Entrepreneurs from the province of Talata, Tacna region, have come up with innovative proposals to change the supply of soft drinks and beer. It is a soft drink made from muña and purple corn, a plant collected in the Andean provinces.
A group of Talata entrepreneurs strives to contribute to the economic development of Talata province by giving added value to mountain products while creating jobs, so, after joining forces, they created Muna and Eucalyptus sodas, in addition There are also a variety of liqueurs based on vanilla, honey, apple, corn and wheat.
Liria Acero Mamani, representative and founder of Agroindustrias Tarateña, said she grew up in the capital of the province of Tarateña, but after completing secondary school she left her hometown and moved to the city of Tacna to study a career at the Jorge Basadre Grohmann National University Bachelor’s degree in Industry, Food, however, after completing higher education, he returned to his home country with the goal of creating a company offering innovative food and beverage solutions.
“I come from a family of farmers and work in Talata and I have areas where corn and apples are grown, the munna grows like weeds and eucalyptus and rosemary are abundant. That’s why the idea was born, to change the way Talata grows product, create a company and provide jobs,” he said.
Muna and Purple Corn
Muña is a medicinal plant, a shrub that grows wild in the Andean region of the country. It is considered an ancient plant and is recognized for its many medicinal properties, which include relieving stomach pain, heartburn, indigestion, halitosis (bad breath), aiding in the elimination of gas, promoting intestinal motility, and fighting intestinal Parasite, it is also used to flavor food.
Another benefit of consuming muña is that it can provide relief from some respiratory ailments such as colds, flu, coughs, bronchitis, nasal congestion, and even has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
But there are also taboos. Long-term excessive consumption will damage the liver, so it is recommended not to abuse it. Consume it for 2 to 3 days in a row at most, and rest for a week before consuming it again.
Like Muna, purple corn also has health-promoting properties as it contains important minerals like iron, which is essential for improving hemoglobin levels in the blood and fighting diseases like anemia and malnutrition. It also contains calcium, which is essential for the proper formation and strengthening of bones and teeth.
soda production
Acero Mamani said that in order to produce muña soda, in addition to sensory analysis, market research, physical and chemical research, and microbiological research must be conducted. “We had to do a sensory analysis because this drink can be healthy but its taste is acceptable, it has a good taste because people must enjoy its consumption. After all these studies, health records were obtained. ” he explained.
Soda water is made from sugar, purple corn, muna, carbon dioxide (CO2) and other raw materials. “Munna goes through a steam distillation process in which purple corn elixir, carbon dioxide and other ingredients are added to create Muna soda,” he emphasized.
Launched in August to commemorate the anniversary of Tacna, more than 2,000 liters of “muña morada” soda have been produced since that date and are currently only available in half-liter or 500 ml hard plastic bottles, Price is for cost 2.5 soles. “The bottles were brought from Lima because we needed special packaging and we will soon be launching 1.5 and 2 liters,” he announced.
Currently based in the town of Talata, the company focuses on the regional market, but this month the product has been requested and shipped to the country’s capital. “We sell at fairs held in Talata, in the city of Tacna and in other parts of the region. Our vision is to enter the entire domestic market and then the international market because our products are healthy and we also use Talata The province’s input and it is creating jobs for the residents of the area,” he stressed.
other products
In addition to Muna soda, Talata entrepreneurs also produce eucalyptus soda, spirulina and rosemary soda, barley beer, wheat beer, cider from the Talukachi region of Talata province, as well as Honey mead from the Estique Pampa region, another region of the province. However, except for wheat beer and barley beer, all other soft drinks are undergoing health registration.
Liria Acero highlights Talata’s artisanal products using ingredients from the Andean region, emphasizing the properties of the plants used in the manufacture of soft drinks and alcohol.
In the case of eucalyptus soda, its outstanding content of vitamins A, B, C, and D contributes to the function of the immune system, i.e., the treatment of respiratory diseases, as well as antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, healing, immune-stimulating properties, etc.
Likewise, spirulina is a type of cyanobacteria (algae) that contains high amounts of nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Spirulina contains no cholesterol, saturated fat, hormones or chemicals harmful to health, and contains eight essential amino acids that the body cannot make but needs to survive.
Additionally, spirulina soda contains rosemary, which has antibacterial, antiseptic, antiseptic, and balsamic properties. It is high in iron so it helps with anemia, has anti-inflammatory properties that can relieve inflammation in joints, stomach and even tendonitis, improves circulation and has anti-platelet properties so it can prevent blood clots and blood clots. It activates blood circulation in the scalp, thereby promoting hair growth.