Everything in this Kerala cafe is coconut-based

Calling MMore Than A Nut, adjacent Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva, Kerala, a java store reduces what laminitis Ubais Ali envisions for the brand. For context, everything successful the java store is made of coconut oregon from the merchandise of a coconut histrion — the tables and benches, tableware, lampshades and the walls, and adjacent the particulate bin and plot lights. “It is not without crushed that the coconut histrion is referred to arsenic the Kalpavriksham [wish-fulfilling tree],” says Ubais passionately arsenic helium shows america astir the cafe.

The shelves are lined with products made nether the MMO (Mezhukkattil Mills Originals) brand, an lipid mill his begetter started successful 1976. The cafe is located extracurricular the mill (which is not a just statement of the ample factory-like unit) connected the roadside, for casual entree to those driving past. The paper boasts coconut-based beverages and confections, each of which are prepared successful the second-floor kitchen/bakery of the factory, particularly built for R&D. 

Ubais talks astir advocating for coconuts and their goodness. “We spot a batch of contented astir raisins and almonds from different countries. How astir we propulsion our produce? Like coconuts, successful this case.”  

Since it is simply a taxable adjacent to his heart, helium elaborates connected however we tin payment from coconuts from a wellness and manner position and, of course, arsenic a means of livelihood for agriculturalists and entrepreneurs creating value-added products. A enactment placed extracurricular the cafe would resonate with astir Malayalis. It points retired however the coconut is portion of our mundane lives, yet however undervalued it is. And it is from that thought that much MMore Than a Nut came to be.  

Apart from the cafe, wherever each point of decor and cutlery is made of coconuts, the store stocks everything from coconut lipid (including virgin coconut oil) and coconut beverage [powder] and dessicated coconut to butter, cooking paste, vinegar and flour made of coconuts sourced from Kerala. 

Since Mezhukkatil Mills exports their products, this cafe serves arsenic a store for those looking to acquisition these. Then determination are utensils, homeware, mats and accessories made of coconut byproducts. The store showcases however coconut tin beryllium utilized successful antithetic ways, similar however the wood tin beryllium utilized to marque partition oregon flooring tiles and pieces of coconut ammunition tin beryllium utilized for flooring to springiness the effect of mosaic and arsenic cladding too.  Mezhukkatil Mills has won respective awards from the Government for its innovation successful products and packaging plan arsenic well.   

“With this cafe, we privation to showcase our products and, much importantly, the imaginable of coconuts and what tin beryllium done with them isolated from the regular uses!” Ubais adds. 

Although astatine times it whitethorn look forced — coconut successful each point — it is successful enactment with Ubais’ content and semipermanent plan. So determination are question cakes, which volition past a fewer days without refrigeration — coconut banana, desiccated coconut cake, isolated from the banana-coconut-chocolate cake. Coconut is either an infusion or, arsenic successful astir cases, the flour of coconuts is used. Apart from cakes, determination are muffins, cookies, brookies and adjacent panacotta. The trials and probe for these were done astatine the room unit. 

The beverage paper includes blistery cocoa with a twist — made with coconut beverage alternatively of dairy, isolated from smoothies similar avocado and coconut, mango and tender coconut,  and caramelised pineapple and coconut. Then determination is the ubiquitous neera, tender coconut water, and chilled matured coconut water. The tender coconut smoothie is cleanable for blistery days — the elemental portion is simply a blend of the pulp and h2o of tender coconut. A dash of coconut beverage adds a spot of drama. The seating country of the cafe opens retired to the lawn.  

Ubais explains however neera is collected caller and sourced earlier it ferments to go toddy and is chilled immediately. Not to beryllium near down the desserts are besides tempting brownies, cheesecake, payasam and adjacent baklava with pistachio and roasted coconut filling. He says that they researched however coconut could beryllium utilized successful assorted recipes and the combinations that would work, fine-tuning it earlier putting them retired there.

 Ubais is committed to his ngo to beforehand coconuts and talks astir its uses and versatility connected each juncture and platform. “We request to springiness the coconut its due...especially for those of america from Kerala.”