Brilio.net/en - This past Indonesian Independence Day, numerous achievements by the younger generation has done their country proud.
One such accomplishment was reached by a group of Yogyakarta State University (UNY) students who won gold in the International Youth Invention Contest held in South Korea, August 5, 2015.
The students were Rifaldy Fajar, Rini Winarti, Isra Kaida, Hertin Eka Rahmawati, and Muhammad Ferry. The five students successfully beat contestants from other countries and won 1st place thanks to their innovation of a natural tofu preservative made from aloe vera.
Every aloe vera contains a gel. We took the gel, cleaned it and blended it, said Rini to brilio.net, Monday (17/8). After being blended, we mixed it with tapioca flour and pandan leaves to relieve the smell.
According to Rini, their idea was initially very simple and it began after they noticed that a tofu could only last for 3 days. They then initiated research to find a solution how to make said tofu last longer.
We tried to examine the contents of aloe vera where we found out that it is actually a preservation agent and can extend a tofus lifespan up to a week, Rini said.
To use this preservative, we only need to spread the processed aloe vera on the tofu and put it into a refrigerator. The tofu would be guaranteed to last for a week. If you want to cook it, you need to wash it first to remove the gel. Easy right?
What makes our innovation win the contest was because our innovation actually had an added value. After being tested, we found out that a tofu which has been spread with the gel has higher protein content. Next, we want to conduct further research because we believe aloe vera is not only beneficial to preserve tofu, but also to preserve vegetables and fruits, said Rifaldy.