An ale that rewards drinkers with a healthy gut may sound like an idea devised during a night of heavy boozing, making durian beer.
The smelly fruit and beer is a concept bordering on the absurd. This sheer novelty value – and a love of beer – inspired Kriza Calumba, a food and science technology instructor from Davao in the Philippines.
She created her unusual but healthy concoction durian beer.
“We already know how good probiotics are for the body but food or drinks that have them are usually dairy-based,” said Calumba, who works at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao.
“So I thought, why not have beer that has probiotics? It can be another way for those who may be lactose-intolerant … and it can be a healthier option for those who want to enjoy their beer.”
Kriza Calumba researched the possibility of probiotic durian beer for her postgraduate thesis.
After travelling in 2017 to the US to pursue a Master’s degree in food science at Louisiana State University (LSU). On a prestigious Fulbright scholarship.
When Calumba arrived at LSU, the food science department was already researching products that could support probiotics.
Products to deliver benefits including treatment and prevention of gut problems and skin infections.
But the possibility of using an alcoholic drink – containing ethanol, which kills bacteria – was uncharted territory. – SCMP
