Coffee from date seeds

Date seeds, long considered waste and usually discarded after the fruit is eaten, are being turned into aromatic coffee by an entrepreneur in Fakirhat, Bagerhat.

The unusual initiative has drawn attention locally, with entrepreneur Howladar Mohammad Ali producing and selling coffee made from roasted date seeds. His product has already gained a positive response in the local market.

Ali said he got the idea after watching a YouTube video on making coffee from date seeds. He then conducted experiments on his own for a long time before starting commercial production. He claims to be the first person in Bagerhat to commercially produce date-seed coffee.

He started the business on a small scale with an investment of about Tk 25,000. Five workers are currently employed at his facility, where they collect, clean, dry, roast, grind and package date seeds.

Describing the production process, Ali said the seeds are collected after purchasing bunches of dates during the harvesting season. The seeds are then washed, cleaned, peeled and dried in the sun. They are subsequently roasted with sand in a pan for a specific period before being ground in a machine.

He said no chemicals are used in the entire process.

Ali said he has sold coffee worth around Tk 20,000 so far, with new customers showing interest every day. He plans to market the product nationwide and eventually abroad through online platforms.

Local resident Saiful Islam said he initially found the idea difficult to believe but was impressed by the taste and aroma after trying the coffee. Many people in the area are now buying the product with interest, he said.

Regular consumer Kawsar Ahmed said he likes the coffee and personally feels that it has some benefits. However, he did not claim that there is scientific evidence proving its health benefits.

Mamun Sheikh, one of the workers involved in production, said the initiative has created employment for several local people. They are able to earn additional income by working throughout the season.

Bagerhat Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Md Motahar Hossain said date seeds are generally discarded as waste. Turning them into a value-added product is an innovative initiative that could promote the effective use of local resources and create employment opportunities.

However, he said further scientific research is needed to establish any health benefits associated with date-seed coffee.