DOMINGOS MARTINS: In Brazil, the source of incredible coffee isn’t a goose laying golden eggs but rather a pheasant that produces coffee beans in an unusual way.
Nestled within the serene hills of Espirito Santo state’s Camocim coffee farm in southeastern Brazil, jacus, a type of tropical forest pheasant, are revered as discerning pickers, or rather, consumers of coffee cherries.
“These birds choose only the finest and ripest cherries,” explained Agnael Costa, 23, carefully collecting the droppings left by one of these birds between two tree trunks, AFP reported.
What goes in as ripe cherries comes out as beans, eventually transforming into some of the most delectable and prized coffee globally, known for its richness and quality.
Camocim’s coffee plantation
Camocim’s coffee plantation thrives amidst the lush forest, and the jacus here are wild, leisurely enjoying their meals and subsequently depositing coffee beans amidst the foliage.
Henrique Sloper, the owner of the farm, attributes the existence of this exotic coffee to the agroforestry system that provides the ideal conditions for its cultivation.
Within Brazil, jacu coffee can fetch a price of 1,118 reais per kilogram (equivalent to around $100 per pound), with the potential for even higher prices upon export. Renowned international retailers, including the notable British department store Harrods, feature this unique coffee.
