Kaju Ka Chilka to Kattha – Business & ROI

Every cashew factory generates a steady stream of kaju ka chilka – the brown skin that comes off during peeling – and most units sell it off as husk or low‑value waste. [web:2][web:13]

With a compact Kattha extraction line, this same chilka can be converted into high‑value Kattha and tannin products for pan masala, ayurvedic and natural colour industries. [web:5][web:7][web:16]

Why the Kattha Market Is Looking Beyond Khair

Traditionally, Kattha is produced from khair wood (Acacia catechu), but forest pressure, supply constraints and quality variations are pushing buyers to look at alternative sources. [web:7][web:16]

Cashew testa and husk are attractive because they are rich in catechin and tannin, continuously available from existing cashew factories and relatively easy to collect and store. [web:5][web:7][web:11]

Simple Mass Balance for a Cashew Factory

When you process around 1 tonne of raw cashew nuts, you typically obtain 250–270 kg of edible kernels and roughly 25–30 kg of brown testa / chilka. [web:5][file:1]

Usually this material is sold at a very low price or sometimes even given away, so it hardly contributes to the factory margin. [web:2][web:13]

With Kattha extraction, yehi chilka can become feedstock for value‑added products rather than a disposal problem. [web:5][web:7]

Process Snapshot – From Business Perspective

• Collect, clean and grade kaju ka chilka from the peeling section.
• Run multi‑stage hot water extraction to pull out catechin and tannins. [web:5][web:11]
• Filter, evaporate and crystallise the extract to obtain Kattha crystals. [web:5][web:7]
• Press, cut and dry the Kattha into saleable blocks or tablets.
• Concentrate remaining liquor into tannin cake for leather, dye or agri use. [web:5][web:7][web:11]

Technically, this is straightforward food / herbal extraction, but temperature control, extraction time and drying need industrial‑grade equipment to maintain consistent quality. [web:5][web:11]

Indicative Capacity and Yield Logic

One publicly available process example shows that 10 kg of dry cashew testa can yield around 250 g of Kattha cake and approximately 1 kg of tannin solids, depending on process optimisation. [web:5]

For a factory generating 300 kg of chilka per day (around 10 tonnes of raw cashew input), this translates, in theory, to about 7.5 kg of Kattha and 30 kg of tannin solids per day. [web:5][web:7]

Actual numbers will depend on your raw material, extraction ratio, equipment design and drying efficiency, so a pilot trial is always recommended. [web:5][web:11]

Minimum Machinery Package – What You Need

A compact Kattha module integrated with a cashew factory typically includes:

• Steam boiler or hot water generator for 90–95 °C operation. [web:5]
• Insulated extraction vessels with mild agitation.
• Filter system (filter cloth or plate‑and‑frame) to clarify extract. [web:5]
• Open pan or steam‑jacketed kettle / vacuum evaporator for concentration. [web:5]
• Food‑grade crystallisation and holding tanks.
• Hydraulic or screw press and simple moulding / cutting arrangement. [web:5][web:7]
• Drying chamber plus shade drying space. [web:5]

S.S. Fabrication uses its experience in cashew, formaldehyde and herbal extraction plants to size these units according to your existing boiler, electrical load and available floor area. [file:1][web:26]

Regulatory and Quality Aspects

Because Kattha often goes into chewing products and sometimes medicinal preparations, you must consider FSSAI registration and basic lab testing for each batch. [web:7][web:16]

A typical Kattha specification will include catechin percentage, moisture, total ash, insoluble matter and heavy metal limits so that buyers receive consistent quality. [web:7][web:11]

ROI Logic – Why Add a Kaju Chilka Kattha Line?

On one side, you already have a free or very low‑cost raw material; on the other side, Kattha and tannin are specialised products with much higher per‑kg realisation than simple husk or fuel. [web:2][web:5][web:7]

Even if you treat kaju chilka Kattha as an 8–10% margin booster for the overall factory, in a typical cashew unit this can translate into several lakhs of additional profit per year once the line is stabilised. [web:5][web:7][file:1]

An additional benefit is that you can run the Kattha line in the off‑season using stored chilka, helping to smooth your cash flow throughout the year. [web:5][web:7]

Who Will Buy Kaju Chilka Kattha and Tannin?

• Pan masala and mouth‑freshener manufacturers diversifying away from khair‑only supply. [web:7][web:16]
• Ayurvedic and Unani pharmacies that need astringent, cooling and digestive ingredients. [web:7][web:16]
• Natural dye and leather tanning units using tannin‑rich extracts. [web:7][web:11]
• Export buyers focusing on plant‑based extracts and alternative catechu sources. [web:10][web:13]

Next Steps – Discuss Your Chilka Stream with Us

If you already operate a cashew processing line – from 500 kg/day to 5 tonnes/day – adding a kaju chilka Kattha module is usually a smaller capex than setting up a completely new factory. [file:1][web:5]

Share your daily raw cashew input, approximate chilka quantity and market focus, and we can help you design a practical Kattha and tannin extraction package around it. [file:1]