‘Golden droppings’ dung coffee a huge seller
Astonishingly, Asian palm civets (creatures that look a little like the weasel) are playing an important role in coffee production in Indonesia. The coffee that the animals ‘produce’ is sought after on a global scale by countries such as America, Australia and Singapore, by buyers who are willing to pay $800 per kilogram.
How are these little furry creatures contributing to the coffee industry? The luwaks, as the civets are locally known, are excellent at finding the best berries to eat in the wild. Once they have eaten the outer skin of the fruit, the luwak’s digestive enzymes penetrate the beans and alter the chemical make-up of it. Once the animal excretes the bean, the locals discovered that after they had cleaned it and roasted it lightly, they could use the product to create an extra-special coffee, that has delighted coffee connoisseurs worldwide. What does it taste like? Apparently, the luwak-coffee is less bitter than normal coffee and has a particularly soft flavour.
How was this strange phenomenon discovered? During the Dutch rule in Indonesia, the locals were prohibited from the colonial coffee crops and so ingeniously began to experiment with the undigested beans found in animal droppings.
The limited supply of this unusual coffee brand means that the price is kept high. One exporter has stated that demand is increasing annually. In 2008, he gathered some 50 kilos to sell, but by 2010 he sold 1.2 tonnes.
The Southeast Asian archipelago is now the biggest producer of luwak coffee and this is making an impact on the economy.