Honey: the new mantra for mango preservation

To obtain scientific backing for his claim Devkar got the mango samples tested with the first lab report coming through three months ago. “The mango looked edible. It was in its natural state and natural colour,although the sugar content was slightly higher because it was dipped in honey,” said R S Waghmare,Deputy Director of the State Public Health Laboratory and Director of Pune Food Laboratory.

Devkar filed for a process patent in Surat two weeks ago and has also tied up with 11 Gujarat-based investors to conduct research on a larger scale. The second lab report,from the Central Bee Research and Training Institute,followed tests conducted on the honey sample used to immerse the mangoes. Both reports suggest that the mangoes are drawing sugar from honey,while the honey is drawing away the moisture content from the mangoes.

While Devkar is not worried about the increased sugar content of the mangoes,he is unclear whether the decreased moisture content in the mangoes could be a cause for concern. “ It need not be. The mangoes will only look shrunken; the alphonso already appears like that and it is the best of the mangoes. But we are exploring ways in which the process can later be reversed and moisture levels in mangoes maintained,” he said.

He is more enthusiastic about the mangoes imbibing the flavour of honey,which could prove to be an additional source of income if the mango is marketed as a beverage. “Because of the honey,the mangoes could imbibe a few medicinal traits as well,” he said.

In the coming mango season,Devkar and his team will be increasing the sample size in the experiment many times over to convincingly prove their concept. These mangoes would be tested in small batches every week for six months with a marketing outlet slated to come up in Gujarat. “Our initial investment will be around Rs 2 crore. We have to standardise the process. How much honey for each mango? How long will the mangoes last once they are taken out of honey? What is the best month to procure mangoes for their longevity? Eventually we intend to enter a tie up with mango growers . We also have to figure out the long term cost benefits and come up with a brand name,” he said.