Jacu Bird Coffee
Jacu Bird Coffee: One of the most expensive and sought-after coffee varieties in the world is harvested from the droppings of the jack bird, a large, black, turkey-like bird whose digestive system enhances the aroma of coffee beans.
When Henrique Sloper, the owner of Camocim coffee farm in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo, first found his plantation overrun with jacu birds, he panicked and called environmental protection agencies. But when they couldn’t help, he decided to adopt the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ approach. Sloper knew of the famous kopi luwak coffee, which is harvested from the feces of Asian palm civets and decided to create his own version using jacu droppings.
Although it took time to convince farm workers to harvest bird droppings instead of coffee beans, after overcoming this hurdle and two years of trial and error, Camocim Farm became the only one in the world to produce coffee from the droppings of the jack bird.
The jack bird’s digestive system was found to be extraordinary, as it swallowed and excreted the coffee beans perfectly whole while eliminating almost all of the caffeine in the process. In addition, the bird had impeccable taste, consuming only the ripest beans on the plantation, resulting in high-quality coffee.
Camocim Farm is the only coffee producer in the world to use jack droppings and has been selling it for about a decade. The variety is currently considered one of the most expensive in the world, particularly in countries like France, Japan, and the UK, where luxury department store Harrods sells it for 1,400 pounds ($1,700) per kilogram.
The coffee processed from jack bird droppings is described as fruitier and more acidic than most other varieties and is only produced when there is specific demand from a buyer. After harvesting, the droppings are dried, cleaned, and frozen before processing.
What other unique coffee varieties are there in Brazil?
Brazil is known for producing some of the world’s most unique and delicious coffee varieties. Some of the other unique types of coffee that are grown in Brazil include:
Bourbon: A coffee variety that is known for its smooth, sweet taste and is grown in the state of Minas Gerais.
Catuai: A hybrid coffee that was created by crossing Caturra and Mundo Novo varieties. It is known for its fruity and nutty flavors and is grown in Sao Paulo and Parana.
Yellow Bourbon: Similar to the Bourbon variety, but with a yellow fruit instead of red. It is grown in the Cerrado region of Brazil.
Acaiá: A mild coffee variety that is known for its low acidity and is grown in the state of Bahia.
Icatu: A hybrid variety that was created by crossing Timor and Caturra varieties. It is known for its unique flavor and is grown in Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais.
Mundo Novo: A hybrid variety that was created by crossing Bourbon and Typica varieties. It is known for its balanced flavor and is grown in Sao Paulo and Parana.
These are just a few examples of the unique coffee varieties that can be found in Brazil. The country’s diverse climate and geography make it an ideal place for growing coffee, and there are many more varieties to be discovered.
