Ratanakiri & Initiative: Project repurposes discarded cashew apples into "premium" liqueur

USAID Morodok Baitang and Seekers Spirits have announced the creation of Southeast Asia's first premium Mekong cashew apple liqueur.

The liqueur is made from cashew apples, collected as part of the deforestation-free cashew programme at Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary. Photo USAID Morodok Baitang

The liqueur has been produced using cashew apples that would otherwise have been discarded by farmers in the deforestation-free cashew programme at Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Ratanakiri Province.

The product was developed through a collaboration between USAID Morodok Baitang and Seekers Spirits, as outlined in USAID Morodok Baitang’s August 2024 monthly bulletin.

According to USAID, the fruits are typically discarded after the nuts are collected, but they can be processed into valuable products, such as juice or alcohol.

Seekers Spirits cofounder and sales and marketing director Tania Unsworth revealed that the project was inspired by Feni, a rare cashew liqueur from Goa, India.

"This prompted us to investigate the potential of cashew apples, which are typically discarded, to create a valuable product from them," she said.

Morodok Baitang chief of party Sabine Joukes stated that the collaboration builds on their deforestation-free cashew programme by providing an additional revenue stream for farmers, enabling them to sell both cashew apples and nuts by engaging the private sector and establishing market linkages.

The product is currently still in the research and development phase and is not yet available for general sale. Those wishing to experience the distinctive, aromatic and slightly astringent flavour of this cashew apple liqueur, balanced by the natural sweetness, will have to wait until the next cashew season.

The liqueur was presented at Mekong Strategic Capital’s 10th anniversary event, which provided an opportunity to highlight the full-circle impact of deforestation-free cashew farming projects overseen by Morodok Baitang and supported by Mekong Strategic Capital.