Neera
Encyclopedia
Neera, also called Sweet Toddy or Palm Nectar is a sap extracted from Inflorescence
of various species of Toddy palm
s. It is sweet, oyster white, and translucent. It is widely consumed in India
, Srilanka, Africa
, Malaysia, Thailand
, Myanmar
Neera is a non-alcoholic and unfermented beverage. Once fermented, neera gets converted to toddy
.
. It has a specific gravity
ranging from 1.058 to 1.077. Composition of neera is as follows:
Neera, the sweet sap of the Palm, is fast becoming a popular drink on account of its highly nutritive value, delicious taste and agreeable flavor. It requires neither mechanical crushing, as in the case of cane, nor leaching like that of beet-root; it is obtained by slicing the spathes of the Palmyra, Coconut and Sago Palms, and scraping the tender most part, just below the crown, of the Date Palm.
The chemical percentage composition of Neera varies, depending on various factors, namely, place, type of palm, mode and season of its collection.
Neera is considered as a nutritious drink as it contains a number of minerals and salts and is high in protein. It contains acids like ascorbic acid
, nicotinic acid and riboflavin
.
at ambient temperature within few hours of extraction from palms. Once fermented, it transforms to toddy
with 4% alcohol
. Using several technologies developed by various research institutes, neera can be processed and preserved in its natural form to retain the vitamins, sugar, and other nutrients beneficial for health. To preserve and extend the shelf life of neera, heat preservation techniques such as pasteurization
are used.
A special filtration technique to enhance the shelf life of neera was developed by the National Chemical Laboratory
in Pune
, India
. Technologies for the preservation and processing of neera were also developed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute
in Mysore, India
.
and other systems of medicine.
Other by-products include Jaggery
, Sugar, Candy, and Chocolate.
.
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
of various species of Toddy palm
Toddy palm
Toddy palm is a common name for several species of palms used to produce palm wine. Species so used and named include:*Borassus*Caryota*Cocos nucifera...
s. It is sweet, oyster white, and translucent. It is widely consumed in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Srilanka, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, Malaysia, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
Neera is a non-alcoholic and unfermented beverage. Once fermented, neera gets converted to toddy
Palm wine
Palm wine also called Palm Toddy also called "Kallu" written in Malayalam and கள்ளு in Tamil or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, and coconut palms...
.
Composition of Neera
Neera is rich in carbohydrates, mostly sucrose, and has a nearly neutral pHPH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
. It has a specific gravity
Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance. Apparent specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a volume of the substance to the weight of an equal volume of the reference substance. The reference substance is nearly always water for...
ranging from 1.058 to 1.077. Composition of neera is as follows:
Neera, the sweet sap of the Palm, is fast becoming a popular drink on account of its highly nutritive value, delicious taste and agreeable flavor. It requires neither mechanical crushing, as in the case of cane, nor leaching like that of beet-root; it is obtained by slicing the spathes of the Palmyra, Coconut and Sago Palms, and scraping the tender most part, just below the crown, of the Date Palm.
The chemical percentage composition of Neera varies, depending on various factors, namely, place, type of palm, mode and season of its collection.
| Substance | Concentration (g/100 mL) |
|---|---|
| Sucrose Sucrose Sucrose is the organic compound commonly known as table sugar and sometimes called saccharose. A white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste, it is best known for its role in human nutrition. The molecule is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose with the molecular formula... |
12.3 - 17.4 |
| Total ash Ash (analytical chemistry) In analytical chemistry, ashing is the process of mineralization for preconcentration of trace substances prior to chemical analysis. Ash is the name given to all non-aqueous residue that remains after a sample is burned, and consist mostly of metal oxides.... |
0.11 - 0.41 |
| Protein Protein Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of... |
0.23 - 0.32 |
| Ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the... |
0.016 - 0.030 |
| Total solids | 15.2 - 19.7 |
Neera is considered as a nutritious drink as it contains a number of minerals and salts and is high in protein. It contains acids like ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid
Ascorbic acid is a naturally occurring organic compound with antioxidant properties. It is a white solid, but impure samples can appear yellowish. It dissolves well in water to give mildly acidic solutions. Ascorbic acid is one form of vitamin C. The name is derived from a- and scorbutus , the...
, nicotinic acid and riboflavin
Riboflavin
Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2 or additive E101, is an easily absorbed micronutrient with a key role in maintaining health in humans and animals. It is the central component of the cofactors FAD and FMN, and is therefore required by all flavoproteins. As such, vitamin B2 is required for a...
.
