With so many wonderful coffees on the market today, it takes something truly incredible and unique in order to make an impression on the average coffee connoisseur. Civet coffee is certainly unique in many ways, not the least of which is its method of being processed, which incidentally includes the digestive tract of a civet cat.

While you may think there is no way this could be true let me remind you that there have been stranger delicacies known around the world and this particular delicacy is said to be a very flavorful and aromatic blend of coffee. That part, I actually have little trouble at all believing. What I do find extraordinary is its near legendary capacity among coffee lovers in some of the finest cafes in Jakarta and its rising following in Vietnam.

This particular coffee is extremely rare by coffee standards, which makes it immediately in demand in many circles. However, if you are looking for a truly unique coffee drinking experience that will stand apart from the rest, I can think of very few that would make a more memorable impression upon my palate than this. There are those who claim this particular coffee to be an aphrodisiac and demand has been so high in the Philippines that it has literally outstripped the supply.

If prices are any indication, at $150 USD per pound this makes Civet coffee a rare member of the most expensive drinks in the world club. The problem is that the beans simply cannot be produced in any sort of major quantity and there is much debate about the voracity of the claims or even the existence of this particular brew.

For those who have tried this particular brand of coffee the claims are of a chocolate note in the flavor that is quite delicious with no noticeable aftertaste, which is a common complaint among those trying new coffees. Regardless of the actual flavor the rarity of this particular coffee alone make it a fabulous find if you happen upon a cup along your travels and well worth the taste, if for no other reason than the bragging rights of having tried a flavor of coffee that so few have had the pleasure of experiencing before.

It is important to note that despite the slaughter of many civet cat's in China as a result of SARs fears there has been no indications that the civet cats in Indonesia are of any concern as far as the risk of SARs and this particular coffee is reported to be completely safe and sanitary to consume regardless of its humble beginnings.

Regardless of your coffee drinking in the past, civet coffee is one flavor that you will have never experienced anything like before and is also a flavor you are unlikely to experience more than once without paying a premium price. The good news is that this drink is becoming more widely recognized if not more widely available. Perhaps in time the demand for this particular coffee delicacy will reach a point where the decision will be made to refine and stream line the now labor intensive collection and preparation methods. One thing is for certain, if you can get your hands on a cup now, you are likely to be years ahead of that particular trend.