The 'Real' Kopi Luwak

Those of you who remember my previous post about Kopi Luwak, the weasel coffee, will remember me ending my post not knowing whether the coffee I had was authentic or fake. Well...having tried the real deal sometime back in Jakarta, I can declare that it was a fake one! And it would make sense since that coffee was made in Vietnam, while the real Kopi Luwak is Indonesian in origin. 

Many of you wondering what the hell is Kopi Luwak? Here's a recap from my first post about it. 

Kopi Luwak...translated as Palm Civet Coffee...or popularly known as Weasel Coffee is not your ordinary coffee. It is made with coffee beans that have passed through the digestive tract of a weasel or palm civet. The rather ugly-looking pests have a love for ripe red coffee beans but the latter pass undigested through their system. This process is supposed to take away the bitterness from the coffee and give it a musty flavour. The coffee is produced in the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra, already known for their excellent coffee. I first heard of this coffee and of its being the most expensive coffee in the world sometime last year....and my first reaction was "yuk...why would someone pay so much for shit coffee"!

But pay for it I did. And I also enjoyed it thoroughly. After having tried the fake one at home (thinking it was real), when I was in the land of its' origin, I had to know what the real thing tasted like, just out of pure curiosity! And how could I pass the very invitng Kopi Luwak shop without going in? 

Kopi Luwak shop in Grand Indonesia Mall, Jakarta

So I paid over 10$ for a cup of the world's most expensive coffee, that retails  at somewhere between 100-150 dollars a pound.

I loved how the coffee was presented in a special way, matching its' special status. The sachet of coffee powder came in a shiny brown organza bag, which also included an authenticity certificate. The coffee is made on your table. The coffee powder is put into a gold-rimmed porcelain cup. Hot water is poured into the cup, which is then covered for 4-5 minutes.

I, of course, much to the dismay of coffee purists, added milk to my cuppa. But not before having a sip of the black stuff! Much as I hate black coffee, I did like the flavours that this one brought. Needless to say that I enjoyed it much more after adulterating it with milk. 

The first thing that strikes you about Kopi Luwak is its' thick body, almost like a syrup. Not surprising then, to find a good amount of muddy sediment at the bottom of the cup. In terms of taste, I have to say that it's unlike any other coffee I have ever tasted! It's rich and smooth, with earthy and chocolatey flavours. A heavy kind of coffee, with a unique flavour that you have to experience to understand.

Was it worth its' price? Most definitely!
Would I pay that much again to savour its unique taste? Maybe not! But if someone else is paying...then bring it on!

© Veggie Wiz | All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated