News From : DagangHalal.com (19 Aug 2011)
An asian palm civet is eating the beans.
The exotic and highly-priced kopi luwak has not received halal status from the National Fatwa Council. A Harian Metro report advised Muslim consumers to refrain from drinking the coffee due to its unconfirmed Halal status.
Also known as civet coffee, it is made from the beans of coffee berries which have been eaten by the tree-dwelling Asian palm civet and other related civets, then passed through its digestive tract.
Passing through a civet’s intestines, the beans are then defecated, keeping their shape. Thus, the Malays also call it “kopi tahi musang”. After thorough washing, sun drying, light roasting and brewing, these beans yield an aromatic coffee with much less bitterness, widely noted as the most expensive coffee in the world.
The paper learnt that the planning and research division of the Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) had been in Jakarta for three days in June to study the coffee said to be produced mainly in the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and Sulawesi but a fatwa (edict) has yet to be made on whether it is fit for Muslim consumption. The source added that the group exchanged information with the Indonesian Ulama Council and the findings have since been presented to the Syariah review panel and the fatwa council.
Source: The Star Online