Most mango peel is thrown away after the fruit is eaten or processed. Three friends in Bholahat upazila of Chapainawabganj, Mainul Islam, Mithun and Masum, are turning that waste into tea. They say it is the first commercial venture in the country to make tea from mango peel, Amar Desh reported.
Mainul Islam said the peel is dried in the sun and processed in a special way. Rather than import an expensive machine, they built their own heater using local technology at half the cost.
Small-scale production and sales have begun. Depending on quality and packaging, the tea sells for Tk 2,000 to 4,000 a kilo, and its unusual flavour has drawn curiosity from local buyers. Lacking capital and modern equipment, they cannot yet scale up; with public or private support, they believe it could be exported.
Bholahat upazila agriculture officer Sultan Ali said making new products from unused parts of crops reduces waste and creates jobs. District agricultural marketing officer Mominul Haque said that with quality control, attractive packaging and branding the product could find a place in international markets as well as at home.
Mangoes already become pickles, amsatta and juice; tea from the peel is new. The report notes that major steps remain before it can grow commercially: scientific testing of its nutritional value and health benefits, the necessary government approvals and a strong marketing system.
Photo: Peeling green mango, ᱯᱨᱚᱯᱷᱮᱥᱥᱚᱨ / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Source: Amar Desh
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