I doubt the coffee description is accurate. Also, given the location I would suspect that the word "weasel" itself maybe inaccurate, and that if any animals are involved they are more likely to be viverrids than mustelids -- similar niches so similar appearances but our guys are originally from the canine branch of Carnivora and they arose from the feline branch. A friend has pointed out that another brand claimed to use beans which had been eaten and defecated by one of the viverrids, a mongoose, perhaps... Honestly, I don't know, but I am highly suspicious of the description. [P.S., 18 June] Okay, it turns out that several viverrids normal eat ripe coffee fruit, enjoying the fruit over the bean. I have found notes of it being done in at least 3 Asian countries. (Remember that civets and mongooses are NOT weasels or mustelids.) The processing does several things including reducing the proteins which add bitterness to coffee. In industrial processing there is a mimicking wet step with lactic acid. See: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/publications/zoogoer/1996/4/coffeeluwak.cfm and <http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/ biowissenschaften_chemie/bericht-31682.html> Less intense: http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0232/nc-ask.php http://www.blogjam.com/2005/02/26/civet-coffee/ (Shades of Moose Turd Pie!) An unexpected question arose: http://www.sarswatch.org/comments.php?id=352_0_1_0_C And an unexpected revenge: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010525.html Sent on this, the 18th, my wonderful Woofer Steve's birthday! -- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts) Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them: Ferret Health List http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth FHL Archives http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ AFIP Ferret Pathology http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html Miamiferrets http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ International Ferret Congress Critical References http://www.ferretcongress.org [Posted in FML issue 5277]