Coconut flour
Coconut flour is a distinctive product derived from coconut residue, specifically the "sapal" leftover after coconut milk extraction. It serves not only as a valuable income source for entrepreneurs but also as a nutritious dietary fiber for consumers. This versatile flour can function as a filler, bulking agent, and substitute for wheat, rice, and potato flours in various food applications such as baked goods, snacks, steamed dishes, and extruded products.
The utilization of coconut sepal to produce coconut flour enriches the product with dietary fiber, offering potential health benefits and promoting the development of value-added or functional foods. This could contribute to better management of chronic diseases, making coconut flour a promising dietary component for conditions like diabetes. Low-fat and high-fiber, coconut flour matches other cereal flours in terms of carbohydrate, fat, and energy content, making it a favorable ingredient for nutraceuticals and health-conscious diets.
Kalparasa (coconut sap)
Kalparasa, also known as "neera" in Sanskrit, is the life essence of the coconut tree, extracted from the unopened inflorescence. The sap naturally flows from the cut end of the inflorescence and is traditionally collected in earthen pots where it undergoes fermentation. While lime coating inside the pots can partially prevent fermentation in traditional methods, the coco-sap chiller technology developed by ICAR-CPCRI ensures the sap remains fresh and unfermented without the need for chemical additives. This technology allows the sap to be collected under low temperatures, maintaining its freshness, and can be stored for extended periods under refrigerated conditions (-1 to -3℃).
The sap collected in closed containers using this method is free from contaminants like insects, ants, pollen, and dust. It can be directly sold as a fresh juice, packaged for sale, or processed into value-added natural products such as sugar, jaggery, honey, and syrup, all without the addition of chemicals. The sale of neera and its products has shown to significantly enhance the livelihoods of farmers, tappers, and others dependent on the coconut sector.
