Are you curious enough to try out a cup of civet cat coffee from beans extracted from the animal’s dung? For many coffee lovers, the answer is a definite yes! For many however, just the word manure is more than enough to put them off this product. But don’t reject it until you’ve tried it, civet coffee devotees say.

Known as one of the world’s rarest and most expensive coffees, civet coffee is only made in some parts of Asia. It is known by many names, such as kopi luwak in Indonesia, and kape alamid in the Philippines. It is so called because the beans are come from the manure of the Asian Palm Civet, also referred to as the civet cat, which is a member of the mongoose family. The civet cats consume the best coffee berries, and the beans are partially digested in their stomachs before being excreted whole into the ground. Coffee farmers then watch out for the areas in the farm or forest that the civet cat chooses to use as their litter box, and picks the poop covered beans. These defecated beans are then subjected to a good cleansing, and are sun-dried. Afterward, they are roasted to perfection.

Typically, civet coffee is a mix of several coffee varieties, such as Liberica, Exelsa, Robusta and Arabica beans that the animal consumed. Each coffee variety lends a different flavor that is heightened by the enzymes in the civet cat’s stomach. Those who have tasted this coffee have characterized it as smooth, sweet, slightly dark and chocolatey, with a lovely aroma. Unlike other coffees, civet coffee is does not have that bitter aftertaste.

Approximately 2000 kilos or so are produced of this tasty treat annually, as civet coffee is still collected from the feces of civet cats in the wild. Apparently, some efforts were made to raise the civet cats in a farm setting, but they did not produce as much, making the scheme non-viable. Thus, the supply will always remain low.

Civet coffee has found a dedicated following among coffee lovers in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and other parts of the world. Because it is only found in limited amounts, and production can be very labor intensive, civet coffee prices can go as expensive as 100 dollars for 100 grams, or about $30 per cup. You can buy both ground or whole roasted beans in gourmet coffee shops, in some Asian markets, or in online stores. But beware, there are many counterfeit or adulterated civet coffee beans in the market today, so make sure to shop around for a reputable store before making a purchase.