Elephant Gut Bacteria Unlocks Secret to World's Rarest Coffee's Smooth Taste
Science
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Moneycontrol•21-01-2026, 15:59
Elephant Gut Bacteria Unlocks Secret to World's Rarest Coffee's Smooth Taste
- •Scientists in Japan discovered that gut bacteria in Asian elephants reduce bitterness in Black Ivory coffee.
- •Black Ivory coffee, produced at a Thai sanctuary, involves elephants consuming Arabica cherries, which are then collected and roasted.
- •Elephant digestion, specifically pectin-degrading bacteria, breaks down pectin in coffee beans before roasting, preventing bitter compound formation.
- •The study, published in Scientific Reports, highlights how animal digestion and microbial activity influence food flavor.
- •Findings could inspire new fermentation methods mimicking natural microbial processes for flavor development.
Why It Matters: Elephant gut bacteria are key to Black Ivory coffee's smooth, low-bitterness profile by breaking down pectin.
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