A Visit to Satria Agrowisata

Asian Palm Civet

After our visit to the village school in Ubud, our guide took us to visit a coffee plantation, famous for its Luwak coffee. Sometimes called Kopi luwak or civet coffee, it's one of the world's most expensive coffees. If you're looking for a little something different, this would be it. I was going to purchase a sample bag for the coffee connoisseur in our family, but then I discovered it was about $30US for enough to make 10 cups. Instead of a souvenir package, I decided she would like to have a photo instead. Sorry, Carrie!

these beans need a little more work

cleaned and ready for roasting

coffee anyone?

Luwak coffee is, shall I say, "manufactured" a little differently than other coffee beans. The beans are grown on coffee plants just like any other beans, but then they are eaten by a critter called the Asian Palm Civet (also called toddy cat). The beans then pass through the animal's digestive track where they become fermented, then are pooped out whole. There are people whose job it is to collect this type of cat poo in order to harvest the beans. The beans are then roasted and ground like any other coffee beans and wala! You have Luwak coffee!

If you really must know more, you can read up at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak.

hand roasting the coffee beans over wood fire

now THIS is a coffee grinder!

papaya tree

passion fruit blooms and fruit

drying spices

our guide with guess what? marijuana

ever seen how guavas grow?

 In addition to coffee plants, there are many varieties of tropical fruits and trees on the property. Ever wonder where cloves come from? Vanilla? Cinnamon? You can see these trees and plants on the property. These are all harvested and made into teas, coffee, spices, soaps, lotions, creams, etc.

At the end of the walk through the "garden" area, we were treated to samples of Bali coffee, gingseng coffee, cocoa, ginger tea, rosela tea, lemon grass tea, vanilla coffee and rice tea. Like with any tourist spot, it was a cheap marketing attempt to sell products. Of course it worked. I bought pure organic cocoa, ginseng coffee and lemon grass tea. The Luwak coffee was not among the samples but we were offered the opportunity to try it. After each taking one whiff, we politely declined their kind offer.

will you taste a sample?