- Title: TOGO: Togolese researchers make champagne out of palm wine.
- Date: 25th February 2013
- Summary: LOME, TOGO (RECENT) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE OF TOGOLESE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (ITRA) VARIOUS OF MARTIN KOKOU AZIATO, RESEARCHER AND COLLEAGUE WORKING IN LAB AZIATO'S FACE CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE READING DEHACHAMPE (SOUNDBITE) (French) MARTIN KOKOU AZIATO, RESEARCHER SAYING: "After extensive research, we were able to develop a new product, which can be described as sparkling
- Embargoed: 12th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Togo
- Country: Togo
- Topics: Business,Industry,Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACYFF0CWRLE038W0TSTGPDYBKT
- Story Text: Martin Kokou Aziato and his colleague are running some tests on their latest invention at the Togolese Institute for Agronomic Research (ITRA) in the capital Lome.
The researchers recently came up with a fizzy drink known as Dehachampe or palm wine champagne.
They say the product, which has been developed after years of research is as good as many high end champagnes found in supermarkets in the country today.
The drink was released in the market last December but is still being improved further.
"After extensive research, we were able to develop a new product, which can be described as sparkling palm wine. But we thought that it would be great If we could take it to the next level, and come up with a champagne, that has nutritional and health values. This led us to create our own champagne, which can be compared to any other types of champagnes that can be found on the market, and we named our champagne, Dehachampe " said Asiato, a researcher at ITRA.
The alcoholic beverage is made from palm wine or 'deha' which is easily obtained from palm trees that grow in abundance here.
The researchers say their champagne is natural, with an alcohol content of between 3-7 percent, and that is contains vitamins, iron and potassium among other nutrients.
The manufacturers are targeting champagne lovers and say with the growing supply they plan to introduce various flavours of Dehachampe, to encourage local consumption of Togolese brands.
"I think it is the same drink - deha (palm wine), the same local drink but now it is bottled and I hear it does not ferment as fast as deha. So what is the difference, if it's the same taste, the same colour, it's the same thing," said Seraphine Atiglo, a Lome resident, who sampled the drink.
Palm trees are common in rural parts of Togo and the plant's sap is used to produce palm wine. Because palm wine has a short shelf life it is usually consumed soon after brewing, and forms an important part of ceremonies like weddings and birth celebrations among others.
French and South Africa wines and champagnes are widely available in the country but palm wine is the most common local drink.
Palm wine tappers like Kodjo Kouma say it's a profitable business and he is slowly growing his farm of palm trees.
"We cut the palm trees that are automatically replaced with new palm trees, and we extract the wine used to make champagne, we are very proud of it," he said.
Many farmers hope the sector will expand to produce more drinks like Dehachampe so that they too can make more profits supplying manufacturers with palm winE.
According to Aziato, Dehachampe is expected to go on sale in Togo in June, where one bottle of the Dehachampe will retail at around 45 US Dollars. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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