Bring Cajuputs® Candy, IPB University Researcher Wins National Essential Oil Innovation Award
Prof Christofora Hanny Wijaya, a lecturer and researcher at IPB University, received an award from the Directorate General of Agro Industry, Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) of the Republic of Indonesia for developing an innovation in the application of national essential oils in the form of eucalyptus candy known as Cajuputs® Candy. The award was received by Prof Hanny at the Aromatika Indofest 2025 event in Jakarta on (7/11).
“The feelings after receiving the award were truly mixed. Surprised, confused, touched, and proud. Praise God, alhamdullilah, Cajuputs® Candy had many fans when we showcased it at the event,” Prof Hanny shared with the IPB Public Relations team.
“The most important thing is that we have developed an innovation in essential oil production that is accepted by the public and offers a new perspective on the use of national essential oils,” she added.
Cajuputs® Candy is a candy that uses essential oil flavor from the white tea tree (melaleuca cajuputi roxb.). This indigenous Indonesian plant produces essential oil that has been utilized as an ingredient for pharmaceutical, medicinal, and aromatherapy purposes. Cajuput® Candy, an innovation by Prof Hanny and her team, has been patented as a throat lozenge.
“Cajuputs® Candy has emerged as a product characterized by local, affordable, practical, easy-to-use, and healthy ingredients. The flavor ingredients for this candy were initially sourced from white tea plants grown on Buru Island in the Maluku Islands,” explained the Professor of the Department of Food Science and Technology (ITP) at IPB University.
As someone involved in flavor technology, Prof Hanny hopes that her innovative breakthrough with Cajuputs® Candy can inspire similar inventions, given Indonesia’s wealth of untapped local wisdom.
She explained that research on the white wood candy began in 1996, and the innovative product started mass production in 2010. To this day, there is still demand for his innovative candy.
“I am happy because this invention involves and motivates many parties. Many students, fellow lecturers, and researchers have been involved in the research since 1996. Supported by the Tropical Bioactive Compounds Research Center, the Department, industry partners, the Science and Technology Park (LKST), IPB University leadership, raw material suppliers, journalists, and loyal customers. My role here is more as a ‘coordinator’ and as a ‘channel’ for dissemination,” she said.
The professor, who also serves as President of the Indonesian Flavor and Fragrance Association (AFFI), hopes for more breakthroughs and innovations from IPB University related to essential oils. According to him, the development of essential oils from upstream to downstream, including economic sustainability, is highly strategic, and this falls within the field of study at IPB University. The utilization of essential oils and their derivatives as flavor ingredients offers high economic value.
“The main challenge in the essential oil industry is that the focus remains on the upstream sector, not yet fully addressing downstream processing. If we are talking about small and medium-scale industries, downstream processing of ‘crude essential oils’ through diversification from various local ethnic plants is very much feasible,” she explained.
However, she continued, “For large-scale operations with significant economic value and global competitiveness, the focus on premium essential oil derivative products is the key to competitiveness, not just the extraction of ‘crude oil.’” (MHT) (IAAS/FMT)
