mmmm, poop

I just drank something that came out of a cat’s ass.

Well, that’s not entirely accurate. It was actually an Asian Palm Civet, otherwise known as a Toddy Cat or a Luwak.

One of my coworkers ordered a small sample of Kopi Luwak coffee, which is coffee that has passed through the digestive tract of this small mammal. They collect the turds, clean and sterilize the beans, slap on a gourmet price tag, and ship it to you in a nice box. After tax and shipping, one pot of coffee will cost you about $30.

It tastes pretty nice — not being much of a coffee connoisseur myself, I can’t comment on the subtle nuances of flavor and such. It’s not bitter in the least; it tastes to me like your average ordinary swill with a packet of sugar in it. At least that stuff doesn’t cost $10 per cup.

You can read all about this phenomenon at Life After Coffee.