KOREA FOUNDATION

INTERVIEW

A leader in supplying Kopi Luwak tea bags and drip bags Vice President
Yu Dae-oh, Hured Co., Ltd.

Kopi Luwak became widely known as “the coffee you must try before you die” through the 2007 film ‘The Bucket List’. However, the coffee was not available in Korea until, in 2011, Hured Co, Ltd. launched tea bags and drip bags to make Kopi Luwak more accessible and convenient to enjoy for people in Korea.

Nice to meet you. Please say hello to the readers of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.

Hello, this is Vice President Yu Dae-oh, in charge of new coffee development and production at Hured Co., Ltd. When I was working abroad, I had an opportunity to visit a coffee-producing region. The cup of coffee I had at that time tasted so good that I decided to work in a coffee-related industry, hoping to help more people enjoy tasty coffee in easy and convenient ways. I am delighted to share

In 2011, Hured became the first company to supply Kopi Luwak tea bags and drip bags in Korea.

That’s right. While wondering how to drink this wonderful coffee more conveniently, we came up with the idea to offer it in drip bags. At the time, the coffee market was booming in Korea thanks to a series of successful coffee franchises, which boosted the interest and demand for specialty coffee. Consumers enthusiastically welcomed our Kopi Luwak tea bags and drip bags.

In your view, what are the major characteristics of Indonesian coffee?

More than anything, Indonesian coffee is characterized by a full body and distinct aroma. Its taste clearly distinguishes it from African and South American coffees. Indonesian coffee also has its own history and tradition. Nowadays, we have a better quality of coffee beans thanks to the blossoming specialty coffee market and high-quality beans grown by Indonesian farmers.

Lastly, is there any specialty coffee you would like to recommend to our readers?

With the recent growth in the market, both quantitative and qualitative, we have a wide variety of coffee on sale. Coffee from Indonesia and Viet Nam is particularly popular due to its delectable flavors. Those from India and Yunnan Province in China are also available in many places. If you are interested in specialty coffee, I recommend tasting and comparing coffee varieties from different countries.