Visiting a coffee and tea plantation in Bali can be way more interesting than you may think. Walking through one of the many coffee and tea plantations in Bali is a very cool way to get to know more about the Balinese culture, the plant life in the plantation, as well as the traditional work of the Balinese people. And ending your visit with tasteful (warm) beverages overlooking beautiful valleys is just perfect. A visit to a coffee and tea plantation is therefore one of the many things you can do in Ubud in Bali.
Prices at a coffee and tea plantation in Bali
The guided tour around a coffee and tea plantation in Bali is often free. This is why a lot of budget travelers make use of this experience.
If you decide to taste the famous Luwak coffee you will have to pay for this. The price for a cup of Luwak coffee is typically between 35 to 80 USD per cup.
If you want to buy any type of tea or coffee to bring back home you will have to pay for that as well.
All this means that you can easily get an incredible experience without spending any money – And who can say no to that.
The walk through a coffee and tea plantation in Bali
The many coffee and tea plantations in Bali grow different types of coffees, spices, cocoa, and a lot of edible plants. When walking through the plantations your (free) guide will point out the different plants as well as tell you about them and how they are used in Balinese cuisine.
During your walk, you will be shown the traditional process of making coffee. The Balinese coffee is traditionally roasted over a fire with constant stirring. If you want, you will have the opportunity to try the work of stirring the pot yourself.
The famous poo coffee: Kopi Luwak
All around the World people know of poop coffee. But did you know that it originates from Bali? The poo coffee is also known as Kopi luwak or just luwak coffee. This type of coffee is one of the most expensive ones in the World.
The luwak coffee is said to be one of the best types of coffee because of the berries that the luwaks select and eat. The animals choose the berries by their smell. Therefore, they only pick the best berries. The animal digestive system breaks down the berry – but not the coffee bean inside. This means that the bean comes out intact (without poop on it). It is said that the digestive system of the luwak lowers the coffee beans’ acidity, which gives the coffee a smoother flavor.
When the beans come out again the shell is rinsed (to get rid of the poo). Afterward, the shell is pulled off, and out comes the coffee bean.
Luwaks in the coffee and tea plantation
The traditional method for finding the luwak poop was to search for it in the wild. But today many plantations in Bali have luwaks inside cages. That way they can force-feed them the berries so they get as much poo as possible.
So be aware that if you are buying the luwak coffee it may be from a force-fed luwak. Which is something you shouldn’t support.
Coffee and Tea Tasting
Your tour around a coffee and tea plantation often ends with a tasting. That way you can treat your taste buds with an array of hot beverages – both tea, coffee, and cocoa. Some of the many beverages you can taste are Balinese coffee, chocolate coffee, ginger tea, pure chocolate, vanilla coffee, ginseng coffee, and lemon tea.
If you are a coffee or tea enthusiast this should be the perfect experience for you. If you, like us, aren’t that much of a coffee drinker you shouldn’t worry. We still had a good experience and like the tea and chocolate very much. And the incredible view overlooking valleys is definitely a plus. So, we would always recommend you do at least one coffee and tea tasting in Bali.