In past 25 years, no commercial plantation crop has gone through as frequent price variation as arecanut. Its uncertain market value has been attributed to the perception that arecanut is used only for chewing. However, research indicates otherwise.
“Arecanut has many medicinal values, which can be harnessed into commercial products in health and wellness, industrial, lifestyle and food and nutrition,” says P Shankar Bhat, who has spent more than 25 years researching on value addition to arecanut.
A soap made out of areca extracts and a line of products, including wine, adhesive, tannin, skin ointment (for both veterinary and human application), lipstick, medical and health care concoctions, oil and pigment extraction, and various other industrial products that have given arecanut a new lease of life, are the byproducts of Bhat’s extensive research.
“The most exciting product, which has worldwide impact is areca wine. It has 15% tannin, which is equivalent to that of tea, but owing to various alkaloids present in arecanut, it can give a rich colour and aroma to the wine. It also leaves a soothing aftertaste and aroma in the mouth after consumption because of its rich tannin content. If areca is grown in European countries, I am sure the wine made out of it would be a hit. I learnt during my interaction with European wine makers that they make wine almost out of every fruit that is grown there,” Bhat said, showing a bottle of richly coloured areca wine made by him.
“However, the present wine market in India is heavily dependent on grapes and it would take some time to establish areca wineries, marketing network and branding. All of them needs investment,” he added.
“Though beer cannot be made directly from areca, using it as additive to beer is being researched on. Beer makers use extracts of hops to give a tinge to the drink. Hops flower is cultivated in Himachal Pradesh, which is used by all the 48 beer manufacturers in the country. But the prices of hops has shot through the roof in India owing to its limited cultivation. So I see a possibility of areca being used as an alternative to hops,” Bhat said.
Bhat has another range of byproduct of areca, which includes food grade pigments, adhesive for glasses, PVC, ceramic and a product that can be used as primer for coating wood.
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