Lattes and broccoli might sound like a weird combination, but it’s a thing now. Discover why baristas are making broccoli powder lattes, called broccoloattes.
You read that right: broccoli and lattes combined. “But how?” you might ask. Well, the wonderful people at CSIRO and Hort Innovation, based in Australia, have created a broccoli powder that coffee shops in the country have turned into a new latte.
Not everyone is raving about broccolattes, but the people behind the powder know it will be perfect in many different types of foods like soups, smoothies, or even baked goods. Luckily, the broccoli powder does far more than give Baristas creative new ideas.
BROCCOLI POWDER BENEFITS
It’s Nutrient Rich
If you hate vegetables or know some kids who do, then you can rest assured that you’ll get one whole serving of broccoli in only two tablespoons of powder. Blend it away in a fruit smoothie or stir it into your midday meal.
You don’t have to worry about losing any of the nutrients that fresh broccoli provides. The companies worked to deliver a product that maintained the same nutrient composition as whole, fresh broccoli. Through a process of pre-treatment and drying, the broccoli powder maintains the natural green color as well as the same flavor and nutrient profile.
Broccoli is a superfood of sorts. In one serving (one cup chopped), it contains 2.6 grams of protein, 2.1 grams of fiber, 81.2 mg of vitamin C (135 percent the daily recommended value), 92.5 mcg vitamin K (116 percent recommended daily value), and 57.3 mcg folate. Plus, it’s loaded with minerals like manganese, zinc, calcium, iron, and potassium. In addition, broccoli is a source of sulforaphane, which has been shown to fight cancer.
It Reduces Food Waste
Aside from making the amazing health benefits of broccoli more accessible, broccoli powder provides a solution to food waste. The creators of the powder saw an opportunity to take ugly, unwanted broccoli and convert it into a form that you can enjoy.
Food waste is a problem downstream with the consumer and upstream with the farmer. For consumers, it’s a matter of purchasing too much, not eating it, and throwing it away. For farmers, it’s a consumer preference issue in which people don’t like imperfect foods.
If it has a scar, doesn’t look quite right, or has bug bites, then it gets wasted – even though it’s perfectly edible. Broccoli powder provides a solution for food waste upstream. It gives farmers an opportunity to dive into the lucrative functional food space with foods that would otherwise end up in the trash.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Broccoli powder is still in the works in Australia. You may be waiting on pins and needles for a bit longer to get this high-nutrient powder added to your morning smoothie. In the meantime, consider the impact of food waste on the environment and see what you can do today to lessen your footprint.
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