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I am a qualified Food Technologist with working experience in Food Processing Sector in India.

Friday 5 August 2016

Coconut Water - The Wonder Elixir






Coconut Tree, Cocos nucifera belongs to Arecaceae family of palm trees and grows well in all Tropical Coastal regions of the world.

India, Indonesia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Malaysia are the major Coconut growing Countries in the world.

The Tender Coconuts contain a cooling, refreshing and thirst quenching drink which is rich in Minerals (Electrolytes) with very low amount of sugars (about 6%), B Group Vitamins like Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine and Folic Acid, Vitamin C apart from amino acids

It contains less than 1% Fat! 

It is rich in Potassium (250mg/100ml) and low in Sodium. The osmolarity of tender coconut water is slightly greater than that of WHO recommended ORS (Oral Rehydration Therapy) solution. 

Diabetics and people with hypertension can relish it without any hesitation.

It also has several naturally occurring bio-active enzymes like acid phosphatase, peroxidase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, RNA-polymerase which help in digestion and metabolism.

The quantity of water varies from 200 to 1000 ml per nut depending on the size and variety. Fresh Tender coconut water is a health drink for all age groups - infants, young and old, sick and convalescents.

Research indicates that it has cytokinins (e.g., kinetin and trans-zeatin) which have potential anti-aging, anti-carcinogenic and anti-thrombotic (anti-clot formation) effects also.

The composition of water from mature coconuts is  similar but the quantity is far less. Mature nuts also have edible white meat in them which is rich in oil (41%)  and fibers (3.5%).

Thermally processed packaged Tender Coconut water had been launched by few International Companies in Bottles and in Tetra Pack Formats for  the Consumer Markets with out any added preservatives.

For Export Trade and Industrial use by Bottlers and Re-packers, Coconut water concentrates are made and supplied in Bulk Drums of 200 Kg size.   


The natural coconut water is pasteurized by heating and cooling immediately to inactivate the enzymes and to destroy spoilage organisms like yeast etc.

The pasteurized coconut water is further heated in a Double Effect Spin Evaporator in Two Stages under vacuum to produce a Concentrate of 60° Brix and cooled without any loss of nutrients as the process is carried out under vacuum and controlled conditions of time and temperature.


The volume decreases substantially; 2000 Litres of coconut water gives 130 Kg of Concentrate. The Bottlers reconstitute the concentrate either with water or with other fruit juices.


The Technology and Machinery is supplied by world leaders like Alfa Laval, Sweeden and Anritz AG, Austria.
  
Globally there is a recent Trend or Wave world over to consume Tender Coconut water as a health drink as an alternate to Soft Drinks. 

Fruit Cocktail blends of coconut water with Pineapple or Apple Juice have also been launched for improved nutrition by Multi National Companies. These Products are available at online stores like Amazon.com, Flipkart.com, Snapdeal.com, ebay.com etc.

In India Coconut Board (a Govt. venture) and a Private Sector Enterprise are into the business of packaged Coconut water.
    
So, let us all Indians keep gulping coconut water daily without any second thought ! 

After all, Coconut water costs less than the bottled Mineral Water!

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