COCOES Aminos-Teriyaki: The Sauce That Shook the Katha Awards 2025

CÓCOES’ Coconut Flower Aminos Teriyaki won the Best Food Product in the Sauces & Condiments Category at the 2025 KATHA Awards, in MOA Complex, Pasay on Thursday May 15. The judges didn’t blink. Our soy-free, allergen-free sauce delivered bold umami, clean ingredients, and zero filter—proving coconut flower sap isn't a substitute. It’s the standard.

This sauce runs on coconut flower sap. Pure, powerful, and nothing like the usual bottle on the shelf.

No one expected a teriyaki like this to win. It did. It walked in with quiet confidence and left with the trophy.

Our goal was not just to make a soy sauce alternative. We wanted to create something better—a sauce with its own character that stands on its merits,” said Christian Eyde Moeller, CEO of Lionheart Farms during the awards night.

We didn’t remix teriyaki. We upgraded it.

Forget the usual lineup of MSG, preservatives, and synthetics. We kicked them out. What’s left? A sweet-savory bombshell brewed from pure organic coconut flower sap. It’s umami, it’s clean, and it’s fierce.

We ditched all the usual suspects—MSG, preservatives, synthetic colors—and replaced them with pure coconut flower sap harvested by Filipino farmers using traditional methods combined with innovative and sustainable solutions,” Moeller explained.

Our process? Wildly extra. We ferment the sap. Age it. Build flavor the slow, old-school way. But make no mistake—it’s science-backed, chef-approved, and kitchen-dominating. The KATHA panel took one taste and said, yep, that’s the one.

And the sodium? Way lower than traditional options. Still hits. Still lingers. Still addictive. We do not compromise on the taste.

Read more: Top Health Benefits of Coconut Flower Sap

But this win isn’t just about flavor.

It’s about 2,000 farming families in South Palawan who turn sunrise into sap. Every bottle starts with their skilled hands, their trees, their commitment.

We’re talking about real livelihoods. Through our CÓCAUSE program, our partner farmers earn 2–3x the standard rate. No middlemen. No cut corners. Just honest trade and good food.

That’s the thing about COCOES. Every drop carries a story—of regeneration, dignity, and good taste.

Why the KATHA Judges Chose CÓCOES

KATHA isn’t some popularity contest. It’s a panel of esteemed food critics, sustainability sticklers, and innovation junkies. They tasted the difference. Then they dug deeper.

Here’s what sealed it:

• Our coconut sap—100% organic and sourced sustainably

• Our process—minimal waste, low water, and  designed for efficiency

• Our facilities—built for sustainability and designed to reduce emissions

And yes, we’re allergen-free. All eight of them.

“Winning KATHA validates our core belief that doing good creates better products,” Moeller emphasized. “We've proven health-conscious, planet-friendly foods succeed without compromise.”

Let’s talk business (briefly)

This win doesn’t sit on a shelf. It fuels our momentum. We’re already shipping bottles to the Philippines, Hong Kong, the EU, and the US. Now, with new deals inked in the UK, China, and the Middle East, we’re officially global.

Over 130,000 bottles fly out each month. That’s not hype. That’s market demand. And behind it? A growing appetite for clean labels, allergen-free cooking, and sauces that actually taste like food.

Read also: Lionheart Farms Expands Global Reach with Participation in Philippine Outbound Business Matching Mission to GCC

The sauce market clocks in at $42 billion, and we made our mark with something fresh—a coconut twist

Soy has been a staple for years, but this KATHA Award signals a new chapter. A sauce born from coconut palms, bottled with purpose, and ready to elevate your plate without compromise.

Our teriyaki isn’t just another option. It’s part of a bigger shift.

Organic foods grow at 12.84% annually. Clean-label demand climbs steadily. More people choose allergen-friendly without sacrificing flavor. The market isn’t just changing—it’s racing ahead. CÓCOES leads the charge.

 

Photo Courtesy of DTI MIMAROPA

So, what’s next?

Big things. We’re scaling production, doubling down on quality, and eyeing new frontiers. New markets. New products. (Yes, the condiment lab is brewing magic.)

But we won’t lose the plot. The mission stays the same: Great flavor. Clean ingredients. Real impact.

We're proving that business success and positive impact reinforce each other,” Moeller concluded. “Every bottle of CÓCOES Teriyaki sold strengthens our vision of connecting farmers and communities to the world and indulges global conscious wellness consumers with the bounty of Philippine coconut flower nectar in a sustainable direct-from-farm experience.

And if it doesn’t come from a farm, feed a family, or make your taste buds dance, we’re not bottling it.

One more thing

This win belongs to more than us. It belongs to every person who chose CÓCOES over “the usual.” To every chef who gave our sauce a second look. To every farmer who climbed a tree before sunrise.

We’re not a condiment company. We’re a movement. And now, we’ve got a KATHA to prove it. 

The sauce aisle will never taste the same again.