Weasel Coffee Farm Tour in Dalat

Planning a tour of Dalat highlands? Then you have to visit the Weasel Coffee Farm (Trai Ham Dalat) — the mecca for all coffee lovers and tourists alike. Famous for one of the most unique and expensive coffees in the world, it's not only a stop — it's a peek into Vietnamese coffee culture.

In this tour guide, I'm going to spill all the secrets that you need to command full knowledge from their coffee-making process, to some handy tips for visiting the farm itself. Just to clarify, Weasel coffee (cà phê chồn in Vietnamese) is known as Kopi Luwak in Indonesia while its English name is Civet coffee.

I know it sounds a bit crazy from the name of it - Weasel Coffee which means literally making coffee as you might have guessed from where haha!

But besides the shock factor it's actually a pretty good coffee! Don’t trust me? Well read on and you might change your belief!

What's So Cool About Weasel Coffee?

Weasel coffee, or cà phê Chồn, is an expensive and exotic brew that's made headlines worldwide thanks to its killer flavor. The magic lies in the making: First, Asian palm civets (a.k.a. weasels, if you want to keep it low-key) eat coffee berries, and then those berries are harvested from their poop, and, after a scrub-up, roasted. The full natural fermentation process, aided by enzymes in a civet's gut, gives it a smooth, low-acid coffee packed with notes of chocolate and caramel.

Dalat Weasel Coffee Farm is one of a handful of places where you can witness this wacky process unfold before your eyes. Home to more than 120 congenial civets, the farm produces around 500 kilograms of weasel coffee each year — it's an essential stop for any coffee lover.

Why Visit Dalat Weasel Coffee Farm?

An Exclusive Coffee Experience

At the Weasel Coffee Farm, you can see coffee go straight from the farm to your cup. They've put together these amazing guided tours that show you how civets only pick the ripest Arabica coffee berries, so you know you're getting top-notch coffee. You'll also discover the delicate process of collecting, washing and roasting those beans to make a nice cup of coffee.

Responsible and Eco-Friendly Farming

The farm takes animal welfare and responsible farming practices very seriously. The civets live in large, comfy cages, eat a proper nutritional diet and are given health checkups regularly. This helps to keep the staff in good spirits and the coffee of a high quality.

Beautiful Landscape

The farm is located in beautiful rolling hills, with tall pine trees and some tranquil valleys within 2-3 kilometers of Dalat's city center. (Getting there is half the fun: the ride over Mimosa Pass is beautiful.)

Tasting and Purchase

You can't skip tasting the freshly brewed weasel coffee. A plethora of coffee treats await at the farm's cafe, so you can sample all of the unique flavors that come with this specialty brew. Also do not forget to take back with you some weasel coffee, though let it be known that it is princely, highly exclusive, one of the priciest coffees available, costing upwards of $3,500 per kilogram.

It's insanely costly, right? To this day it's hard for me to comprehend how a coffee costs thousands of dollars. And guess how much it costs in local Vietnamese currency - 90 freaking million VND! I am not even kidding, go check out the online currency conversion tools on google.

How to Get to the Weasel Coffee Farm

By Motorbike or Car

Just a 2- to 3-kilometer ride through Dalat's city center along the beautiful Mimosa Pass, which affords gorgeous views of the countryside. Would hardly take you 10 minutes to reach there as it's so close to the city center.

Guided Tours

Well, there are plenty of local tour companies that offer tours to the Weasel Coffee Farm, usually adding them in with trendy spots like Elephant Waterfall or Van Thanh Flower Village.

Weasel Coffee Farm Visit Tips

Best Time to Visit

Do you want to see the coffee harvest season? "You don't want to come here in May," she told me, "You want to come from November to April— that's when everything's happening on the farm."

What to Pack

Dalat can be a bit nippy, even when the weather is warmer outside, so bring a light jacket and comfortable shoes.

Guided Tours

If you want to find out more about how they make the coffee and learn more about the whole story of weasel coffee in Vietnam, then you should take a guided tour.

If you are thinking what other tour you can do besides the farm tour, I can suggest this waterfall tour in Dalat which is not too far away to be honest. It includes some adventure activities like waterfall rappelling, so why not!

Sample Local Delicacies

Don't forget to pick up some local goodies like banh mi or banh trang nuong (grilled rice paper) to munch on with coffee, it's a foodie's dream!

Respect the Civets

The farm cares for the civets, but it's very important to respect their habitat and not to disturb the animals when you are there.

Cultural Importance of Weasel Coffee

Vietnamese culture and creative talent cannot be fully embodied in just a cup of coffee, but it comes very close with weasel coffee (Kopi Luwak). Making it is centuries old, and reflects just how in tune Vietnam is with nature and farming traditions. Exploring the Weasel Coffee Farm, you're not drinking a one-of-a-kind cup; you're diving into a centuries-old narrative.

What do I think about Weasel Coffee Farm

If you visit Vietnam make sure you take the time to drop in at the Weasel Coffee Farm in Dalat. Whether you're a coffee aficionado or simply intrigued by the buzz, you're going to love it here, with the stunning views, rich history and ultra-cool farming practices. From the beautiful drive up to the farm, to the tasting of that amazing weasel coffee, everything here has the passion and passion to produce one of the coolest coffees in the world.

So the next time you're in Dalat, be sure to check in at the Weasel Coffee Farm. It's not a quick stop — it's a sneak peek at the Vietnamese coffee scene.

If you don’t have enough time to visit a farm you can also buy it from Dalat market.

Note: At the time of writing this, weasels/civets were still kept in cages which might be unsavory for some travelers so if you are someone who does not want to see animals in captivity you might want to skip this tour!

Book Your Visit Today!

Location: 135E Hoang Hoa Tham street, ward 10, Dalat city, Lam Dong province
Opening hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Admission: Free (coffee tasting and purchases other than free)
Navigate to Weasel farm: Google Maps Link