DOST develops tropical fruit drinks with year-long shelf life

Whether it's the end of summer or the start of the school year, there's always room for fresh fruit drinks in many Filipinos' diets.

 

The Department of Science and Technology said the products developed by its Food and Nutrition Research Institute are not only nutritious but can last from six months to a year.

 

"The new concoctions come in two types: one as ready-to-drink fruit juices and  another in concentrated form," the DOST said.

 

It said the ready-to-drink juice products are available in guyabano-nata, ripe mango-nata, and green mango-nata flavors.

 

The juice type is available in 500 ml and one-liter bottles and has a shelf life of up to six months, the DOST added.

 

Guyabano-Nata contains sweetened nata de coco, natural guyabano juice, and sugar, with every 100 ml having fruit fiber (2.1 g), vitamin C (134.6mg) and energy (139 Kcal).

 

The Ripe Mango-Nata Fruit drink contains ripe mango fruit juice, sweetened nata de coco, and sugar.

 

One 200-ml serving meets 55 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin C and seven percent of the RDA for energy for an adult male.

 

"Because of its nutritional content, the juice is ideal for the prevention and management of constipation, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension," the DOST said.

 

The Green Mango-Nata Fruit drink is an alternate variant of the Ripe Mango-Nata drink and has the same nutritional benefits as the ripe mango flavor.

 

"Every 100 ml has 130.22 mg vitamin C, 140 Kcal energy and 2 g fiber," it said.

 

Meanwhile, the concentrated juice drinks initially have two flavors: Carrot-Pineapple and Carrot-Mango.

 

Both come in 375 ml glass bottles and can be stored up to a year at room temperatures between 28 to 32 degrees Celsius.

 

To prepare a 250-ml drink, one can mix one part concentrate and one part water.

 

"Both variants contain natural carrot juice and sugar as sweetener. These drinks are rich in B-carotene and vitamin A, thus increasing body resistance against infections and help facilitate fast recovery from illnesses," the DOST said. — TJD, GMA News