Growing up in a joint family, the one snack I eagerly awaited at every gathering or festival was freshly sliced coconut. The crunchy brown shell combined with the soft white flesh made for the perfect bite. And when it comes to coconut water, very few can resist its refreshing taste.

Coconuts have been woven into our lives for generations, offering benefits beyond just our plates. Amidst the lush groves of coconut palms and the rhythmic whispers of the sea, a quiet revolution is brewing in India.

Numerous entrepreneurs are creating a ripple with valuable coconut-based products, creating their own unique blends of tradition, sustainability, and innovation. Here are eight such stories of transforming this humble staple into something extraordinary.

1. Purvina

When the COVID-19 lockdown brought Jaya Avnoor’s various businesses to a standstill, she and her daughter Parvathy saw an opportunity to revive a cherished family tradition and create something meaningful. Together, they launched Purvina in Malappuram, Kerala, focusing on ventha velichenna—virgin coconut oil crafted through a meticulous, labour-intensive process.

The inspiration came from Parvathy’s grandfather, whose Alzheimer’s symptoms were eased by this traditional remedy. “Beyond selling, our dream is to educate people about the benefits of ventha velichenna and make Purvina synonymous with this magic oil,” says Parvathy. Extracting just 250 ml of oil from 10 coconuts, the process is painstaking, but the purity is unmatched.

This versatile oil serves as a moisturiser, makeup remover, wrinkle preventer, and even a salad dressing. With 100% of their workforce being women, Purvina now sells 350 litres monthly, gaining recognition across India for its authenticity.

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2. Cancrie

“It took us almost 10 to 12 years before we started selling. It gives me immense contentment that we have brought this product to such a level,” reflects Akshay Jain. Alongside Mahi Singh, Akshay co-founded Cancrie, a Jaipur-based startup pioneering the use of coconut shells to produce nanocarbon for batteries.

Their patented nanocarbon not only boosts battery efficiency by 125% but also extends the........

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