(ODDITY CENTRAL) – One of the world’s most expensive and sought-after coffee varieties is actually harvested from the droppings of the jacu, a large, black, turkey-like bird whose digestive system brings out the aroma of the coffee beans.
When Henrique Sloper, the owner of the Camocim coffee farm in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, first saw his coffee plantation overrun by jacu birds, he panicked, not knowing that the birds would soon become a sort of business partner. He called environmental protection agencies, but they didn’t know what to do and suggested that the farm introduce some natural predators for the large birds. But that was difficult to do, especially with a bird as large as the jacu, so, in the end, Sloper decided to adopt the old ‘if you can’t beat them, join them‘ mantra, and soon discovered that the bird invasion had been a blessing in disguise.
If you consider yourself a coffee connoisseur, you are probably familiar with kopi luwak, the world’s most expensive and exclusive coffee. It is harvested from the feces of Asian palm civets and it has become internationally famous for its smoothness and aroma. Sloper knew this very well, and because the jacu birds on his farm were there to stay, he decided to create his own kopi luwak.
