CategoriesHealthy Foods Lifestyle
by 0

Sugar Free Chikoo Smoothie in 10 mins !!

Sugar Free Chikoo Smoothie in 10 mins!

Every restaurant and cafe owner has some delicious milkshakes and smoothies on their menu. Customers have high preferences for fruit smoothies made from real fruits. Keeping up with the recent trends in health & fitness, sugar free fruit smoothies are high in demand.  Chikoo is one such fruit which has a high demand in the milk shakes & smoothie segment, 


Making Chikoo smoothie on the cafe counter is however a cumbersome process. Selecting the perfectly ripe chikoo, peeling & deseeding it and adding sugar to balance the taste. Chikoo is a perishable fruit and many times it over ripens and is wasted. The price fluctuation and availability of quality fresh fruit is another aspect restaurant owners have to manage.


Do you wish to overcome these problems and give your customers a quality chikoo smoothie any time of the year? Aura Green introduces 100% natural sun dried chikoo slices which is a ready to process food ingredient. Now any restaurant owner across the world can offer their customers multiple products made from Chikoo like smoothies, ice cream, kulfi etc without worrying about quality, taste, supply source assurance, price fluctuations and year round availability.


Sugar Free Chikoo Smoothie Recipe – 


Soak 35 gms Aura Green sun dried chikoo slices in 160 ml milk for 8-9 mins 

Add 100 ml ice and blend in a mixer for 1 min

Your sugar free, healthy & nutritious Chikoo Smoothie is ready to serve


CategoriesUncategorized
by 0

How Chikoo fruit dehydration is helping save our planet

How chikoo fruit dehydration is helping save our planet

Food supply chain and processing are essential activities for humans on our planet Earth. All our daily essential groceries reach the store near us and to our homes due to this highly organized industry. However essential the food supply chain is for our sustenance it has a heavy carbon footprint which is a major contributor to climate change. 


Another major concern of the food supply chain is post harvest wastage which adds to the direct losses. It is estimated that over 16-20% of food produced in India is wasted due to lack of post harvest technologies. We can only wish that more farm based, renewable energy driven food processing techniques are deployed to reduce the impact of this industry on our planet.  


One such small but significant step in the industry is dehydration of fresh fruit and vegetables on or near to the farms using solar dryers. Chikoo fruit processing using this technique in Dahanu Gholvad is proving to be of more worth not only to the planet but also to the complete value chain in many ways. 


Ruwan Foodtech LLP (owners of the brand Aura Green) based in Bordi, Dahanu are India’s largest producer of sun dried chikoo slices. They have over 200 acres of Chikoo farms which ensures the best quality fruit is used for processing. Further they have deployed India’s best solar dryers made by globally acclaimed S4S Technologies. The combination of quality raw material and modern farm based processing techniques ensures consistent output. Over the last 10 years they have processed more than 300 tons of Chikoo fruit which in its dry form is an easy to store, transport, consume & process.  


Now let’s see how this initiative is beneficial to all – 


  1. Value to the farmers –

Creating value from fruit that ripens on farm and cannot be sent to the market

Processing fruit when market prices crash in peak season

Process efficient than other electrical dryers, spray dryers or freeze dryers

Additional source of income from micro entrepreneurship to farmers and women


  1. Positive impact on climate change and carbon footprint

Zero carbon emission processing technique using modern solar dryers

80% reduction in weight compared to fresh/ frozen fruit, leads to 80% less carbon emissions in transportation

Elimination of refrigerated supply chain of frozen fruit, further reduction in carbon footprint

1 unit of electricity is saved per kg of dried chikoo processed using solar dryers

Carbon emissions from 0.8 ltr of diesel is reduced in transportation of 20 kgs of dried chikoo from Dahanu to Mumbai  

  

  1. Easy for consumers to buy, store, carry & consume

Chikoo being a perishable fruit needs to be consumed in 1-2 days

Whereas Dry chikoo is easy to store, carry and consume which can be enjoyed any time

Solar drying in modern dryers keeps the nutrients intact

There is no added sugar, preservatives or any other chemicals added to dry chikoo

            

  1. Easy for processing industry to make ice creams, milkshake, kulfi etc

Chikoo fruit is difficult to process in large quantities since the process is labor intensive.

