Mangaluru: There are certain liqueur chocolates brands like Gold Kenn and Anthon Berg available abroad which contain alcohol in them. Many take a special liking to these chocolates in spite of their price tag for obvious reasons.

Well, our own Central Areca and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (Campco), a renowned chocolate manufacturer in the coastal district is set to give toddy punch in its chocolates.

As the coconut prices crashed in the retail market in the recent past, Campco intends to tap toddy to help sinking coconut growers and use part of it in its range of chocolates.

Everyone knows toddy is sweet and contains lot of nutrients and Campco’s effort may go a long way in helping coconut growers if people take a liking to sugar extracted from toddy due to its excellent properties. People living in coastal districts drink toddy (neera) to remain hale and hearty. The calorie content in this chocolate is lesser and the glycemic index (to keep diabetics happy) too is on the lower side. The toddy content will only provide the required sweetness and nutrients to the chocolates which Campco intends to launch.

Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (CPCRI) based in Kerala has developed technology to extract sugar content from toddy and the same will be employed by Campco in its chocolate, according to managing director of Campco, Suresh Bhandary.

Campco initially will procure sugar extracted from toddy at the rate of Rs 300 per kg while the market price for cane sugar is Rs 40. The chocolates with toddy flavor will hit the market in October and few chocolate drinks too will be made available using toddy sugar extract for customers.

In Karanataka, the concept has not taken off though Kerala and Tamil Nadu are making sugar using toddy .The effort by Campco might help others to introduce sugar extracted from toddy for market use which in the long run help coconut growers in dire straits.

The little kick toddy offers, may find its worth in a Campo chocolate bite!