"Weasel or Welsel Coffee?"
Did some digging around and found out that fox-dung coffee is one of the most expensive in the world. It's made from coffee beans that eaten and 'passed out' from the civet cat (which looks like a fox and so the name fox-dung coffee in Vietnam). This process supposedly enhances the taste of the beans and makes them highly desirable to coffee connoisseurs worldwide. The civet eats only the best coffee cherries and eventually excretes them out — though only after the beans have gone through a fermentation process in the animal’s stomach. Indonesia is the leading producer followed by Vietnam and the Philippines. Apparently, the data shows that only 200-300kg is produced world-wide annually, which naturally accounts for the expensive price.
Fox-dung coffee costs a few hundred US dollars a kg. So how can it be sold for US$20/kg in Ben Thanh? Thus what is advertised as weasel coffee in VN and sold at cheap prices are all fakes. Here are some photos and references.
A civet cat eyeing coffee cherries
Civet cat droppings
However, Trung Nguyen Coffee has laid claim to an artificial fermentation process that reproduces the fox-dung coffee taste without the "passing out" process. Named the "Legendee", Trung Nguyen boasts that there is no artificial rival to it. Try it out the next time you're in a Trung Nguyen cafe.
AFTERNOTE :
Bought a 250g pack of Legendee Coffee for my mum at 135,000vnd (S$8.44/US$6.75) at MaxiMark Cong Hoa on 17 Dec 2010. At this price, isn't it much better to buy the Legendee than some fake dung coffee at the market which costs the same??? Some even cost more.
The 250g Legendee pack will set you back US$16.95 if you order online in the US; the Legendee Coffee Gift Pack (250g pack, a tin of condense milk and a phin filter) cost US$26.95 (not including shipping) .
The Legendee gift pack of a mug and aluminium "phin" filter sells for 205,000vnd (S$12.82/US$10.25) at CoopMart in HCMC.
A cup of Legendee coffee costs more than S$10 in Singapore. Goodness, one cup in SG costs more than a 250g pack in HCMC - one reason why I like living in HCMC.
2 comments:
Hi Bennet! I'm here again...just want to ask you if you know of tourist bus companies who offers day tours around HCMC like hopping the famous landmarks there? Is it cheaper renting a taxi, by tour bus or just go by yourself?
Thanks again.
krizza
Hi Krizza, Sinh Tourist offers a very reasonably-priced one-day city tour. 8.30am to 5.00pm. Less than US$10, I think. Pls check their website.
HCMC is actually quite easy to move around too and taxis are cheap. Use Vinasun or Mai Linh taxis (most reliable). Re-U Palace, Notre Dame, Gen Post Office, Opera House, People's Committee Building, Ben Thanh Market are all within walking distance. You need to take a cab to places like War Remnants Museum, Thien Hau Temple, Binh Tay Market and An Dong Market. If you need more info, pls email me at bennett2006@gmail.com.
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