Coconut toddy wild yeast kinetics: sugar Brix drops and alcohol ABV curves after dark?

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Karl Toddy885 rep

How do wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains drop sap sugar from 15% Brix to 5% ABV within six hours of evening collection?

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4 Answers from travellers

Accepted Answer

Fresh coconut inflorescence sap (Thelijja) begins at an unfermented sugar level of 14-16% Brix dominated by sucrose. The interior walls of unglazed collecting earthenware pots harbor dense biofilms of wild alcohol-tolerant yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Hanseniaspora guilliermondii) alongside lactic acid bacteria. Once pots are gathered from palm fronds at dusk, fermentation kinetics accelerate exponentially under warm ambient night temperatures (28-31°C). Within six hours, yeasts invert sucrose and convert glucose into ethanol, dropping Brix down to 4-6% while alcohol climbs to 5.5% ABV with intense natural effervescence.

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If left unpasteurized past noon the following morning, Acetobacter aceti bacteria take over, oxidizing ethanol into acetic acid and turning the toddy into sour vinegar.

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K
Karl Toddy885 rep

Coating collection pots with slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) raises pH above 8.0, which inhibits wild yeast glycolysis and preserves the sap as sweet non-alcoholic treacle.

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K
Klaus Apothecary920 rep

Fermented toddy must be transported to licensed coastal arrack distilleries in stainless steel tanks within 12 hours of collection to avoid volatile acid spoilage.

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Nimal Cordage1680 rep

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