Dry chikoo made by Aura Green is a ready to process ingredient. 

Can be directly used by HORECA industry for making high value products like

Ice cream, milk shakes, kulfi, mithai, energy bars etc.

 

  1. Dry fruit category commodity for traders

Due to its perishable nature Chikoo cannot be exported to other countries, Chikoo needs to be peeled and frozen for export.

However sun dried chikoo can be exported without a refrigerated supply chain.

Traders get a non-perishable commodity which has a higher demand.

  

The value proposition from dehydration of Chikoo fruit using modern solar dryers is probably the highest any fruit has gained in India. It is beneficial for everyone in the value chain and more importantly to save our planet Earth from climate change.   


CategoriesHealthy Foods Lifestyle
by 0

You love fruit candies but hate sugar?

You love fruit candies but hate sugar? - Sugar free Chikoo candy is your best option.  


It all began with Amla candy in India. Being a nutritious fruit and high in demand people found out ways to preserve it by adding sugar and drying its slices. Today it’s the highest consumed fruit candy in our country. In recent times we have seen similar candies made from Oranges, Papaya, Kiwi, Mango, Muskmelon, Cranberries, Blueberries and many other fruits. The point of concern is although we consume it for its nutritional value and taste, these candies come loaded with sugar which acts as a preservative. So is there fruit candy which is sugar free, nutritious and 100% natural?


Come experience Aura Green 100% natural sun dried chikoo slices which give consistent taste and nutrition in its naturally dried form. The best part – it has no added sugar, preservatives, color or anything else. Simply put it is just pure Chikoo fruit slices in a candied form. 


Ruwan Foodtech LLP (owners of the brand Aura Green) based in Bordi, Dahanu are India’s largest producer of sun dried chikoo slices. They have over 200 acres of Chikoo farms which ensures the best quality fruit is used for processing. Further they have deployed India’s best solar dryers made by globally acclaimed S4S Technologies. The combination of quality raw material and modern farm based processing techniques ensures consistent output. Over the last 10 years they have processed more than 300 tons of Chikoo fruit which in its dry form is an easy to store, transport & consume fruit candy enjoyed by all age groups.  

   

So the next time you feel like having fruit candy, do give a try to Aura Green Sun Dried Chikoo available on Amazon. 


https://p-y3-www-amazon-in-kalias.amazon.in/Aura-Green-Natural-Dried-Chikoo/dp/B0BVRBCPRP 

CategoriesHealthy Foods Lifestyle Tips & Tricks
by 0

Nurishment & Energy for your children 

Nurishment & Energy for your children - 3 Easy Ways with dried Chikoo


1) Dried Chikoo with Milk & Cereals 

Cereals, Muesli, Corn Flakes have become a preferred breakfast of the urban population. It is easy to prepare and promises to give you necessary nutrition. Everyone from adults to children love this breakfast with warm or cold milk. Adding 18-20 slices of Aura Green 100% Natural Sun Dried Chikoo (Sapota) slices is an easy way to add loads of Iron, Calcium and Energy to your favorite breakfast. Chikoo is a wonderful combination with milk and this enhances the taste and texture of your cereal bowl. And the best part is you need not add any form of sugar to sweeten your breakfast, its naturally sweet. 


2) Just as it in your child’s tiffin box

Children need a lot of energy all day during their school and classes, while playing or enjoying with friends. It’s a challenge for mothers to pack their child’s tiffin box with food items which are healthy, filling, nutritious and also light in weight. Carrying fresh fruits is always cumbersome considering the way children handle their backpacks. Aura Green 100% Natural Sun Dried Chikoo (Sapota) slices are full of natural energy and nutrition and a lightweight option which can be added to your child’s tiffin box. Also its near to candy in taste and texture gives children the satisfaction of having a unique experience.     


