EAT ROSELLE, DRINK ROSELLE AND STAY HEALTHY

By Mohamad Bakri Darus

MELAKA (Malaysia), July 12 (Bernama) -- When it was introduced by the
agriculture authorities in the early 80's as a new source of income for farmers,
many had expressed reservation against the capability of the 'roselle'.

Many had previously seen the plant as of no value and had dubbed it with
derogatory names such as 'asam paya' or 'asam kumbang' (plants of no value that
grow in the wild). But over the years the cultivation of roselle has continued
to flourish in the country.

Agencies such as the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (FAMA) and
Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) had gone out
of their way to promote the cultivation of roselle among farmers.

Researchers had also chipped in and their effort had paved for the
'discovery' of roselle's rich nutritional values as the plant is also now known
for its health products.

The extensive promotions on the plant has led to entrepreneurs to embark on
its wide scale and commercial cultivation as roselle only needs some three
months for harvesting.

It became so popular to the extent that even houswives planted roselle
around their homes in order to harvest the flower's petals to be turned into
cordials.


SEEDS, STEM-CUTTINGS

The roselle plant is easily raised from seeds or stem-cuttings and the plant
flowers throughout the year.

The flowers are 8-10 cm in diameter, white to pale yellow with a dark red
spot at the base of each petal, and have a stout fleshy calyx at the base. The
calyx turns fleshy and bright red as the fruit matures.

Modern technology has paved the way for roselle to be turned into a
food-production industry. Roselle's petals can be turned into cordials, jams,
jellies and pickles among others.

As this exotic tropical plant is also an ingredient in nutritional health
products and beautycare items, roselle has turned into a sort of money-spinner
for farmers.

Now roselle has made its own 'niche' in the market and its cordials and jams
have made it as the family favourite.


VENTURE BY HEAZELLE

Heazelle Sdn Bhd general manager Zuraihan Zakaria acknowledges roselle's
massive potential and the plant has a bright future in the industrial sector.

Heazelle Sdn Bhd is a Bumiputera-owned company that has been producing food
and drinks from roselle in the past two years. Apart from items such as jams,
cordials and sweets made from roselle, the company also produces roselle
carbonated drinks under the brand name 'Heazelle'.

"Our products are made from genuine roselle petals and without artificial
sweeteners or flavours," she told Bernama when met at the company's plant at the
Melaka Halal Hub in Serkam here.

Zuraihan said the company targets to produce 200,000 bottles of the roselle
carbonated drinks in 250ml, 340ml, 500ml and 1.25 litre bottles. The drink
will be distributed nationwide and available at Mydin hypermarkets.


NUTRITIONAL VALUES

On roselle's nutritional values, Zuraihan said the plant is believed to have
anti-cancer properties apart from anti-oxidants that can slow down the ageing
process.

Roselle can also boost circulation and improve the cardiovascular system
apart from being anti-inflammatory.

Meanwhile Heazelle Sdn Bhd's operations director (palntation and production)
Mohd Razip Mahat said the company utilises some 5.0 tonnes of fresh roselle a
month to produce its products. The roselle is provided by farmers in Melaka and
Muar in the state of Johor.

"Due to increase in production, more roselle supplies are needed", he said
adding that the company offers the contract farm estate to farmers who are
interested in order to ensure enough supply of roselle.

"So far 28 farmers in Kesang, Muar have signed up for the programme but we
need more participants," he said.

Under the programme, the company would supply the participants with roselle
saplings and the farmers would also be given two weeks course.
-- BERNAMA


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