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Editors’ choice: Our roundup of the most innovative plant-based products

The plant-based sector is constantly evolving with fresh and innovative products. Creativity is endless in this space with plant-based versions of meat, dairy as well as confectionery advancing this sector of the food industry.

The products below were cited during the Plant-based Deep Dive Day, held as part of the Fi Webinar Series 2022, and include jackfruit burgers, organic vegan chocolate, mushroom oat milk, upcycled meat alternative chunks, and oat milk chocolate.

Let’s take a closer look…

Jack & Bry Jackfruit Burgers

Jack & Bry produces sausages, burgers and mince made from Jackfruit. This UK-based startup describes jackfruit as “a meaty, fleshy and sustainable whole food that gives plant-based products an edge as well as being high in fibre” on its website.

“This is a plant-based product that stood out for me because of its wholefood approach. A lot of plant-based meat alternatives have come under fire because of their ingredient lists that are full of additives, flavours, and colours that you wouldn’t necessarily find in the equivalent meat product,” said Niamh Michail, senior food editor at Fi Global.

Kyoot Cashew Coffee

Made from only five ingredients, London-based vegan chocolate startup Kyoot’s cashew coffee is made using coconut sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, cashew nuts and coffee. It is described by the brand as “silky organic dark chocolate speckled with balanced and bright ground coffee beans and creamy cashew bits”.

The vegan chocolate line-up includes: cashew coffee, raspberry pink pepper, roasted hazelnuts, crunchy salted caramel, original, and vanilla quinoa pops.

“Gen Z will not only love this brightly packaged vegan chocolate, made from only a handful of ingredients, but its ultra clean and sustainable credentials; being organic, plant-based, gluten-free, paleo, refined sugar-free and free of ‘weird additives’ is likely to appeal,” said Segi Adewusi, content editor at Fi Global.

Califa Farms Mushroom Oat Barista Blend

As part of its plant-based milk range, US alternative milk company Califa Farms launched mushroom oat and hemp barista blends last year. The new barista-tested plant milks can also be used as a creamers for coffee.

“The addition of mushrooms in milk sounds pretty strange but it actually contains functional mushrooms. It contains organic cordyceps and organic lion’s mane. These are said to be adaptogenic ingredients that have health benefits such as helping people fight stress, improve cognitive health and awareness,” said Michail.

Luya Foods Bio Chunks

Swiss startup Luya Foods produces upcycled meat alternative “bio chunks” made with okara, a byproduct of tofu and soy milk waste, in collaboration with supermarket Coop Switzerland. Worldwide, over 14 million tonnes of okara are wasted annually, despite its high nutritional value.

According to the company, okara is transformed using traditional methods into “an incredibly tasty, juicy and nutritious all-rounder, rich in fibre and easily absorbable iron and with a complete protein profile with all nine essential amino acids”. Luya’s organic chunks come in three varieties - garden herbs, barbecue, and nature (plain).

Through its collaboration with Luya, Coop Switzerland hopes to reduce food waste and improve sustainability. It will stock two flavours of Luya’s organic chunks - garden herbs, which is best suited to salads and curries, and barbecue, which can be used on a grilled skewer.

Lindt Oat Milk Chocolate

Swiss chocolatier Lindt has launched vegan oat milk chocolate in three varieties – classic, hazelnut and caramel sea salt.

“The release is in response to growing demand for dairy-free options and that vegan consumers are seeking alternatives to dark chocolate. To create the new vegan chocolate bars, Lindt replaced dairy milk with gluten-free oat milk powder and almond paste,” said Kinga Swiderska, head of content at Fi Global.