Kopi Luwak or Luwak Coffee
Paradoxurus. That's the scientific name, the locals call themluwaks.The resulting coffee is said to be
like no other. It has a rich, heavy flavour with hints of caramel or chocolate. Other terms used to describe it are earthy, musty and
exotic. The body is almost syrupy and it's very smooth.
One must wonder about the circumstances that brought about the first cup of Kopi Luwak coffee. Who would think to
(or even want to) collect and roast beans out of animal feces? Perhaps a native figured it was easier to collect the beans from the ground
this way, rather than having to work harder and pick them from the trees? We'll likely never know. But because of the strange method of
collecting, there isn't much Kopi Luwak produced in the world. The average total annual production is only around 500 pounds of
beans.
Because of the rarity of this coffee, the price is quite outrageous. If you can find a vendor, the current cost for a pound of
Kopi Luwak is around $300 or more. Some more adventurous coffee houses are selling it by the cup, but you won't likely find it at your local
coffee shop just yet. The coffee isn't so spectacular that it's truly worth that amount of money. You are paying for the experience of enjoying
such an unusual and rare delicacy.
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