i guess it's time to reveal the answer concerning monday's entry entitled, you tell me ...
most of you who answered, thought it was a raccoon of some sort. a good guess since the critter in my post is somewhat of a look alike. much like the raccoon, it also loves to forage for food and steal.
so why did i include it in a blog about food?
well, the creature in question does indeed have something to do with food. while some people actually eat this little guy {gulp}, he is has quite the reputation. this animal is the vehicle for producing the world's most expensive coffee [up to 300 USD per lb] — something i'm no sure so i'd be tempted to try, and not for financial reasons, however. read on....
the animal in question is a kind of mongoose common to southeast asia, vietnam especially, and indonesia, and goes by the name of kopi luwak (luak) or palm civet cat. be sure to look at this site, too [where i got the original picture for monday's post]!
the luak has an incredible appetite for coffee beans and forages for only the best. once he's done eating, he naturally dispenses the end product — a musky scented coffee bean which is then further processed to produce the world's most expensive addictive bean.
epidemiologically speaking, this mammal was thought to have had something to do with the outbreak of SARS several years back. the not-so-far-away city of toronto was especially hit hard with it and people were, rightfully so, running scared. i still remember people walking around town with surgical masks on their faces, they were so afraid to contract this.
back to coffee....
now, if you want to see something ....ummm.... incredibly interesting, you can look at the two following sites. this one is a bit about the animal itself responsible for the coffee "manufacturing" and this is an example of the coffee in it's natural preprocessed state. cool, huh? doesn't it make you wanna run out and buy some? LOL. i actually feel tempted to order this, fancy box & paperweight included.
here is a direct source for this coffee, too where you can also see the civet eating his coffee berries.
this is the famous trung nguyen version from vietnam.
extra facts about the civet and what else it produces.
most of you who answered, thought it was a raccoon of some sort. a good guess since the critter in my post is somewhat of a look alike. much like the raccoon, it also loves to forage for food and steal.
so why did i include it in a blog about food?
well, the creature in question does indeed have something to do with food. while some people actually eat this little guy {gulp}, he is has quite the reputation. this animal is the vehicle for producing the world's most expensive coffee [up to 300 USD per lb] — something i'm no sure so i'd be tempted to try, and not for financial reasons, however. read on....
the animal in question is a kind of mongoose common to southeast asia, vietnam especially, and indonesia, and goes by the name of kopi luwak (luak) or palm civet cat. be sure to look at this site, too [where i got the original picture for monday's post]!
the luak has an incredible appetite for coffee beans and forages for only the best. once he's done eating, he naturally dispenses the end product — a musky scented coffee bean which is then further processed to produce the world's most expensive addictive bean.epidemiologically speaking, this mammal was thought to have had something to do with the outbreak of SARS several years back. the not-so-far-away city of toronto was especially hit hard with it and people were, rightfully so, running scared. i still remember people walking around town with surgical masks on their faces, they were so afraid to contract this.
back to coffee....
now, if you want to see something ....ummm.... incredibly interesting, you can look at the two following sites. this one is a bit about the animal itself responsible for the coffee "manufacturing" and this is an example of the coffee in it's natural preprocessed state. cool, huh? doesn't it make you wanna run out and buy some? LOL. i actually feel tempted to order this, fancy box & paperweight included.
here is a direct source for this coffee, too where you can also see the civet eating his coffee berries.
this is the famous trung nguyen version from vietnam.
extra facts about the civet and what else it produces.
how's that for a cup of crappy coffee?
would you drink this?
would you drink this?
that's hott :)
ReplyDeletesarina - animal hater ;D
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I have a tradition of getting a small packet of unusual or rare gourmet something for one of the people on my Christmas list. I have a feeling you just solved one of my gift-giving quandries for '07!
ReplyDeleteNow that you mention it, I remember reading about the civit during the SARS epidemic, too, and fear-mongers suggesting it was going to spread through the cat population (though we know civits aren't cats). So that's where I've seen that cute face before!
Shame about what happened to your model, though. :-(
Sigh. Yes, I remember now. You had to remind me, didn't you? ;-)
ReplyDeleteWould I drink this? Not even at gunpoint!
ReplyDeleteYuk, not at all, but I love that animal's cute looks ;-P!...
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a racoon too, though I never seen one, the only come out at night, and then all you can see is a shadow figure running about.
ReplyDeleteI am open minded to drinking it. I dont normally drink coffee, am more of a tea person. But I would think of it if I had to drink it like how Bees make honey or something...
I never drink coffe but my brother once told me about the biological coffe machine you wrote about. In few years I wonder if we could buy one of this animals in the market just besides the expreso and capuchino machines. Well roasted please!.
ReplyDeleteostara - it's actually quite affordable as they often sell it in small quantities for trial. i'm sure it'd make a great Xmas, or anytime, gift. very exotic and unusual. and yes, sad about the model :(
ReplyDeleteemily - sorry for the memories, LOL. what ever happened to SARS anyway? it just seemed to disappear as quickly as it appeared.
pammie - what's going on? first, you refuse green ropes of beans and now another kind of beans. i think you have issues with beans. LOL.
rosa - when i read the part about the coffee having a "musky" overtone, i was a bit turned off. i would try it anyway, i think. if only one sip!
pj - that's an interesting observation about the bees. some people aren't as adventurous as you are! :))
roberto - i'd hope it would come in the shape of the civet cat just like in the picture! just pull on the tail for a freshly pulled cup! LOL.
Nope - not drinking anything another animal has excreted.. (can't think of anything anyway).
ReplyDeleteCheers for the gross enlightenment.