3) Sugar free Chikoo Smoothie

A filling glass of nutritious fruit smoothie is a delicacy everyone relishes any time of the day. And what’s better than a 100% Natural and sugar free Chikoo smoothie made from Aura Green sun dried Chikoo slices. Relish the natural taste of chikoo fruit with the goodness of milk. Add 35 grams of Aura Green sun dried chikoo slices to 150 ml milk. Soak for 10-12 minutes and blend in a mixer for 2 minutes to get a healthy and nutritious thick Chikoo smoothie. Your kids will be coming back for more.   


CategoriesHealthy Foods Tips & Tricks
by 0

Women farmers take up Chikoo Processing in Dahanu Bordi

Women farmers take up Chikoo processing in Dahanu Gholvad Bordi

India wastes a significant amount of its agricultural produce due to weak cold chain infrastructure, poor post-harvesting facilities & lack of cold storage capacity. In 2022, India lost 5–13% of its fruits and vegetables between harvesting and consumption.

One such fruit that has a higher than average (20%) wastage percentage is Chikoo. Dahanu Gholvad Bordi has been the center of Chikoo horticulture in India for over a 100 years now. This region gets 3-4 harvests of Chikoo fruit every year, the peak season being November to March. Wastage of ripened fruit on farms is a major setback to farmers since this fruit cannot be packed and sent to markets nor there is any large scale industry that processes chikoo fruit in other forms like pulp, jams etc.  


Over 30 years ago one innovate women from Bordi Gholvad Ms Sharada Gajanan Patil took upon the baton to ensure the fruit ripened on farm is processed into multiple products like dry slices, powder, pickles, fruit bars etc. Her effort was supported by Ms Latika Achyut Patil and along with 8 other women from the region they formed “Amrut Madhuri” a women’s co-operative group to collectively process the fruit on their farms and make various products out of it. 


The basic process was to dry the fruit in thin slices and then use them as an ingredient for the products that they made. The region of Dahanu Gholvad Bordi being a beach destination near Mumbai attracts a lot of tourists. This helped Ms Sharada & Ms Latika to gain a small but captive market. The progress was slow due to lack of farm based processing equipment and also quality assurance was an issue. Looking at this small but innovative initiative other women from the region also started adapting this process to curtail losses and ensure they got some income from this activity.


In 2012 Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation along with Konkan Bhumi Prathisthan and support from local farmers started the “Chikoo Festival ” to boost tourism in this region and create visibility and marketing avenues for Chikoo fruit and its byproducts. This gave the local women and farmers a guaranteed avenue to sell their processed fruit. Many more farmers and women started processing the fruit. 


In 2016 Ms Latika Patil, her husband Achyut Patil and their son Ninad Patil collaborated with Science for Society Technologies Pvt Ltd (S4S Tech) a startup based in Mumbai to implement Solar Conduction Dryers for processing of Chikoo. The results were amazing with notably the below mentioned enhancements – 


  • Drying process time reduction from 3 days to 8 Hrs

  • Shelf life increase from 5 months to 12 months

  • Nutrients in fruit retained over 85%

  • Dried Chikoo Slices were soft, creamy and light brown in color compared to a dark and uneven texture in the earlier process

  • Dried Chikoo could be easily ground into powder form


With this innovation in process and product quality Ms Latika Patil scaled up the production from 60-70 kgs a year to 400 kgs per year. There is no looking back for Ms Latika Patil and many women like her from Dahanu Bordi now. The demand for dried chikoo is continuously growing. They have formed a marketing company “Ruwan Foodtech LLP” which sells Chikoo and many other fruit products under the brand “Aura Green”. If you happen to travel to this region make sure you visit their on farm processing center and experience how a small innovative initiative over 3 decades ago is driving economic wellbeing of farmers in the region. 

CategoriesHealthy Foods Lifestyle
by 0

Is Chikoo an Indian Fruit?

