The Baligod family of Kalinga province used their individual expertise to concoct a healthy beverage out of the once lowly and neglected lemongrass.
In the verdant slopes and fields of Kalinga province where the Baligod family grew up, lemongrass (Cymbopogon, a genus of about 55 species of grasses), locally called tanglad, grows in wild abandon. Lilia Baligod Pelayo, and her brothers, Joe, Benny and Ronnie learned at an early age that lemongrass. particularly the East Indian type (Cymbopogon flexuosus) are edible. It has essential oils. Its leaves can be distilled and turned into organic fertilizer, or even made into pouches or specialty paper.
When the Baligod family all became professionals, they decide to give back something th their home province– sort of a homage to their happy child hood days. And that was when they decide to cash in on the wonders of tanglad. Ronnie, the eldest of the Baligod family, is an engineer. So is Benny who also happens to be a member of the Filipino Inventors Society. Lilia, an accountant by profession, became the marketing and finance head of their family corporation, now known as Gold and Grass. Together, they have concocted a premier health drink called Camelya Gold, a mixture of green tea, lemongrass extracts and green honey.
Lilia Baligod Pelayo told us the story behind the growing popular health drink and how they go about running their family corporation.
Excerpts :
How was Camelya Gold developed?
It was developed by a friend, who happens to be a food technologist. It started like a trial-and-error thing. You know, taste tests and all. We called it Camelya Gold. Now, we’re coming up with Camelya Lights. This one has no sugar-pure green honey only.
Where do you get your raw materials?
The plantation of lemongrass is in Cagayan Valley where our factory is also located and we’re now developing in Sariaya, Quezon. The Ceylon tea, we import it from Ceylon. The green tea comes from Palawan and the lemongrass hydrosol comes from us.
How much lemongrass do you use in your production?
We only have around eight hectares of plantation in Cagayan Valley. They are owned by the farmers who plant lemongrass and we use the contract growing scheme in the farming aspect. We buy leaves from them. In one hectare, we could get a minimum of 15,000 kilos of lemongrass leaves per hectare. The other day, there was a German businessman who was connected with a German pharmacy and he was asking if we could supply them 10,000 liters of lemongrass oil per month! We told him we still couldn’t supply them with that volume so we’re really thinking of expanding because right now, we can only produce around 300 liters of essential oil. So, as you can see, there’s a market for lemongrass oil. E, oil pa lang `yon, ha?
What about your volume capacity for your beverage?
We can produce about 2,500 bottles a day. We get the bottles from San Miguel Corporation. We had it custom-made and designed for our specific purpose. Thirty percent of our production cost goes to packaging
You must have invested a lot of money in the family business of yours…
Yes. Ever since we started, we have already spent around Php15 million. We didn’t go to the banks because we really had a hard time getting our loan application approved. That was our initial hurdle. But Quedancor loaned us Php200,000 and we’re thankful for that
But you have technology because your operations are mechanized…
Yes. My brother Benny, who is an electrical engineer, made the innovations for our hydro distilling equipment. The equipment is food grade and we used 316-L of stainless steel. He has the technical know how. We were awarded one of the 12 finalists in the Asian Innovation Awards in Singapore under the equipment category. Our equipment can distill around 10-12 tons a day.
What was your marketing strategy for your health beverage?
We go directly to the restaurants. We used the direct selling approach. Right now, we’re the exclusive distributor of our products. We’re also a member of the Organic Producers and Traders Association (OPTA) and they help sell our products, too.
What makes your drink different from the other health beverages in the market?
It’s both a diuretic and a detoxifier. It’s very good if you have a running fever or a sore throat. The hydrosol itself is medicinal. Hydrosol is the by-product of distillation. At first, we were throwing the hydrosol until someone noticed it. He said, don’t throw it. That’s a gold mine! The primary product is the oil itself. This is all-natural, absolutely no preservatives. Right now, we’re selling the product at Php80 per bottle and we sell it mostly at agri exhibits.
I understand your are also both selling hydrosol and the oil?
Yes. For lemongrass oil, our number one target market is the AB crowd. Of course, they use it for aromatherapy. For hydrosol, we’re targeting the CDE market.
What is the life cycle of lemongrass?
Around 60-75 days.
How many workers do you have?
Around 43 people in the farm. Here in Manila, we have
around 10-15 staff but we’re still training our nephews and nieces to do some technical things.
You got incorporated in 2001. What were the things that you have learned from the business?
A lot! How to deal with farmers, how to handle people, answering inquiries on things like production, etc. I’m an accountant by profession so these things are not really my expertise, but I learned along the way. Our family believes so much in our product so even if we encountered some problems at first, we really didn’t give up. We know that in this business, we would be helping a lot of people in the process. It’s not really all about the money, you know. So having that in mind, we know we’re moving in the right direction.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Extraction
Extraction
Essential oil of lemongrass is extracted from fresh and partially dried grass by means of Steam distillation process. Our Steam distillation plants comply with ISO quality standards. The lemongrass essential oil extracted by steam distillation process is a yellow, amber or reddish brown liquid with a grassy citrus scent. The Lemongrass oil obtained by the steam distillation process is then stored in food grade Stainless steel storage containers.
