Hinoman has launched a vegetable whole-protein ingredient known as Mankai for food and beverage applications at IFT in Chicago.
Mankai is an aquacultured source of vegetable protein, which is enriched with vitamins A and E, the B vitamins, minerals and fatty acids.
Due to its size that is as small as 0.5 mm, Mankai can be easily incorporated in its natural form into food or beverage applications, the company claims.
Hinoman CEO Ron Salpeter said: "All the protein parameters are high in Mankai.
"With its high PDCAAS rate of digestibility-0.89-it is more potent than super vegetables, such as spinach, spirulina and kale. Mankai has a light vegetal flavor, superior to algae-derived ingredients in the market."
Hinoman says it employs hydroponic technology to enable faster production of Mankai in large quantities without pesticides, while ensuring a high protein content of at least 45% by dry weight.
The company developed the sustainable strain and cultivation method for year-round harvest of the ingredient, following eight years of research and development.