History of Chikoo horticulture in India


Chikoo (Sapota) is a loved by all & nutritious fruit abundantly available in India. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana & Tamilnadu are major producers of this fruit. Known for its sweet taste and health benefits, the fruit is also widely consumed in the form of milkshakes, ice creams, kulfi etc. The peak season of this fruit is from November to March and people in northern India love to eat chikoo during winters. 


So let’s know some facts about the origin of this fruit. Going by the name “Chikoo” we assume this is a local fruit which might have been grown here since ages. You will be surprised to know that the history of Chikoo in India is only over a hundred years and it finds its roots in Central America and Southern Mexico. So how did this humble fruit land in India?  


Mexico was under Spanish rule during the colonial times. A lot of European explorers were always looking out for varieties of spices, fruits and other food items for trade across continents. The Parsi community in Mumbai, India had established themselves as astute businessmen and also had good terms with the then British government. Around the late 18th century one such Parsi textile businessman Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit  imported chikoo saplings and planted them in his garden in Mumbai. In 1901, Sir Dinshaw’s estate manager Ardeshir Irani took some of the chikoo seedlings and planted them on his land in Dahanu, situated around 130 km from Mumbai. In no time, Chikoo gained popularity and its cultivation started to grow. 


The economy of Dahanu Gholvad Bordi region flourished with this fruit and more and more farmers started cultivating the fruit on their empty lands. The soil properties and suitable tropical environment helped the farmers in many ways. A unique aspect was that farmers got 3-5 harvests per year compared to 1-2 harvests in other regions. Also in 2016 the Ministry of IP, Government of India awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to Dahanu Gholvad Bordi Chikoo for its flavorful taste and high nutrient content.   


“Ruwan Foodtech LLP” based in Bordi Dahanu is India’s largest processor of Chikoo fruit in its most natural and nutritious form. They produce 100% natural sundried chikoo slices from Dahanu Gholvad Bordi Chikoo fruit which is easy to store, transport, consume and process.

CategoriesHealthy Foods Lifestyle
by 0

6 Health benefits of Chikoo (Manilkara Sapota) fruit

6 Health benefits of Chikoo (Manilkara Sapota) fruit


Source: International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR) ISSN: 2319-7064 SJIF (2019): 7.583


Chikoo (Sapota Minalkara) is an easily available tropical fruit in India and a favorite of many consumers due to its natural sweet flavor and high nutrition content. The nutrition data of Chikoo fruit is listed below. Good quality Chikoo is available in the market only for 3-4 months. Aura Green 100% Natural Sun Dried Chikoo (Sapota) slices is an easy way to get loads of nutrition and health benefits any time of the year. 



Health benefits of Chikoo (Manilkara Sapota) 

Chikoo is one of the high calorie fruits (100gm provides 83 calories) also similar calories in sweet potato and banana. In addition, it is an excellent source of dietary fiber (5.6 g/100 g) which provides relief from constipation. The people of India used it for anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. It maintains the overall health as it is loaded with various nutrients. Along with the fruit, other parts are also used to treat colds and cough because it contains antidiarrheal, diuretic, antihyperglycemic, antibiotic and hypercholesteraemic effects. People don’t ignore to include this fruit in your diet. There are abundant health benefits so people should be consume not just for it‟s taste but also health point of view. 


Helps in digestion 


Chikoo (Sapota) has a high amount of dietary fiber (5.6/100g), which makes for an excellent bulk laxative. The body which relief from many health conditions such as colon cancer, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel. Perfect anti-inflammatory agent The high content of tannins makes sapota or chikoo an important

 anti-inflammatory agent (According to International Journal of Food Science and Nutition). It helps in improving the problem of digestive tract. It also reduces inflammation by lessen the problem of swelling and joint pain. 


Cures cold and cough


It has also been found that Chikoo (sapota) fruit is effective in keeping congestion and chronic coughs at bay by removing the phlegm and mucus from the nasal passage and respiratory tract. 


