Wild Kopi Luwak, India
Foraged from the droppings of wild Kopi Luwak (Civet Cats), the ‘magic’ of Kopi Luwak occurs in two parts: First, the wild Luwak selects the ripest coffee cherries using its acute sense of smell. Then, as it passes through the Luwak, the digestive acids create a molecular change in the coffee bean, leaving it discernibly more brittle once collected and dried, enhancing the bean’s natural qualities.Â
Properly foraged wild Kopi Luwak is only ever available in very small quantities as the process of finding these droppings within large forests is exceptionally time-consuming. The beauty of the coffee is that the civets are extremely selective and will only consume perfectly ripe coffee cherries, while the proteolytic enzymes in the civet cat’s digestive tract effectively remove any bitterness.Â
The 150 year old Balmaadi Estate in the Nilgiris District of Tamil Nadu, India is certified as organic, eco-friendly and socially responsible by the Institute for Marketecology. The boundaries of this high altitude (4,000-6,000 ft above sea level) estate provide a refuge for the incredibly varied wildlife of Nilgiris, including panthers, elephants, and multiple breeds of the Kopi Luwak (civet cat) whose foraged droppings are collected from the surrounding forest.
