**6. Palmyrah value added products**

See **Table 2**.


**Table 2.**

*Value added products of palmyrah palm (edible and non-edible products).*

## **7. Value addition in palmyrah (edible products)**

#### **7.1 Neera**

Increasing health consciousness among the population in India has boosted the growth of health drinks industry in India. *Neera*, also called palm nectar (phloem sap extracted with zero percent alcohol) extracted from the inflorescence of toddy palms which is used as a nutritious health drink. *Neera* is called sweet toddy since it contains zero percent alcohol and known as *padaneer* in Tamil Nadu and *kallu* in

*Scope, Nutritional Importance and Value Addition in Palmyrah… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97501*

Palmyrah tuber is an important edible shoot grown in loose soil from the seed of

ripe fruit. Tuber is eaten by many people directly by cooking in open fire after peeling off outer layer. Roasted, dried tubers are ground to make flour which is blended with wheat flour for baking. The flour can be made into a number of food items which are used traditionally. It is used in preparation of odiyal consumed as porridge called khool and a steamed product called pittu. *Odiyal* made from palmyrah tuber flour contains 1423 kcal of energy, 10.8 g of moisture, 3.1 g of

Ripened fruit is used in preparation of various foods at home level. The soft orange-yellow pulp (mesocarp) of the ripe fruit is sugary, dense and edible, rich in vitamin A and C. Palmyrah also contains bitter compounds called flabelliferrins, which are steroidal saponins. Ripe fruit pulp can be processed into soft beverages,

The palm jaggery is processed from the unfermented palmyrah tree sap called *neera*. Palm jaggery contains of 65–68% sucrose and 5–15% reducing sugars which is directly used in ayurvedic preparations and believes to reduce the lung cancer. Hundred grams of palmyrah jaggery contains 0.35% of protein, 0.17% of fat, 90.6%

of carbohydrates, 24 mg of vitamin B-1, 11.0 mg of vitamin-C and 0.74% of

Fruit Toffee, Spread, Jam, Pickle, Sweets (Burfi), Beverages (RTS, Squash, Nectar)

Leaf Mats, Baskets, Fans, Hats, Umbrellas, Buckets, Writing Material, Fence, Fibre

extracted is used to make brushes and handicrafts

protein, 77.1 g of carbohydrates and 5.6 g of crude fiber per 100 g [5].

*Bioactive Compounds - Biosynthesis, Characterization and Applications*

jam, spread, toffee, delicious food items and sweets [6].

**7. Value addition in palmyrah (edible products)**

Toddy, Jaggery, Sugar, Honey, Wine

Fruits Fibre extracted is used to make toys and fancy items Stem As poles for sheds construction and as timber source

*Value added products of palmyrah palm (edible and non-edible products).*

Increasing health consciousness among the population in India has boosted the growth of health drinks industry in India. *Neera*, also called palm nectar (phloem sap extracted with zero percent alcohol) extracted from the inflorescence of toddy palms which is used as a nutritious health drink. *Neera* is called sweet toddy since it contains zero percent alcohol and known as *padaneer* in Tamil Nadu and *kallu* in

**6. Palmyrah value added products**

**Plant part Value added products**

**Edible value added products**

Kernel Canned products **Non-edible value added products**

minerals [7].

**7.1 Neera**

**212**

**Table 2.**

See **Table 2**.

Inflorescence sap

Telugu. Toddy and *neera* can be called as fermented sap and non-fermented sap respectively. *Neera* is susceptible to natural fermentation at ambient temperature within few hours of extraction due to enzymatic and microbial fermentation since it is rich in sugars, vitamins, proteins and minerals [8]. Once fermented, *neera* becomes toddy which is unsuitable as health drink or as value added product.

*Neera* is rich source of sugars, minerals and vitamins. It contains substantial amounts of iron, phosphorus and ascorbic acid. It is more nutritious than any of the commercially marketed fruit juices available in the country. The nutritional composition of *neera* is given in **Table 3**. Palmyrah palm *neera* contain very low Glycemic Index (GI) of 35 (normal table sugar has GI 70), *neera* can be used by diabetic patients also.

The high nutritive value of *neera* makes it an emerging health drink. It is cool and good for improving the general health. It can be served to supplement the iron and vitamin deficiency. Clinical studies proved neera has potential medical applications for treating asthma, tuberculosis, bronchial suffocation and piles. It is believed to facilitate clear urination and prevent jaundice. High amount of glutamic acid is present in neera. It is the amino acid which is used by the body to build proteins. Neera can be used to treat eye abnormalities and eczema as it contain high amount of inositol. Neera can be used as stimulant and antiphalegmatic which is considered to be useful in treating inflammatory infections. Women suffering from anemia due repeated pregnensis are advised to take neera to ameliorate health.
