Lupine Protein Beverage Perfect for Athletes and Health Aficionados
A leguminous plant from the subfamily of the papilionoïds. There are different varieties, including sweet lupins, yellow and blue lupines. The wild-growing plants are poisonous and especially dangerous for people suffering from allergies. Only non-toxic breeding lupines are used for food production. The lupine seeds are rich in proteins and are therefore suitable as a basis for manufacturing food.
© Credit: © Photo Fraunhofer IVV
During the research process, the researchers had to overcome several hurdles. In particular, it is a real challenge to create a refreshing drink with proteins, as they generally are not soluble in the acidic pH range. Lupines are an exception here, since they contain a type of protein that can also be dissolved in the acidic pH range.
A protein-rich yet refreshing smoothie for the summer: the extract of the sweet lupine can be made into a great variety of beverages.
Credit: © Photo Fraunhofer IVV
However, the plant—a genus of plant from the legume family, which also include beans, peas and peanuts—presented the scientists with a different problem: like all the above-mentioned legumes, it contains phytic acid. This particular acid binds valuable minerals and inhibits enzymes and is therefore difficult to digest.
The protein remains intact, the phytic acid is degraded
The researchers at Fraunhofer have now developed a process that preserves the sweet lupines’ nutritious proteins and reduces the undesirable phytic acid during processing.
The lupine drink is a good example of how the Fraunhofer IVV works. “We develop and optimize manufacturing processes, combining traditional methods with new ingredients. This allows us to create new, healthy and sustainable foods,” explains Raffael Osen, project manager at Fraunhofer IVV.
Anyone who thinks of beer when they hear the terms of malt, mash and fermentation is on the right track. The manufacturing process is similar to beer brewing and uses devices like mashing pans, lauter tuns or fermenting tanks, which every brewery has. Additional large investments are therefore not required. “Even small breweries are able to put heath, sports, and wellness beverages on the market at a low economic risk.”
Ecologically conscious consumers can also enjoy this lupine drink without feeling guilty, because the vegetable raw materials are from local growers.
The sweet lupine is not the only plant that Fraunhofer researchers are focusing on. Other legumes such as beans and peas could serve as the basis for healthy and protein-rich beverages, too. The manufacturing processes have to be adapted only slightly. “The process is now well established. In the next step, we are trying to apply the process to other raw materials in order to achieve greater product diversity, “says Mr. Osen, project manager. “Especially regional protein-rich plants such as peas or beans have great potential.”
As commercial partners, the companies Wild and Döhler have contributed their know-how to the project. Wild, a company from Heidelberg, Germany, is a specialist for beverage ingredients and has already produced a fruit-based lupine drink with mango and apple flavor. Döhler supported the project through their expert advice as well as the analysis of the intermediate and final products.
Regional breweries such as the Riedenburger brewery and the Lammsbräu brewery from Neumarkt, Germany, have also accompanied the project with their expertise. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy and the Allianz Industrial Research.
However, those who come up with the idea of snacking on sweet lupine during a summer hike must be warned. Wildly growing lupines contain toxic bitter substances. It is better to wait for the first lupine drink from the local brewery to arrive at a store near you.
Contacts and sources:
Karin Agulla
Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging
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