2024 Volume 15 Issue 1 Pages 139-144
In Thailand, the sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is used as an ingredient for healthy food and beverage production and plays a role in Buddhist rituals. In particular, dried lotus petal tea and jasmine rice wrapped in lotus leaves are a staple of traditional food menus, but detailed nutritional information on these products is lacking. Hence, the objective of this research was to standardize some traditional value-added Thai foods and beverages made from lotus and assess their nutritional value. First, a recipe for rice mixed with lotus seed, shrimp, and chicken wrapped in lotus leaves was standardized as a main course, to be served along with lotus petal tea. Subsequently, a nutritional analysis of the two products was carried out for the purpose of nutritional information labeling. The estimated nutritional values in both products were assessed according to the criteria of Percentage of Thai Recommended Daily Intakes for population over 6 years of age (% Thai RDI) with a 2,000-kcal diet. The results showed that the nutritional value of rice wrapped in lotus leaves per net weight of 180 g as a percentage of RDI (excluding a nutritional analysis of the lotus leaves) was 390 kcal (20%) of total energy, 14 g (22%) of total fat, 285 mg (95%) of cholesterol, 18 g of protein, 48 g (16%) of total carbohydrate, 620 mg (31%) of sodium, and vitamin A, B1, and B2. For the nutrition value of a lotus petal teacup per 100 g net weight, only 20 mg (1%) of sodium was found. Lastly, the preliminary results of this study were evaluated based on a value index over five years. The findings revelated that the value addition of sacred lotus represented 8,859 Thai Baht of net present value (NPV), a benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.34, and 8.1% of internal rate of return (IRR), and showed the break-even value of the project budget. Therefore, the result findings are expected to enhance development of sacred lotus products oriented towards green production.
