Kalinga launches "Kape de Motit"

(ggd/PIA-Kalinga)
Tabuk, Kalinga (11 July) -- Coffee enthusiasts could now have a taste of the exotic and expensive civet coffee with the launching of the "Kape de Motit", a locally processed civet coffee by the Nor Ref Food Products of Tabuk City.

According to Miss Maria Cecilia T. Baral, Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Kalinga, what made this coffee unique is that it come from the droppings of civet or locally known as "motit."

The motit is a cat- like wild animal that feeds on delicately selected red coffee berries. But since the beans are not digested they are excreted. These are then collected and processed just like any ordinary coffee bean.

"But unlike the ordinary coffee, civet coffee produces a distinct taste and aroma believed to be due to the enzyme and breakdown of the bean's proteins in the civet's intestine aside from the high quality of beans being picked by the civet when feeding," Baral said explaining why the product is considerably expensive.

In the world market, one the most popularly known civet coffee product is the Kopi Luwak (Civet Coffee) of Indonesia which has a selling price of up to $1,300 per kilo and sold mainly in the US and Japan It is also considered as the most expensive coffee in the world according to Forbes Magazine.

Launched during the 7th Matagoan Trade Fair sponsored by City Government of Tabuk in partnership with the DTI, the Kape di Motit is available through Nor Ref Food Products, also the maker of the first processed coffee in the province – the Kalinga Brew.

Kape di motit is the fourth processed coffee launched in the province being supported by the One Town One Product (OTOP) program of the government.

Previously promoted coffee products include the Kalinga Brew, Kalinga Blend and the Mananig Wild Coffee. (ggd/PIA-Kalinga)