Food manufacturers in the coastal belt have introduced value-added cashew apple products to the market, including muffins, a liquid sweetener, squash, and chunks.

Purchasing the technologies developed by the Directorate of Cashew Research (DCR), under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Puttur, Abhijnana Food Products Pvt. Ltd. of Puttur has released muffins and a liquid sweetener, also called liquid jaggery, to the market under the company’s brand name Nitya.

The managing director of the company, Radhakrishna Ittigundi, told The Hindu that the liquid sweetener can be stored at room temperature for one year, and the muffins can be stored for five days.

“The muffins are free from maida, artificial colours and flavours, and they are eggless,” he said, adding that they are also free from refined flour and palm oil. Mr. Ittigundi also said that liquid sweetener contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.

“The low calorie muffins contain vitamin C and antioxidants,” the managing director said.

The director of the DCR, J. Dinakara Adiga, said that the directorate's development of a liquid sweetener from cashew apple is a breakthrough in cashew research. “It is the first of its kind,” he said.

Jyoti Nishad, a scientist in food technology, DCR, who developed the liquid jaggery, said that the product has functional properties and high antioxidant activity. It has various minerals like potassium, zinc, and iron, and is high in soluble fibre. The cashew apple sweetener can be used in place of honey. Its unique sugar profile makes it a potential candidate in the bakery and confectionery industries.

The glycemic index of this liquid jaggery comes under the moderate category, providing a good alternative for people who are looking for healthy sweeteners, she said.

Chunks and squash

Kuruveri Cashews, Chippar, near Kasaragod, has introduced chunks, squash, and ‘prash’ (pomace) of cashew apples.

The proprietor of Kuruveri Cashews, V.K. Navyashree, told The Hindu: “We can make 2.5 kgs of chunks from 11 kgs of cashew apple. It contains zero additives. The research and development are further under way in the preparation of chunks.”

“We have so far sold over five litres of squash,” she said, adding that the ‘cashew apple prash’ has medicinal value and can be used as an immunity booster.

According to the DCR, cashew apple, a by-product of cashew, is largely underutilised. Despite being abundant, only an estimated 10–15% of cashew apples are processed in India. Over 80% of the apples are wasted annually.