Icelandic River Roast A Hit (September 10, 2008)
A unique and delicious new blend of coffee beans, Icelandic River Roast – ‘Tíu Dropar’, was launched at a recent “packed to the rafters” old time dance held in Riverton on Sept. 10, 2008. This event, attended by a tour group from Iceland as well as many old time dance fans, also featured a performance by the New Iceland Youth Choir, and was both a welcome to the Icelandic visitors and a fundraiser for Icelandic River Heritage Sites Inc. (Right: Members present at launch, l-r: Keith Eliasson, Sigmar Johnson, Nelson Gerrard, Wanda Anderson, and Harley Jonasson)  Icelandic River Roast’s custom-designed label features an authentic, apron-clad, pioneer amma in her farmhouse kitchen, holding a coffee pot in one hand and a cup and saucer in the other. The picture, taken about 1920 and found in an old photo album, is Geirþrúður Jónsdóttir (from Fjöll in Kelduhverfi) of Brú, Manitoba, wife of pioneer Stefán Pétursson. The back label provides the following explanation: “For centuries, coffee (kaffi) has been synonymous with Icelandic hospitality. Now Icelandic River Roast recalls this rich tradition brought to the shores of Lake Winnipeg in 1875. ‘Tíu Dropar’ (10 drops) is an old Icelandic request for ‘just a little more’.”
 Icelandic River Roast was developed in collaboration with Green Bean Coffee Imports of Clandeboye, Manitoba, which custom blends and roasts fair trade, organic coffee beans in small batches that are distributed “fresh out of the roaster”. As a special introduction, Icelandic River Heritage Sites “gave a pound of coffee” to the first 50 people who stepped up to donate to the group’s fundraising efforts. Needless to say, the first 50 pounds were snapped up on the spot.
Icelandic River Heritage Sites Inc. is a non-profit group of volunteers dedicated to preserving and promoting heritage sites and events in the area along the historically rich Icelandic River. There are many such sites, but as a start the group has identified two priorities. The first is to commission a life-size, bronze sculpture of Sigtryggur Jónasson, the ‘Father of Icelandic Settlement in Canada’, to be erected on the site of his Icelandic River homestead, Möðruvellir. IRHS’s second priority is the Nes Cemetery Historic Site, which dates back to the Smallpox Winter of 1876-77 and has suffered severe riverbank erosion for many years. The group’s plans include both riverbank protection and site beautification that will include an original sculpture and monument, interpretive plaques, a walking/cycling path, and tree planting.
 Anyone wanting details on either Icelandic River Roast or the work of Icelandic River Heritage Sites Inc. is welcome to contact the group c/o Harley Jonasson (204-797-8521,
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), Nelson Gerrard (204-378-2758,
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), or Wanda Anderson (204-378-2482,
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). Freshly roasted Icelandic River Roast coffee beans will be available from IRHS members every month and can also be special ordered by arrangement.
Enjoy delicious coffee while supporting local heritage -
a win-win situation. Now in Four Blends... |
