INDONESIA 21st July 2010

The highest Islamic body in Indonesia in late July decided not to ban Muslims from drinking Kopi Luwak, the exotic and rare coffee harvested from civet cat droppings.

The Indonesian Council of Ulemas had considered issuing a fatwa against the coffee, local reports said, on the grounds that it was unclean.

However, after discussions, the Muslim clerics agreed that it was not forbidden to harvest, sell or consume Kopi Luwak as long as the beans were washed.

Indonesia's population is 90% Muslim.

Kopi Luwak, which can fetch up to $500 per kilo, originates from several Indonesian islands where the luwak civets are found, including Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi. The animals eat ripe coffee cherries and then excrete the beans, which are gathered and cleaned.

Pictured: Indonesian luwak in a photo from Indonesian Groceries Inc