Essential oil of lemongrass is extracted from fresh and partially dried grass by means of Steam distillation process. Our Steam distillation plants comply with ISO quality standards. The lemongrass essential oil extracted by steam distillation process is a yellow, amber or reddish brown liquid with a grassy citrus scent. The Lemongrass oil obtained by the steam distillation process is then stored in food grade Stainless steel storage containers.
Applications
Applications
Aromatherapy:
The therapeutic properties of Lemongrass include Antiseptic, deodorant, astringent; Lemongrass oil relieves rheumatic and other pains and also relaxes nerves. Ayurveda makes use of this oil to bring down fever. Also, for treating contagious diseases, Lemongrass essential oil is considered to be of great use. Perfumes made using Lemongrass oil can act as great relaxant.
Traditionally, Lemongrass is usually given in the form of a tea or foot bath made from the fresh herb, from which the patient additionally benefits by inhaling the scent. Lemongrass also treats pain arising from indigestion, rheumatism, and nerve conditions. Researchers also found this refreshing fragrance to reduce headaches and irritability and to prevent drowsiness. In the hot weather, lemongrass oil brings down body temperature and rejuvenates mind and soul. In the modern days, Lemongrass oil is used to make aromatherapy candles.
To make a foot bath, add about 3 drops of lemongrass oil to 2 or 3 quarts of warm water in a small tub. Stir well and keep your feet in the water for at least 20 minutes. You can also add a few drops to your bath. Lemongrass is an antiseptic suitable for use on various types of skin infections, usually as a wash or compress, and is especially effective on ringworm and infected sores.
Culinary:
Lemongrass is used extensively in the Thai cuisine in the form of fresh grass or dried and ground grass. The dishes include Soups, grilled chicken and curries. The lemongrass adds a small citral taste to the food. Lemongrass oil is rapidly entering into the ingredients list of the many of the processed foods. The main application area of Lemongrass oil is in the Herbal teas and instant beverages. The lemongrass oil not only provides the lemon flavor to the products but also provides Vitamin A content for the consumer. This health aspect of Lemongrass oil is also gaining importance. Lemongrass oil is also used as a potential source to synthesize Vitamin A.
Lemon grass is mildly diuretic and a stimulant tonic herb. When taken as a tea, or used in cooking the herb promotes digestion of fats. Moreover, it also helps in the healthy functioning of the digestive system as it helps in decreasing problems related to indigestion and gastroenteritis. This is because it helps in cutting down the levels of cholesterol, fat and toxins from one’s body along with aiding in the stimulation of blood circulation in the body. As lemon grass can help in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, it plays an important role in maintaining the health of one’s heart. It has been found that lemon grass can prove to be beneficial for women as it helps in treating menstrual troubles and nausea. By mixing lemon grass with pepper, one can get rid of a majority of problems related to women’s menstrual cycle.
Cosmetics:
The major application of Lemongrass oil is in the Cosmetics field. Thousand of cosmetic products placed on the shelves of the retail stores carry Lemongrass oil as it’s ingredient. The extract is often used in everything from cleaning supplies and personal care products, like deodorant, to even perfume. Though Lemongrass oil finds it’s unique place in the cosmetics industry owing to its Lemon equivalent scent and low cost, it has numerous other potential properties. Lemongrass oil reduces the puffiness in skin and is a good hair tonic.
Lemongrass oil helps to tone the muscles and tissue and also aids in relieving the muscle pain by making the muscle more suppler. It helps to improve the the poor circulation disorder and also acts as an insect repellent. It helps to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks and lice. The Lemongrass oil is also used for clearing up oily skin and acne, as well as athlete’s foot. It alleviates excessive perspiration. Along with providing numerous health benefits, lemongrass also aids in the beautification process of the skin as it helps in preventing the formation of pimples and acne along with acting as a useful muscle and a tissue toner. Lemongrass oil also finds its applications in the pet shampoos as a bug repellent.
Aromatherapy:
The therapeutic properties of Lemongrass include Antiseptic, deodorant, astringent; Lemongrass oil relieves rheumatic and other pains and also relaxes nerves. Ayurveda makes use of this oil to bring down fever. Also, for treating contagious diseases, Lemongrass essential oil is considered to be of great use. Perfumes made using Lemongrass oil can act as great relaxant.
Traditionally, Lemongrass is usually given in the form of a tea or foot bath made from the fresh herb, from which the patient additionally benefits by inhaling the scent. Lemongrass also treats pain arising from indigestion, rheumatism, and nerve conditions. Researchers also found this refreshing fragrance to reduce headaches and irritability and to prevent drowsiness. In the hot weather, lemongrass oil brings down body temperature and rejuvenates mind and soul. In the modern days, Lemongrass oil is used to make aromatherapy candles.
To make a foot bath, add about 3 drops of lemongrass oil to 2 or 3 quarts of warm water in a small tub. Stir well and keep your feet in the water for at least 20 minutes. You can also add a few drops to your bath. Lemongrass is an antiseptic suitable for use on various types of skin infections, usually as a wash or compress, and is especially effective on ringworm and infected sores.
