Symrise’s chickpea and aquafaba ingredients designed to boost plant-based categories

18 Sep 2023 --- Symrise has unveiled a range of Diana Food chickpea and aquafaba ingredients that are being slated to open further opportunities for developing plant-based food products with cleaner labels.

Food formulators are increasingly streamlining foods as consumers scrutinize nutrition labels and ingredient lists. Free-from, fiber and high protein content are among the most sought-after claims consumers use to determine the selection of products they buy.

Chickpea has become a food of choice for nutrition-conscious consumers who care about the impact of their diet on the planet. According to Symrise, it is addressing this demand with its chickpea and aquafaba ingredients. 

“Forty-two percent of the population is restricting its consumption of animal-based products. These chickpea ingredients constitute another way Symrise addresses the growing, trendy plant-based market. Aquafaba offers the perfect vegan alternative to egg yolk, while chickpea flakes improve the nutritional value,” says Sophie Helleux, product manager in the Naturals Business Unit of Symrise Food & Beverage. 

The chickpea and aquafaba range is backed by the expertise of Symrise in sourcing, quality and food safety.Versatile proteins
The company produces chickpea flakes, a vegan protein option. Their high protein and fiber content make them a valuable nutritional ally for plant-based recipes. They bring texture and juiciness to a wide range of applications, including falafels, healthy snacks and dips such as hummus.

Aquafaba – which literally translates to “bean water” in Latin – describes the cooking water of chickpeas. Symrise has applied its expertise to create aquafaba flakes. They act as a vegan alternative to egg yolk, allowing clear labeling. 

They bring texture to products while offering water and oil retention properties. Aquafaba flakes guarantee a vegan option with comparable texture and taste to mayonnaise and salad dressings.

Clear labeling 
Symrise chickpea and aquafaba flakes allow clear and understandable labeling, such as “aquafaba (chickpea water)” or “chickpea.” 

They contain no EU allergen while being gluten-free and non-GMO. They suit a wide range of recipes thanks to their light taste and color. Pre-cooked, these kitchen-like ingredients are easy to use. Convenient, they only require ambient storage and come with a long shelf life of up to eighteen months.

The aquafaba and chickpea range of Symrise extends the already comprehensive offer of natural food and beverage solutions following the Code of Nature principle. 

They also offer various options for plant-based applications, encompassing Symlife taste-balancing solutions, impactful flavors, and ingredients. 

This empowers the company to meet customers’ and consumers’ increasingly demanding expectations regarding tasty, nutritional and healthy benefits in everything they consume.

The company recently revealed a sales increase of 6.8% to €2.4 billion (US$2.6 billion) in the first half of 2023. Company sales increased organically by 8%, and Taste, Nutrition & Health achieved organic sales growth of 11.4% in the first half of the year. 

Edited by Elizabeth Green