Coconut inflorescence sap: An untapped source of nutrients

Abstract

Among the flowering plants, coconut palms grown in tropical and subtropical agro-ecological zones are considered to be one of the efficient converters of solar energy into biomass. The interception of energy in the edible form before converting into biomass accounts for more profit. The best example is collection and utilization of sap from unopened coconut inflorescence. The sap collected by tapping the inflorescence is very rich in sugars which are about 15%. For several millennia, sap from coconut has been collected in various parts of the world and consumed as fresh sap or utilized in the preparation of sugar and other products. Over the years highly effective and sophisticated techniques have been developed for collecting coconut sap, and also for its processing. In this chapter, the detailed methodologies for collection of sap and value addition of coconut sap have been described. Also the nutritional and biochemical composition of sap collected by various methods and other value added products have been discussed.