Culinary:
Lemongrass is used extensively in the Thai cuisine in the form of fresh grass or dried and ground grass. The dishes include Soups, grilled chicken and curries. The lemongrass adds a small citral taste to the food. Lemongrass oil is rapidly entering into the ingredients list of the many of the processed foods. The main application area of Lemongrass oil is in the Herbal teas and instant beverages. The lemongrass oil not only provides the lemon flavor to the products but also provides Vitamin A content for the consumer. This health aspect of Lemongrass oil is also gaining importance. Lemongrass oil is also used as a potential source to synthesize Vitamin A.
Lemon grass is mildly diuretic and a stimulant tonic herb. When taken as a tea, or used in cooking the herb promotes digestion of fats. Moreover, it also helps in the healthy functioning of the digestive system as it helps in decreasing problems related to indigestion and gastroenteritis. This is because it helps in cutting down the levels of cholesterol, fat and toxins from one’s body along with aiding in the stimulation of blood circulation in the body. As lemon grass can help in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, it plays an important role in maintaining the health of one’s heart. It has been found that lemon grass can prove to be beneficial for women as it helps in treating menstrual troubles and nausea. By mixing lemon grass with pepper, one can get rid of a majority of problems related to women’s menstrual cycle.
Cosmetics:
The major application of Lemongrass oil is in the Cosmetics field. Thousand of cosmetic products placed on the shelves of the retail stores carry Lemongrass oil as it’s ingredient. The extract is often used in everything from cleaning supplies and personal care products, like deodorant, to even perfume. Though Lemongrass oil finds it’s unique place in the cosmetics industry owing to its Lemon equivalent scent and low cost, it has numerous other potential properties. Lemongrass oil reduces the puffiness in skin and is a good hair tonic.
Lemongrass oil helps to tone the muscles and tissue and also aids in relieving the muscle pain by making the muscle more suppler. It helps to improve the the poor circulation disorder and also acts as an insect repellent. It helps to keep pets clean of fleas, ticks and lice. The Lemongrass oil is also used for clearing up oily skin and acne, as well as athlete’s foot. It alleviates excessive perspiration. Along with providing numerous health benefits, lemongrass also aids in the beautification process of the skin as it helps in preventing the formation of pimples and acne along with acting as a useful muscle and a tissue toner. Lemongrass oil also finds its applications in the pet shampoos as a bug repellent.
About Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass Oil is extracted from the Cymbopogon Citratus, is one of the most widely used essential oil in the aromatherapy industry. Lemongrass oil is gaining its popularity owing to its lemony, sweet smell. This Lemon equivalent scent of Lemongrass oil has enabled it to be used in all the places where a Lemon flavor is preferred. Moreover the Lemon flavor has an acidic property where as the Lemongrass oil is not acidic and is also rich in Vitamin A. This has given the Lemongrass oil an edge over the Lemon Flavor. Lemongrass essential oil properties also extend to creating a sense of emotional well-being, an important attribute to have in this fast-paced world.
Though Lemongrass is native to India, now it is grown in various temperate countries of the world. The lemon grass is dried and powdered or used fresh in the Asian cuisine especially in the Thai foods.
The main chemical components of Lemongrass oil are: Citral, Farnesol, Nerol, Citronellal and Myrcene. Andropogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon flexuous has far higher Citral content than that of cymbopogon citrates.The essential oil of the lemongrass plant is characterized by its yellow color and watery consistency compared to other oils. Though lemongrass is watery in viscosity, it is very much concentrated and should be mixed with a carrier oil before applied on the body.
Apart from its sweet Citrus flavor, Lemongrass oil provides a lot of health benefits for the human body. The properties of Lemongrass essential oil include antiseptic, analgesic, anti fungal, antimicrobial and antidepressant. This oil is very apt for relaxing a tired body. Lemongrass oil is also believed to rejuvenate the body and relieves the symptoms of jet lag, clears headaches and also aids in combating nervous exhaustion and stress related conditions.
Though Lemongrass is native to India, now it is grown in various temperate countries of the world. The lemon grass is dried and powdered or used fresh in the Asian cuisine especially in the Thai foods.
The main chemical components of Lemongrass oil are: Citral, Farnesol, Nerol, Citronellal and Myrcene. Andropogon flexuosus and Cymbopogon flexuous has far higher Citral content than that of cymbopogon citrates.The essential oil of the lemongrass plant is characterized by its yellow color and watery consistency compared to other oils. Though lemongrass is watery in viscosity, it is very much concentrated and should be mixed with a carrier oil before applied on the body.
Apart from its sweet Citrus flavor, Lemongrass oil provides a lot of health benefits for the human body. The properties of Lemongrass essential oil include antiseptic, analgesic, anti fungal, antimicrobial and antidepressant. This oil is very apt for relaxing a tired body. Lemongrass oil is also believed to rejuvenate the body and relieves the symptoms of jet lag, clears headaches and also aids in combating nervous exhaustion and stress related conditions.
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