By Karen Blackledge
The Daily Item
DANVILLE — Undigested coffee beans consumed by a cat-like animal produce the world's most expensive coffee, and some of that high-priced brew — known as Palm Civet Coffee — is coming to Danville.
"I haven't tried Civet Coffee. I am waiting to open it until we begin our tasting," said Tom Repasky, co-owner of the Tea Gallery, 119 Mill St.
The business, which has hosted tea tastings in the past, will begin the coffee tastings, open to the public, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Another coffee tasting is scheduled for Aug. 7.
The Civet brand coffee they will taste is Alamid, from the Philippines, which sells for about $320 a pound. Repasky has 3 1/2 ounces of the stuff that he bought for $45.
Participants will pay $5 each to sample Civet Coffee along with seven other kinds, including the two other most expensive coffees in the world.
The Civet, a small, cat-like mammal with a long body, short legs, a pointed muzzle and short ears, eats the ripest coffee cherries at night. The beans don't digest and are collected daily by farmers, who sanitize them and dry them in the sun. The beans are roasted and vacuum packed for shipping, according to information about Kopi Luwak, or Civet Coffee, described as renowned for its subtle, lingering flavor and exceptional smoothness.
Other expensive coffees to be sampled include Jamaican Blue Mountain, selling for about $40 a pound, and Kona, which goes for about $30 a pound.
During the approximately 1 1/2-hour tasting session, Repasky will discuss coffee flavors as well as the health benefits of caffeine. "I am full of trivia," he said, noting as an example that coffee was banned in the 1600s and 1700s by royalty because people sat around talking about them in coffee shops.
"I think Danville will have fun with this," he said.
Large groups are asked to register for the tastings by calling the shop at 284-3032.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com.
