British department store Peter Jones in Sloane Square is selling a gourmet coffee “Caffe Raro” blended from Jamaica’s highest region the Blue Mountains. The Kopi (Indonesian for coffee) Luwak (civet cat) bean grows in dozens of countries around the world, “Some varieties have earned a special reputation, often based on a combination of rarity, unusual circumstances and particularly good flavor. These coffees, from Jamaican Blue Mountain to Kona to Tanzanian Peaberry, command a premium price”. The Kopi Luwak could sell for $60.00 + by the cup, $75.00 per quarter pound, to $450.00 USD per pound and up to $600 per pound in Canada, which I’m sure most would consider ridiculous for some crappy coffee, but if you have deep pockets give it try. My arms are too short right now to dish out the money for it besides; I’m a tea man myself. The process for this unique coffee is a natural one at that, go figure! The fermentation process takes place in the stomach of the civet cat “musang”, in high Javanese it’s “Luwak”. The Kopi Luwak beans are processed by these meticulous Indonesian mammals that climb among the coffee trees eating only the best and ripest coffee cherries. Enzymes in their digestive system break down the flesh of the fruit and then excreted by the animals to be gathered by workers and locals. The excrement is washed away so that the seed (bean) is clean enough to roast and produce this exotic coffee. It’s not so much that the coffee itself is expensive but the process alone that puts this luxury blend in the high priced gourmet coffee category.
I’m pretty sure you’re wondering how it must taste, right? Some have said that it has a chocolate taste to it, funny! I would assume so if it looks like a chocolate bar with peanuts…hah! Alas this same animal has also been blamed for causing the SARS epidemic in Asia. According to Peter Jones reps. All Profit from sales will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and are being sold at London, for £50 per cup and £324 a kilogram.
Photo by: miscpix
Photo by: miscpix
