Weird but Wonderful Products on the Market

by James P. Outreach & PR Executive

Browsing the internet can often lead us down the rabbit hole — whether we’re on YouTube finding ourselves watching videos about caring for ferrets or browsing Amazon and buying stuff we didn’t know we needed. Those toe socks and public transportation cup holders were a fine purchase, weren’t they?

On the internet, you’ll find that there are many weird (but wonderful) products that catch our interest, and more often than not, they have an incredibly niche or sometimes practical use.

Here, we’ll take a look at some of the strangest things you can get your hands on.

1. Cat poop coffee

Also known as kopi luwak coffee, but that doesn’t sound as interesting, right?

Kopi luwak coffee is the most expensive coffee in the world, priced anywhere from £28 to £80 for a cup. And the reason why? It is made from coffee cherries that have been eaten, digested, and defecated by the Asian palm civet, a small Indonesian mammal that looks like a raccoon. The cherries are picked from the (look away if you’re eating) faeces, cleaned, and roasted ready for a delicious hot mug of coffee.

Apparently, the civet cat’s digestive enzymes change the proteins in the coffee beans which remove the acidity to make it a smoother drink. That combined with the fact that civets are picky eaters who only eat the best, ripest coffee cherries make it a recipe for success. We can’t see it as a classic cup of organic coffee, especially since the global market is expected to grow 10.62% by 2027!

We’ve heard it tastes delicious, but we guess we’d have to see for ourselves. So if you’re ever in Indonesia, make sure you check it out, because we’re really not sure about this one. Do, however, purchase kopi luwak that is certified by WSPA, Rainforest Alliance, or UTZ Certified from wild living civet cats rather than caged animals.

2. Meat shredder claws

Sounds bizarre but looks pretty fun and useful. Plus, you get to look like Wolverine! These meat shredder claws are a surprisingly efficient way of shredding your meat. By putting your hand in the holder and using the claw-looking knives you can easily take the meat apart.

Ideal for a BBQ or generally looking cool — we advise on both. Pulled pork burger anyone?

3. Smelly food finger covers

Particularly useful if you love the Wotsit and want to avoid cheese dust all over your fingers, these handy yet weird finger covers are made of latex or silicone and can come in different sizes. You can also cut them to fit! These finger protectors are useful for people with blisters, cracks, eczema, and other painful skin or finger conditions, protecting them against friction or anything that could cause discomfort.

4. Dirty nappy smart sensor

It is what it says on the tin — a dirty nappy sensor! Developed by researchers at MIT, a tiny radio frequency identification sensor in the hydrogel that detects nappy moisture signals a nearby receiver that alerts the caregiver. When wet, the hydrogel expands and sends a signal to the home’s Wi-Fi network.

Not only helpful for parents, when a wet nappy is worn too long it can cause painful rashes and unhappy babies. No longer do babies and infants need to throw a tantrum to be changed! And forget the sniff test! Over time, these smart nappies can help record and identify health problems like signs of constipation or trouble holding their bladder or bowels.

This weird yet wonderful product helps with parenting. What’s better?

5. Chicken leash

Why has walking our dogs been normalised but our chickens hasn’t? Well, our time has come! If you have chickens, you can now take them for a walk and with a chicken harness and leash.

Keep your eyes peeled for other harnesses and leashes for your pets, like a lizard leash!

There’s a solution to most problems by having a look online at the unique and niche products for particular needs — who knows what you’ll find!