An elephant camp in Thailand’s Chiang Mai produces exotic kind of coffee from elephant excretion fetching over US$1,000 (RM4,430) per kg or US$30 (RM133) a cup.

On the hills of Mae Tang district northern Thailand, a herd of elephants at Mae Tang Elephant Camp, is excreting full-flavoured and smooth coffee.

The camp owner, Boontha Chailert, points to the benefits of the new brew made from beans eaten by elephants.

“You have a cup of coffee that is very smooth and aromatic.”

Only healthy elephants are fed with coffee beans taking about three days to digest, he said.

After natural fermentation, the coffee beans are collected by hands from elephant dung. The beans are then sundried and go through an eight-month long process.

Three types off elephant dung coffee are made; mild, regular and strong.

Boontha said after about one year in business demand kept growing.

What made the coffee unique is the gut reaction inside the elephant.

Unlike civet coffee, or kopi luwak, elephants' coffee is made by infusion of other ingredients in the elephant's vegetarian diet such as fruits and sugar cane.

- Bernama