Technological Development
Neera is highly susceptible to natural fermentationFermentation (food)
Fermentation in food processing typically is the conversion of carbohydrates to alcohols and carbon dioxide or organic acids using yeasts, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation in simple terms is the chemical conversion of sugars into ethanol...
at ambient temperature within few hours of extraction from palms. Once fermented, it transforms to toddy
Palm wine
Palm wine also called Palm Toddy also called "Kallu" written in Malayalam and கள்ளு in Tamil or simply Toddy is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm tree such as the palmyra, and coconut palms...
with 4% alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
. Using several technologies developed by various research institutes, neera can be processed and preserved in its natural form to retain the vitamins, sugar, and other nutrients beneficial for health. To preserve and extend the shelf life of neera, heat preservation techniques such as pasteurization
Pasteurization
Pasteurization is a process of heating a food, usually liquid, to a specific temperature for a definite length of time, and then cooling it immediately. This process slows microbial growth in food...
are used.
A special filtration technique to enhance the shelf life of neera was developed by the National Chemical Laboratory
National Chemical Laboratory
The National Chemical Laboratory is an Indian government laboratory based in Pune, in western India.Popularly known as NCL, a constituent member of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research India, it was established in 1950. There are approximately 200 scientific staff working here...
in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Technologies for the preservation and processing of neera were also developed by the Central Food Technological Research Institute
Central Food Technological Research Institute
India's Central Food Technological Research Institute and was opened on 21 October 1950. It is based in Mysore. A research center branch is also located in Habsiguda, Hyderabad....
in Mysore, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
By-Products
Neera Syrup is produced when fresh neera is heated and concentrated into a syrup. This is used as a health drink in connection with AyurvedaAyurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
and other systems of medicine.
Other by-products include Jaggery
Jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional unrefined non-centrifugal whole cane sugar consumed in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It is a concentrated product of cane juice without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in color...
, Sugar, Candy, and Chocolate.
Production and use in India
- In Maharastra and Gujarat state, neera is made available through various outlets known as "Neera Vikri Kendra" (Neera sale center). The Neera Palm Product Cooperative Society had set up small green kiosks that sell neera on all major railway stations, but they are now only found on on highways and expressways outside of the Mumbai city area,. Neera is extracted from palms by the Bhandari variety of trees.
- In Andhra PradeshAndhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
state, neera is extracted and sold by the GoudGoudThe Goud are caste found mostly in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa and Maharastra. Gouds were involved in soma development in ancient days.-Origin:...
caste. Unlike other states, there is no state government sponsorship/support to promote neera or its by-products at retail outlets. Only The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is promoting neera as a health drink.
- In KarnatakaKarnatakaKarnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state, neera is extracted and sold by Ediga and BillavaBillavaThe Billava, or Ilava people make up one of the largest Hindu communities of the Tulu ethnic group in India. They are also found in the Kannada-speaking Kundapura region of Karnataka and some parts of Kerala, including Kasaragod district...
castes. The state government constituted a Neera Board comprising farmers, state government officials, and neera training institutes to inspect and control the quality of neera and its products, give approvals to labels, and come out with various schemes for sale in the international market. The Central Food Technological Research Institute developed the technology to preserve neera for 2 months and the government plans to promote neera as an energy drink with medicinal value packaged in sachets and bottles.
- In KeralaKeralaor Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, neera is extracted and sold by the a section EzhavaEzhavaThe Ezhavas are a community with origins in the region presently known as Kerala. They are also known as Ilhava, Irava, Izhava and Erava in the south of the region; as Chovas, Chokons and Chogons in Central Travancore; and as Tiyyas, Thiyas and Theeyas in Malabar...
caste, a section of Oorali Nairs, a section of maniyanis and tribal and scheduled communities. The state government, as part of the Kerala Vision 2010, setup three units to manufacture neera.
- In Tamilnadu state, neera is extracted and sold by the Nadar caste. It is also called Padhaneer.
- In OrissaOrissaOrissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
state, the state government established a cooperative organisation known as Orissa State Palmgur Cooperative Federation to provide technological support in the processing and production of neera and its associated by-products such as Jaggery, Candy, and etc.
Neera in fiction
Neera is also the name of a famous female character in Paigham Afaqui's Urdu novel MakaanMakaan
Makaan is a Urdu novel by Paigham Afaqui that was first published in 1989 and first published in English in 2002.It is now well recognized as an important Indian novel and a step forward in Indian fiction and a significant part of Indian literature....
.
External links
- http://www.fao.org/ag/aGa/AGAP/FRG/FEEDback/lrrd/lrrd11/1/dali111.htm
- http://www.foodindustryindia.com/newfood/detailnews.jsp?n=Neera%20Board%20in%20Karnataka%20supports%20marketing&id=110
- http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/30/stories/2007053006640400.htm
- http://www.calcuttanews.net/story/360264
- http://www.indianwine.com/winetoddy.htm
- http://web.archive.org/web/20091026222853/http://geocities.com/johnjlal/toddy
- http://www.bhavakuta.com/india/food/indian-drinks/Toddy.html
- http://www.palmsugar.com/neera.htm