Elephant Poo coffee

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"I'll have a Double EleXpresso with an Extra Dash of Poo," doesn't sound quite as elegant as the name Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas has given the their latest coffee offering.

Introduced as Black Ivory Coffee at its four resorts in the Maldives, these are some of the first hotels in the world to offer one of the most unique coffee experiences on the planet.

Black Ivory Coffee is created from a process whereby coffee beans are digested and naturally refined by Thai elephants. Research indicates that during digestion, the enzymes of the elephant break down coffee protein. Since protein is one of the main factors responsible for bitterness in coffee, less protein means almost no bitterness.

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At a retail price of approximately US$1,100 per kilogramme, this coffee is also one of the most expensive and exclusive in the world. Currently only 50 kilogrammes are available for sale.

The process begins with selecting the best Thai Arabica beans that have been picked from an altitude of 1,500 metres. The beans are digested and then deposited by the elephants and the individual beans are handpicked by mahouts (elephant trainer and carer) and their wives and sundried.

Approximately 10,000 beans are picked to produce one kilogramme of roasted coffee; 33 kilogrammes of coffee cherries are required to produce one kilogramme of Black Ivory Coffee.

Refinement of the coffee takes place at Anantara's own foundation the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in Thailand. The foundation, set in the grounds of Anantara Golden Triangle has, to date, rescued 30 street elephants along with their mahouts and families. Eight percent of all coffee sales will be donated to GTAEF to help fund a specialist elephant veterinarian to provide free care to the elephants and additional funds will also be used to purchase medicine as well as to build a new laboratory.

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