Nutrient-rich tender coconut water is now available in powder form in delightful packs, thanks to pioneering work by a Kerala-based startu-p.
NaturUp Consumer Products of Chalakudy in Thrissur uses modern spray drying technology to remove the water/moisture from the nut to generate the powder.
Spray drying
Spray drying is used to heat liquids and emulsions to remove moisture to generate a stable powder, says Antony S Pathadan, NaturUp promoter, and a former IT entrepreneur.
The powder retains the natural attributes of rich nutrients, essential electrolytes, vitamins and minerals associated with tender coconuts.
The powder packs are ideal for gym, camping sites, kid’s events, at work places, and pack neatly into one’s travel bag, Pathadan said.
No preservatives
“We capture the authentic taste of tender coconut water and add no preservative, artificial flavour, or colour. Our product is 100 per cent gluten-free.”
The manufacturing unit is licensed by the Food Safety and Standards Association of India. It also has FDA approval for export to various countries.
The manufacturing plant is based at Puducherry. It uses only coconut water, while the pulp is given to ice-cream manufacturers. Thus, it saves on costs of of storing, processing of whole coconut shells and managing waste.
NatureUP collects coconuts of South Indian origin (said to be the most tasty and nutritious) for sourcing water.
Convenient packs
After a refining process, the water and moisture are removed. This leaves behind the powder rich in nutrients and carbohydrates, which is packed into convenient packs.
It has a shelf-life of a year but once the pack is opened, it lasts for not more than six hours. This is in stark contrast to preservative-laden products which last for days together after opening, Pathadan said.
The product is priced at ₹15 for a 12-gram pack which gives 200 ml of tender coconut water. A 300-gram pack gives five litres of tender coconut water and is priced at an MRP of ₹240.
Started in July 2016, NatureUp has already crossed sales of two tonnes a month in Kerala and outside. It has a major presence in online sales as well.