Keeps bones healthy

Minerals act as powerhouse due to rich amounts of calcium, phosphorus and iron are required by bones to increase their endurance. Being rich in calcium, iron and phosphorus, sapota fruit greatly helps in enhancing and strengthening the bones. Copper is essential for the growth of bones, connective tissue and muscles. The deficiency of copper increases the chances of osteoporosis, muscle weakness, low strength, breakage, weak joints etc. The studies show that the intake of copper with manganese, zinc, calcium slows the loss of bone in older women. 


Acts as an Antioxidant 


Chikoo strengthens the intestines as well as boost immunity. Also prevents various bacterial infections due to prominent source of antioxidant. Chikoo is a storehouse being rich in nutrients of Vitamin E, A and C. Vitamin C could be found in Sapodilla by 39.33%. All of which are great for skin health and has astounding moisturizing properties. Sapodilla seed oils also help in treating hair fall. 


Relieves stress 

Chickoo boost immunity and prevents various bacterial infections due to the presence of vitamin C, that improves the overall health. 


Prevention of certain cancers 


The Vitamins A and B present in abundant amount of this fruits and known to offer protection from lungs and cavity cancers. And it also essential for maintaining healthy mucosa and skin. Other health benefits Fresh ripe sapodilla is also good source of minerals like potassium, copper, iron and vitamins like-folate, niacin and pantothenic acid. These compounds are essential and worked as cofactors in various metabolic processes in the body. It‟s also good to treat anaemia. Therefore mostly children and menopausal women should consume this amazing fruit. Chikoo is beneficial especially for pregnant and lactating mothers due to presence of high amount of carbohydrates and essential nutrients.

CategoriesUncategorized
by 0

Dahanu Gholvad Bordi Chikoo Gets GI Tag from Government of India

Dahanu Gholvad Bordi Chikoo (Sapota Manilkara) Fruit gets GI Tag !!

Dahanu,Gholvad, Bordi a horticultural hub 120 kms north of Mumbai on the Maharashtra – Gujarat border was awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for its Chikoo (Sapota Manilkara) fruit. 

 

For over 100 years this region has been home to Chikoo horticulture in India. Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh put in efforts to give due credentials for the quality produce and with help from GI experts presented its case to the Ministry of IP, Government of India in 2015. After almost 2 years of  analysis and study of Chikoo fruit from various parts of the country the Ministry of IP awarded the coveted recognition to this region for producing the most flavorful and nutritious Chikoos.  

 

Officials of Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh have said that the unique sweet taste, soft creamy texture and high nutrition of Chikoo from this region are attributed to the high calcium content in the soil. The fruit is nutritious as it contains Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C and many other minerals essential for our body. The fruit also contains a good amount of fiber which helps in digestion and weight loss. One more interesting fact about Chikoo horticulture in this region is that there is harvest round the year, with the peak season being November to March. 

 

Chikoo from Dahanu Gholvad Bordi region is sold across markets in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad & Delhi. Due to its perishable nature the fruit cannot be exported in its raw form. However there is substantial demand for the fruit from the Indian & Asian diaspora living in the Middle-East, Europe and USA. With assistance from APEDA some farmers in this region had started exports to the UK through air-freight. However the high costs involved and risk due to perishability could not sustain the business. Direct cold storage is also not a suitable option for this fruit, it has to be peeled and cut in slices before freezing it. Frozen Chikoo is the best way to export this fruit. Frozen chikoo has also found application in making milkshakes, ice creams, kulfi and many other desserts.

 

Ruwan Foodtech LLP (under the brand Aura Green) has been processing and marketing dry chikoo fruit for over 8 years now. They say that dehydration of this fruit is the best method to overcome perishability and create a form of Chikoo which is 100% natural, easy to consume, process, store and transport. This option has opened up new avenues for farmers in this region and many of them have taken up this activity as a micro business. Ms Latika Patil, proprietor of Gold Orchards says that their income has grown by over 40%. They process the fruit when there is low demand and prices drop in the market. 

 

In recent times there is rapid urbanization and industrialisation in this region. Chikoo horticulture is facing multiple challenges due to these demographic changes. However the farmers are putting up an effort to keep the business sustainable and provide the most flavourful and nutritious Chikoo fruit for all of us.