aspects of daily life, connecting the songs we sing to the food we prepare, to the language we speak and to the gifts that we share.

AUDIO>>> Have a listen now… to the local singing group ‘Porpieh Jam’

When guava season arrives on Norfolk Island, kitchens across our whole community come alive with purposeful activity. Each jar of porpay jelly represents hours of careful attention, but more importantly, it embodies the spirit of generosity that defines island life.

Jars of porpay jelly are tokens of affection and gratitude strengthening the social fabric that holds small communities together.

This practice of gifting transcends simple neighbourly kindness—it highlights our community networks of reciprocity and mutual support that are essential to our island life. When someone receives a jar of lovingly made porpay jelly, this jelly serves as a delicious reminder that some of the most valuable things in life cannot be purchased; they must be cultivated through patience, shared through generosity, and received with gratitude.

In a world increasingly dominated by digital connections, the simple act of making and sharing homemade jam represents a return to authentic human values. It reminds us that true wealth lies in the relationships we nurture, the traditions we honour, and the care we show for those around us.

We look forward to welcoming you to the island!

Thanks so much for joining me this week!