Long regarded as the food capital of Asia, Penang has much to rave about in regard to it’s F and B offerings… But it is perhaps the drinks that will form part of our lasting memories of this holiday…
Firstly, there are the Happy Hours which in some hotels in Malaysia (Royale Chulan in KL) extend to all day… Secondly, much to the delight of some in our group there is no legal minimum drinking age here….argh these kids are growing up.
Then there was the chance to try out the world’s most expensive coffee… Ok coming from Melbourne’s coffee culture, I am spoilt for coffee choice, and can be critical of coffee in places that we stay at…as my Trip Adviser comments will attest to…
I go through phases with my coffee… At the moment I am back on my regular – a decaf skinny cap – or a decaffeinated cappuccino coffee with skimmed milk, if you want it translated into the Queen’s English. “What’s the point”? My friends ask… I HATE it when my cappuccino arrives without the sprinkle of chocolate on the top….that’s the whole point of a cap, right?
Just to show you how brill Melbourne’s coffee is, just look at what arrived the other day when I was out walking with a friend and her grand daughter – it’s a babyccino, too cute…
But what’s all the fuss about the Cat Poop coffee? The Luwak (or Asian Palm Civet ) from Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi, eats the ripest coffee cherries and unable to digest these beans graciously deposits them on the jungle floor where they are eagerly collected by the locals… Mum to Son “Off you go and don’t come home until you’ve collected me a big bag of Civet poo…”)
The stomach acids involved in this unique fermentation produces the worlds rarest coffee beverage – it can sell for up to $50 per cup in the poshest restaurants in the US!!
Our brewing process is precise. The coffee beans are ground and smell rich and delicious, the water is carefully boiled and cooled to just the right temperature.. 97 degrees…
We are told to take four sips… “Don’t give up after the first one which is a bitter shock in the mouth. Sips two onwards will taste of pure caramel…. “Yeah right..
The marketing department tried hard with their “Good to the last dropping….”, but can’t say we agree. It tastes even worse when you google Cat poop coffee and find claims of animal abuse…
So mine’s a flat white…yeah no worries about the chocolate on top…
Little Wandering Wren
Location:Penang Island, Malaysia
