Coffee or Tea?

So you like your morning coffee?  I've read that the most expensive coffee and low-production variety  in the world is kopi luwak from Indonesia. Only about 500 pounds are produced each year so it sells for up to $600 a pound. It is said to be smooth and sweet with a bit of caramel and chocolate flavor. Sounds wonderful doesn't it?

Well, before you brew up that cup I must tell you that the coffee beans were originally eaten by a Asian Civet cat, a weasel type animal.

The civet eats the berries for their fleshy pulp. In the day and a half passage through the civet's stomach and intestines, enzymes seep into the beans, changing the amino acid content. Then, brace yourself, they are pooped out, yes I said pooped out, all the while keeping their shape. Are you still reading? Then they are gathered from the forest floor, washed, sun dried and lightly roasted so as to keep the many intertwined flavors and lack of bitterness.

Oh, you say that you prefer tea?

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More pictures and information on the civet;
 http://a-z-animals.com/animals/asian-palm-civet/

More about kopi luwak; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak