Asian Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphrodites)

Seriously though the Kopi Lowak coffee is produced across southeast Asia from Indonesia to Vietnam (Sumatra is the largest producer). The coffee bean (commands a price of some $600 per pound) is affected in some way by the digestive enzymes in the gut of the civet – it is thought that proteolytic enzymes effect the excreted beans getting rid of some of the proteins causing bitterness and finally giving the coffee a richer, syrupy, smoother more chocolaty taste with earthy overtones (worth some £50 per cup). Beans, which can be arabica, robusta, liberica or excelsa, are collected clumped together with the faeces of the animal and are then thoroughly washed and dried prior to roasting. Some producers in Vietnam produce their Civet coffee using a process that requires roasting the beans lightly with a particular type of ‘chicken’ fat and also wine and this produces a special flavour (the product is called cà phê Chồn in Vietnam).

Kopi Luwak coffee is very popular in southeast Asia and there are major importations of the beans to Japan. Many tourists who taste the coffee are actually drinking a synthetic version that was first produced in 1996. The Trung Nguyen Coffee Company in Vietnam uses six digestive enzymes and a patented soaking system to produce the simulated Kopi Luwak, which is called Legendee (some say it is a very close match to the genuine article). Other versions of Kopi Luwak use high quality roasted beans and added flavour components.

When all is said and done Kopi Luwak is a much sought after product with a premium price that many think is the best tasting coffee on the market. All I can say is I have not tried it because I tend to shy away from products that come from faeces, although I have been assured that the exhaustive washing and roasting process means that Kopi Luwak coffee is not riddled with  E. coli and a health hazard. If you can afford it try it … and let us know what you think.