USAID Morodok Baitang and Seekers Spirits announced South-East Asia’s first premium Mekong cashew apple liqueur on Sept 16. - USAID Morodok Baitang
PHNOM PENH: Abandoned cashew apples from farmers in the deforestation-free cashew programme at Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratanakkiri province have been used to produce premium liqueur for the first time in South-East Asia.
The initiative could potentially boost farmers' income by allowing them to sell both the fruit and the nuts.
The product was launched through a collaboration between USAID Morodok Baitang and Seekers Spirits, according to USAID Morodok Baitang’s August 2024 monthly bulletin.
The bulletin explained that the fruits are usually discarded after the nuts are collected, but they can be processed into valuable products, such as juice or alcohol.
“Recognising this opportunity, USAID Morodok Baitang partnered with Seekers Spirits to convert cashew apples from our deforestation-free producer groups in Ratanakkiri into the region's first premium Mekong cashew apple liqueur," it read.
Seekers Spirits co-founder and sales and marketing director Tania Unsworth shared that the project was inspired by Feni, a rare cashew liqueur from Goa, India.
“This led us to explore the potential of cashew apples, which are typically wasted, to create something valuable from them,” she said.
The organisation emphasised that the initiative not only supports cashew-producing groups committed to protecting forests and wildlife in the sanctuary but also introduces a unique product that aligns with the government's broader efforts to promote the cashew industry through conservation and sustainable practices.
Morodok Baitang chief of party Sabine Joukes stated in the newsletter that the collaboration builds on their deforestation-free cashew programme by providing an additional revenue stream for farmers, enabling them to sell both cashew apples and nuts by engaging the private sector and establishing market linkages.
“At the same time, it motivates them to adhere to conservation-friendly farming principles,” she added.
The liqueur was presented at Mekong Strategic Capital's 10th anniversary event, serving as a platform to highlight the full-circle impact of deforestation-free cashew farming projects overseen by Morodok Baitang and supported by Mekong Strategic Capital.
However, the product is still in the research and development phase and is not yet available for general sale.
Anyone hoping to experience the unique, aromatic and slightly astringent flavour, balanced by the natural sweetness of this cashew apple liqueur, will have to wait until the next cashew season. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
