Standardization of Herbal Instant Beverages from Sapota Fruits

Sapota [Manilkara achras (Mill.) Fosberg] is a tropical fruit crop grown for its delicious and sweet fruits. India is considered to be the largest producer of the sapota in the world. Sapota is highly perishable in nature and cannot be stored at ambient temperature for longer period. Therefore, fruit need to be disposed off as early as possible after harvest. Thus the Inadequate post harvest management practices and poor shelf life lead to enormous losses. It is therefore necessary to convert the sapota fruit in to processed products to avoid post harvest losses and get value added product. However, in recent years the increasing consumer awareness has emphasized the need for functional beverages which provide a health benefit beyond energy and essential nutrients. Therefore, such product will also help to generate employment opportunities