2021 Innovation Wrap-Up
iTi Tropicals’ Innovation Team had an exciting and innovative year. This year, we focused on finding creative applications and concepts for our products. Let’s take a look at some of the concepts we really focused on throughout the year.
Tropicals in Unexpected Applications
iTi Tropicals’ Innovation Team is always searching to bring a touch of the tropics into unexpected culinary applications. Keep reading to learn how we use passion fruit juice, coconut milk powder, guava, and banana in exciting new ways!
Passion Fruit Juice
Passion fruit juice has a rich, tropical mouthfeel that is both sweet and tangy. It has a very distinct flavor and aroma that combines the tastes of citrus, pineapple, and mango with hints of guava. Here are a few benefits of passion fruit juice to consider!
- Passion fruit contains a variety of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, vitamin D, Potassium, and Sodium.
- Passion fruit has a bold, distinct, and unique flavor and mouthfeel.
- Passion fruit is an extremely versatile, exotic fruit. Passion fruit can be used in applications ranging from sweet to savory!
Coconut Milk Powder
iTi Tropicals is now offering 100% Coconut Milk Powder this year. This product works very well as a fat source in granola, breakfast, and nutritional bars. This product works so well because it doesn’t increase the moisture content in the bar, but it does provide a plant-based fat source and a subtle coconut flavor.
Banana and Guava Puree
We have also found that banana puree and guava puree are great egg replacement options. With their thick viscosity, they provide a similar structure that an egg would provide. Banana and guava puree also have enough moisture to serve as a binding ingredient, another important property of an egg.
Flexitarian
The year of the flexitarian lifestyle; a concept that allows consumption of both animal and plant-based products. Flexitarian lifestyles are not restrictive like vegan and vegetarian diets, making it more sustainable for consumers. Consumers are not limited to strictly plants or animals; they can enjoy animal products and meat from time to time. This lifestyle is centered with a higher focus on whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, with a limited intake of sugars, processed carbohydrates, and animal products.
Because this diet is becoming more popular, the innovation team at iTi Tropicals is working on products that use plant-based fats in conjunction with animal protein. One of the products that our team is working on is combining coconut cream with dairy milk to create a “coconut milk product”. We take skim milk and mix it with our coconut cream to create a product that has the best of both worlds; animal-based protein and saturated plant-based fat. This results in a velvety smooth drink that is both satisfying and nutrient-dense. Combining coconut cream with dairy milk also provides vitamins, minerals, and lactose to support a healthy gut microbiome.
Clean and Functional Fruit Purees, Juices, and Juice Concentrates
Consumers are more health-conscious than ever before, especially with the ongoing pandemic. Not only are consumers looking for nutrient-dense/functional products, but they are also looking for clean-label or familiar ingredients. iTi Tropicals offers 100% fruit products that are as clean-label as they come! We offer functional and clean products that meet the needs of consumers. Our products are free from artificial colors and flavors. We offer a wide variety of clean, functional products including coconut milk powder, coconut cream, coconut water concentrate, acerola, acai, passion fruit, banana, and more!
Acerola naturally contains high levels of ascorbic acid, perfect for immunity and health shots. Acai is an Amazonian superfruit full of anthocyanins and antioxidants that can be blended in a smoothie bowl, used as a dessert base, or used in health shots. Banana is naturally sweet, high in vitamins/minerals, and viscous in texture. These properties in bananas can be used as a natural sweetener, an egg replacer in baked goods, or as a base for frozen novelties. Try using dragon fruit to add a hint of natural red and pink color to your product!
We anticipate most trends from 2021 will continue into 2022 due to consumers increasing their demands for a healthier lifestyle.
Check out our website to learn more about our products and what we offer! See something you’re interested in? Request a free sample here.
Tags: Innovation trends