baby Luwak (above) beans prior to cleaning/roasting (below)
During my Indonesian adventure in 2010, I came to enjoy their very rich and VERY strong kopi (coffee), with it's coffee grinds simply stirred into hot water and served with sweetened condensed milk. While travelling through Indonesia, I heard the greatest rumor (which I have now confirmed as truth). On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, there is an animal, similar to a civet, which has the scientific name Paradoxuras, but the locals call them "luwaks." These luwaks eat ripe coffee cherry, including the coffee bean, to get the flesh of the fruit. While in the animals digestive tract, the bean undergoes chemical treatment and fermentation, but is excreted completely in tact. These post-digestive beans are then collected, cleaned and roasted just like a normal bean, but apparently have a richer, heavier flavor with earthy and exotic undertones. These special beans are the most expensive in the world with costs as high as $160 per pound. I think most people would perceive this as a bizarre food because we are generally taught that excrement and food should be keep as far away as possible. We associate very harmful bacteria with feces and just the thought of drinking this coffee knowing where it has been would be (frankly) gross to most! During my travels, I was not near the region where this coffee is produced, but I'm pretty sure my adventurous spirit would have led me to take a taste of the bowels of the luwak...maybe next time.
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