Chiuri (The butter tree of Nepal)
Practical Action
Processing methods
In earlier days, ghee was processed at a community level. This is now undertaken at the
individual household level. Normally, about 18 kg are required to produce one litre of ghee. The
processed ghee is used for domestic consumption. Among the farmers surveyed the consumption
of Chiuri ghee varied from 2-5 kg per year per household in Chitwan district.
The chiuri fruit is collected and squeezed to liberate the seeds. After cleaning and drying, the
seeds are pounded using a traditional pounder, a "Dhiki", into a fine powder. The powder is
steamed on a perforated plate over the boiling pan. The oil is then extracted using a traditional
oil expeller called a "Chepuwa".
The product is bitter in taste due to high content of impurities such as saponins which are carried
along with extracted oil. The ghee needs post filtration or purification to make it edible. The
final product is white with a strong smell and taste.
The diagrammatic process flow for Chiuri ghee processing is presented as follows.
Flow diagram for Chiuri
Collection of fruit
Squeezing of the fruit
Removal of inner part of mesocarp
Drying in the fireplace in two story
bamboo basket for 4-5 days and stored
in the basket or jut bags
Crushing and steaming of seed flour
Oil extracted
Uses
Chiuri ghee is the main source of edible oil for more than one hundred thousand people. This
ghee is used to cook vegetables and roti (Nepali bread). Chiuri juice is also consumed to quench
thirst.
The potential use of Chiuri products is found in different fields such as confectionery,
pharmaceutical, vegetable ghee production, candle manufacturing and soap making. It has been
found to be effective for rheumatism. It is also used as an additive in animal ghee.
The cake produced after processing of Chiuri is used as manure which has pesticide properties
and is used on paddy fields (Rs 25/pathi) and banana plantations. It is also used as a wormicide,
nematicide, molluscicide, rodenticide and insecticide. The cake obtained during oil extraction
from Chiuri can be used as crude fish poison substituting the dangerous chemical pesticides. It
can be used as feed in poultry farming after detoxification. It can serve as a source of saponin for
industry in future.
Marketing of Chiuri
Chiuri products are usually handled by the Chepang community and they are used mostly for
household consumption. They do not have accurate information about the market price of the
Chiuri. The price of the fruit is determined by the dryness of the fruit. Dried fruit fetches a
higher price to a raw fruit. Raw fruit is black in colour and turns white when dried.
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