7
Applications and Products—Nata de Coco
Muenduen Phisalaphong and Nadda Chiaoprakobkij
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
CONTENTS
Nata.de.Coco.Food.Products. ............................................................................. 144
Nata.de.Coco.Production. ................................................................................... 144
Markets,.Producers,.and.Companies................................................................ 149
The.Philippines. ............................................................................................... 150
Indonesia.......................................................................................................... 151
Other.Commercial.Producers. ....................................................................... 152
Nata.de.Coco.Facial.Mask. .................................................................................. 152
Acknowledgment. ................................................................................................ 153
References. ............................................................................................................. 154
One.of.the.first.commercially.available.products.of.bacterial.nanocellulose.
(BNC).was.nata.de.coco..Nata.de.coco.is.a.white,.gelatinous.and.chewy.
material.used.for.the.production.of.sweets.and.desserts..It.is.produced.
from. coconut. water. or. coconut. milk. by. the. microorganism. Acetobacter
aceti subsp..xylinum.through.a.fermentation.process.under.static.conditions..Nata.de.coco.production.originated.in.the.Philippines.during.the.
1990s. and. spread. to. nearby. countries.. In. 1991. nata. de. coco. was. introduced.to.Japan.through.its.use.in.diet.drinks.and.became.very.popular,.
especially.among.young.girls..Production.of.nata.de.coco.has.increased.
in.recent.years.for.not.only.domestic.markets,.but.also.for.export.markets,.
especially.Europe,.Japan,.the.United.States,.and.the.Middle.East..Nata.de.
coco.is.usually.produced.in.the.form.of.thick.sheets.of.pure.cellulose.that.
are.then.cut.into.small.uniform.cubes,.washed,.and.boiled.in.water.before.
cooking.in.sugar.syrup.for.food.applications..Nata.de.coco.is.used.in.food.
products.such.as.low-calorie.desserts,.salads,.and.high-fiber.foods..It.is.
regarded.for.its.high.content.of.dietary.fiber.and.its.low.fat.and.cholesterol. content.. Nata. de. coco. also. promotes. a. healthy. digestive. system..
Commercial.nata.de.coco.is.made.by.large.and.mid-size.companies.and.
small.or.home.industries.in.East.Asian.countries.such.as.the.Philippines,.
Indonesia,.China,.Vietnam,.Malaysia,.and.Thailand.
143
Applications and Products—Nata de Coco
Muenduen Phisalaphong and Nadda Chiaoprakobkij
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering,
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
CONTENTS
Nata.de.Coco.Food.Products. ............................................................................. 144
Nata.de.Coco.Production. ................................................................................... 144
Markets,.Producers,.and.Companies................................................................ 149
The.Philippines. ............................................................................................... 150
Indonesia.......................................................................................................... 151
Other.Commercial.Producers. ....................................................................... 152
Nata.de.Coco.Facial.Mask. .................................................................................. 152
Acknowledgment. ................................................................................................ 153
References. ............................................................................................................. 154
One.of.the.first.commercially.available.products.of.bacterial.nanocellulose.
(BNC).was.nata.de.coco..Nata.de.coco.is.a.white,.gelatinous.and.chewy.
material.used.for.the.production.of.sweets.and.desserts..It.is.produced.
from. coconut. water. or. coconut. milk. by. the. microorganism. Acetobacter
aceti subsp..xylinum.through.a.fermentation.process.under.static.conditions..Nata.de.coco.production.originated.in.the.Philippines.during.the.
1990s. and. spread. to. nearby. countries.. In. 1991. nata. de. coco. was. introduced.to.Japan.through.its.use.in.diet.drinks.and.became.very.popular,.
especially.among.young.girls..Production.of.nata.de.coco.has.increased.
in.recent.years.for.not.only.domestic.markets,.but.also.for.export.markets,.
especially.Europe,.Japan,.the.United.States,.and.the.Middle.East..Nata.de.
coco.is.usually.produced.in.the.form.of.thick.sheets.of.pure.cellulose.that.
are.then.cut.into.small.uniform.cubes,.washed,.and.boiled.in.water.before.
cooking.in.sugar.syrup.for.food.applications..Nata.de.coco.is.used.in.food.
products.such.as.low-calorie.desserts,.salads,.and.high-fiber.foods..It.is.
regarded.for.its.high.content.of.dietary.fiber.and.its.low.fat.and.cholesterol. content.. Nata. de. coco. also. promotes. a. healthy. digestive. system..
Commercial.nata.de.coco.is.made.by.large.and.mid-size.companies.and.
small.or.home.industries.in.East.Asian.countries.such.as.the.Philippines,.
Indonesia,.China,.Vietnam,.Malaysia,.and.Thailand.
143