Blog: Quality Gift Boxes

Jakarta Globe

SBY’s Civet Coffee Gift Stuck in Oz Quarantine

As Indonesians know, Kopi Luwak is a prized brew, renowned for its subtle flavor, ripeness, rarity and unique passage through a civet cat’s digestive tract. It is a perfect gift, many believe.

Sadly, Australian customs officials have other ideas. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s gift of civet coffee to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on his just-concluded state visit has been impounded.

Kopi Luwak, made from beans roasted after being digested and excreted by civet cats, requires a special permit to enter Australia because it could “potentially be contaminated with exotic and endemic pathogens,” according to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Web site.

Embarrassingly, Yudhoyono’s gift did not have such a permit.

“All imports into Australia must comply with our quarantine regulations, and gifts that come into Australia for guest-of-government visits are no different,’’ the Sydney Morning Herald quoted a spokeswoman for the prime minister as saying. “Luwak coffee requires an import permit from AQIS to be brought into Australia, and that process is under way.’’

AQIS reportedly issued an alert in January to importers of roasted coffee beans that a special permit was needed for coffee “that has been partially digested through the alimentary tract of animals, eg Kopi Luwak/Civet Coffee.”

The gourmet gift also drew cheap shots in unrefined quarters of the Australian media, inspiring references to “dung diplomacy.”

The Age newspaper quoted a veteran Canberra political reporter telling television viewers that the rare beans pass through “a monkey-like creature ... A new treat at the lodge: crapuccino!’’

The vegetarian civet cat is related to the mongoose and is hardly monkey-like. Kopi Luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee, going for as much as $600 per kilogram.

Meanwhile, the quarantine gaffe does not seem to have fazed Indonesian officials. Asked about it on Friday after Yudhoyono’s return from his visits to Australia and Papua New Guinea, presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha only said: “Oh, really?”

If anyone has ever noticed the footer on this website, they’ll see that TravelingMamas.com is not only powered by the Wordpress content management system, but also Community Coffee. I’ve personally been drinking this caffeinated brew since I was a toddler watching Saturday morning cartoons and my mother would prepare a diluted version of cafe au lait (coffee milk) in my sippy cup.

Community Coffee may not be popular with the trendy Los Angeles or NYC java drinkers, but that’s because these coffee drinkers have yet to sample a quality cup of Joe by this honest, family-owned company. The name says it all – Community. This private company has been around for over 90 years and has been an integral part of business deals and law passing in Louisiana. They also support local schools with Community Cash for Schools program. In their subtle, unassuming manner, this company even supports the places where a few types of their coffee beans are harvested. They quietly have brought prosperity and a means of support to African tribes and South American villages.

This humble company won my heart many years ago and it is apparent that they have the hearts of Louisianians everywhere. Community Coffee kept me going when I worked long, hard nights building the bones TravelingMamas.com and many of the other sites I’ve created and developed. It gave me a much needed boost as I finished the manuscript of my latest book. It keeps me and coworkers awake and aware as we work many long nights and weekends in the emergency services field. Community Coffee was even there when my grandfather passed away and the family gathered at his farm after his funeral, adding a small bit of comfort to our family during a time of grief and remembrance. Most recently, Community Coffee helped me get through my son’s recent emergency surgery. Their CC’s Coffee Shop employees at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge gave me a laugh and smile with their personalities (see below).

Community Coffee doesn’t brag about what they’ve done for almost a century. Instead, this company focuses their energy on continually providing a quality product that brings family and friends together. For some that have moved away, a sip of fresh brewed Community Coffee may spark a memory of their time living in Louisiana.

Community Coffee has gernerously supplied a gift pack of their New Orleans Blend coffee and a Fleur-de-Lis travel tumbler for one randomly chosen commenter. I have one of these tumblers and take it with me anytime I leave the house. Its shape fits comfortably in my hand and always sparks up a conversation, either by someone in an airport who misses Louisiana or a passerby hollering “Whodat!”

Rules: Leave one comment per email address regarding your experience with Community Coffee or if you haven’t tried it, just say you haven’t tried it. Want extra entries? Fan Community Coffee Company on Facebook and/or tweet about them on Twitter (@CommunityCoffee). Leave another comment stating you’re a fan and another that you’ve tweeted about it. Must be a US or Canadian citizen at least 18 years old. Contest ends 11:59pm (CST) Tuesday March 2, 2010. Winner will be notified by email and must supply mailing address within three days of contest closing or will forfeit their prize, which will be awarded to another entrant.

This contest item was supplied by the company and has in no way influenced my opinion. I’ve been using this product for 34 years and have no problem in promoting something I use every day. Community Coffee is available online and in select stores throughout the southern United States.

Update: A few entries commented about the one-cup coffee pods for those hotels that use this style coffee maker. Community Coffee has them available for purchase – Community Coffee One-Cup Coffee Pods.

Winner Update: Congratulations to Jaque who left the winning comment -

“Sadly, I have never tasted Community Coffee….after reading about it here, I feel my life has been incomplete without it. I love coffee and would love to try this java taste bud sensation!”

Jaque, let us know what you think of your fabulous travel tumbler and Community Coffee New Orleans Blend.