SIAL Montreal 2014: COCO Coconut Water

COCO Coconut Water
From Brazil

One of the products that cough my attention at the SIAL Montreal 2014 was the COCO coconut water. It is made in Brasil and is imported to Canada by Cocobros company. It comes in two varieties: 

- Pure coconut water

- Coconut water with pineapple which has a sweater taste due to the pineapple.

The only item added to the otherwise pure coconut water and pineapple juice is Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) as a natural preservative. There are no other additives of any kind.

Coconut water is high in Potassium and Magnesium and other trace elements. It has a high hydration effect and is a natural source of electrolytes. The coconut water has even been used as a substitute in blood transfusions, as blood a plasma replacement, when blood was unavailable.

Here is the Cocobros' COCO Water team at SIAL Montreal 2014.

Cocobros Canada website.

SIAL 2014 Innovations

SIAL Canada   
Montreal 2014 Innovations

April 2 -4, 2014

This year additional 15,000 square feet was added to this Montreal bi-annual very popular show.  More than 750 exhibitors from 50 countries are in attendance, which represents a 15% increase as compared to the last show held in Montreal's Palais des congres two years ago.

Most attractive are the 10 products that made the short list of the finalists in the Innovation category. 

Here are the 10 prize-winning products:

Four O’Clock Pink Lemonade Herbal Tea, Trans-Herbe Inc, Canada. Tea to be enjoyed cold; comes in a whimsically designed box. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe, packaging, conditioning-design. 

Oh!Canard Half-Duck, Canards du Lac Brome Ltée., Canada. Cuts of frozen duck that are great for cooking. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe.

Basilur Blood Orange Fruit Infusions, Basilur Tea Canada, Canada. An infusion of fruits, flowers and herbs in a decorated box. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe, packaging, conditioning-design.

189 Harwood by Première Moisson Mini Croissants, Boulangerie Première Moisson Inc., Canada. Bakeable mini frozen pastries made from select ingredients. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe. 

Pure Blueberries Fruit Purée, PEI BERRIES LTD., Canada. Juice made through a process that preserves the nutritional value of the fruit. Innovation: Production process. 

Maple Sugar, Y Olive Inc, Canada. Maple sugar with natural, original flavours. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe.

Haiku Green Tea Asian Style Noodles, I-D Foods Corporation, Canada. Asian green-tea noodles that are ready in 3 minutes. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe.

Whereas al the above winners were Canadian food industry innovatuons, the following three international entries also won SIAL 2014 Innovation Award:

Home Style Sweet Pickled Beets, Safie Specialty Foods Company Inc., United States. Natural pickled vegetables in a sophisticated pot. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe, production process. 

Southern Art Hot Sauce, Southern Art, United States. An artisanal sauce with cayenne pepper, spices and fresh herbs. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe.

Gü Desserts Chocolate and Vanilla Cheesecake 2 Pack, Gü Desserts, United Kingdom. A gourmet dessert in individual ramekins. Innovation: Ingredients-recipe, packaging, conditioning-design.

We will be looking forward to the next Sial Montreal that will take place in 2016.

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