IAST launches nutrient drink made from potatoes

The Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) on Thursday launched its new nutrient filled beverage ‘Sak’, by at the Inaugural Green Expo which is being held at the Guyana National Stadium, East Bank Demerara.
The new product which is made from purple potatoes grown in Regions Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), is said to be packed with nutrients to help promote male performance as well as promote healthy hair, skin and nail growth.
This was disclosed by Chairman of the IAST, Suresh Narine who noted that the product is multiply blessed because it has several factors that make it very exciting.
“At one level it’s a product which is vertically integrated from sustaining farming

practices by Indigenous peoples… in that concept alone it is remarkable because it reaches the rural farmers all the way up to the tertiary consumer and its business model allows all of the proceeds to go back to that farmer”.
The purple potato has been used for several years by various Amerindian tribes such as the Makusi and Patamonas to make cultural drinks such as fly and piwari.
The drink as a matter of fact got its name ‘Sak’ from the Patomona word for potato.
Narine explained that he became interested in the potatoes as he learnt it contained tons of health benefits; such as improving blood circulation, thereby reducing hypertension and other blood diseases; cardiac health; brain function and delivery and stimulates growth of the hair and nails.
Added to that, he said the plant is also packed with magnesium, potassium and fibre.
The new drink which is expected to hit supermarkets by Christmas comes in two types – the low calorie and original.
“The low calorie is specifically targeted at removing the kinds of high impact of sugar seen in aerated drinks, so it is suitable for diabetics and children,” he said.
A few of the ingredients being used along with the purple potatoes include water, stabiliser, cinnamon, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B2 and Vitamin B12.
It was pointed out by the developer that although the drink is only being bottled in 10 ounces, the idea of expanding has not been wiped off the table.