The Jakarta Post
Medical students from Nusa Nipa University in Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, have invented moringa-based snacks as a healthy alternative for diabetes sufferers during a community service assignment.
The snacks consist of moringa biscuits made of moringa leaves, granulated sugar, raisins, cornstarch, butter and wheat flour and tea brewed with dry moringa leaves.
Rosania EB Conterius, a Nusa Nipa University lecturer who assisted the students during the creative process, said that the biscuits were low in sugar and could therefore serve as a healthy snack for those suffering from diabetes.
“Moringa is rich in fiber. By consuming these cookies, diabetes sufferers will find themselves feeling full until lunch or before evening snack,” Rosania said on Monday.
Since the biscuits are to be manufactured by Nita village's housewives, Rosania said she hopes they could help the local community improve its economic welfare.
However, the products have to undergo a test by the Indonesia Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) before they can be sold to the public.
According to another assistant professor, Mega Gaharpung, the moringa-based products were developed to fulfill a community service assignment, which was to develop Sikka regency into an agropolitan area.
Separately, a Nusa Nipa University chemistry student, Petrus Tuku, explained that the tea can be consumed after brewing it with hot water and leaving it for 10 to 15 minutes until the color changes to a pale green or yellow.
“People can drink this tea without having to filter it beforehand,” Petrus said. (dpk/kes)