The Hindu / Raviprasad Kamila

Mangalore, Jan 12: Arecanut farmers have not had an easy time with fluctuating prices and the threat of gutka ban constantly hanging over their heads. But the 20-year research of a farmer and Ayurveda practitioner from Vitla in Dakshina Kannada district may just open a new market for the beleaguered farmers. In what is perhaps the most exotic and innovative use of arenanut, Badanaje Shankar Bhat has come up with a method of producing red wine from the pulp of tender arecanut.

Patent

Bhat, who has applied for a patent, soon plans to launch the production of arenanut wine on a commercial scale. A preliminary meeting on this was held at B.C. Road near here on January 5 in which some representatives of cooperative bodies, arecanut growers and other stakeholders took part.

First success

Bhat had his first success in 2002, and since then, has supplied samples of his wine to consumers in France, Norway and the United Kingdom, besides India. Foreign consumers, he says, have "expressed satisfaction" and feel that it tastes similar to grape wine.

He spent three months in England before concluding his research.

Arenanut wine has "quality tannin content", and so, can be stored longer than grape wine, Bhat claims. The tannin content is also high in arecanut (approximately 24 per cent) and it needs to be reduced to acceptable levels (14 or 15 per cent) in the wine. The remaining tannin can be used in making medicines and colouring agents. Arenanut wine also has high blending quality and can be mixed with other wines easily, says Mr. Bhat.

He points out that 20 litres of red wine can be produced from one kg of tender arecanut, while it takes three kg of grapes to produce the same quantity. It is produced from "self-generated" alcohol through fermentation process and not through distillation.

Market

The domestic and export market for wine is on the upswing and can be exploited through innovations of this kind, he feels.

It is also important not to allow it as a home industry so that quality can be standardised, he adds.

According to an estimate, the annual consumption of wine in India per head is 3.5 litres, as opposed to 38 litres per head in Europe.

Brand name

Industry sources say that the demand for wine is growing at a rate of 33 per cent in the country.  In Bangalore alone, the demand is growing at a rate of 38 per cent per year.

He points out that the important thing in popularising a new brand of wine is to market and build a brand name. Attempts have been made earlier to produce wine from passion fruit and "amla."