S.O.M.E: Indonesian Kopi Luwak ( A Rare & Exotic Coffee )

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Indonesian Kopi Luwak ( A Rare & Exotic Coffee )

Personally, this is the first time I bought Kopi Luwak bean. I bought it directly from the dealer. And I like the aroma which is rich and strong, and the coffee was incredibly full bodied. It was thick, with a hint of chocolate, and lingered on the tongue with a long, clean aftertaste. And here some info that I gather after reading many magazines and gooling too.

Kopi Luwak are robusta or arabica coffee beans which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Indonesian Civet (family of Viverridae).
"Kopi" is the Indonesian word for coffee and "Luwak" is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee 'cherries' as part of its usual diet. "Luwak" is the indigenous animal who plays an "active" role in the harvesting of the raw coffee cherries. The Luwak feasts on ripe, red coffee cherries seeking out the sweet taste of the cherry itself, wanting little to do with the parchment of the coffee. Once the Luwak eats the cherry, the parchment covered coffee beans are passed out of the Luwak, with the parchment cover still protecting the green coffee beans.

Locals then gather the beans - which come through the 'animal stage' fairly intact - and sell them on to dealers. It is believed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavour through fermentation of some type.