You may have read about Solein, a sustainable, farm-free protein made from air (created by feeding microbes oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and mineral nutrients).
The protein is now part of the world’s first chocolate snack bar called Taste the Future from Finnish food experience company Fazer.
In the same way as Singapore was the first in the world to grant novel regulatory approval in 2022 for Solein (developed by Solar Foods), this little red dot is the first country to launch Taste the Future exclusively from Fazer.
For the first time, Solein appears in a consumer product as an ingredient in this limited-edition chocolate snack bar that is sustainable, vegan-friendly and nutritional.
Mustard-hued Solein powder consists of 65 to 70 percent protein, which contains all nine essential amino acids required by the human body. Fibre, fats, and other nutrients, such as B vitamins, make up the rest of the alternative protein, which can replace meat or plant protein in everyday foods like dairy and meat alternatives, beverages, pasta, bread, spreads and now, chocolate, too.
As a major shareholder in Solar Foods, Fazer collaborated with Solar Foods on Taste the Future, creating a future-proof food solution while reducing emissions.
Siiri Pihlainen, senior manager, corporate ventures at Fazer, says, “Several options were considered for the first product. Ultimately, we decided to introduce Solein in a product category consumers could instantly associate with, [which is] chocolate. It is a big part of our heritage and now we have added a super futuristic element to it.”
In Singapore, Fazer’s confectionery brands Karl Fazer and Geisha are known for their smooth-textured white, milk, and dark chocolates. A highly nutritious, neutral-tasting ingredient that can literally be incorporated into a dark chocolate product is quite an achievement, and should pique the interest of any chocolate lover, Pihlainen shares.
“Additionally, it tastes better than the average dark chocolate snack bar with its rich, smooth creaminess and deep chocolatey flavour [from 70 percent dark chocolate],” reveals Pihlainen.
Unlike typical chocolate, it has a higher nutritional value, thanks to Solein’s protein. It not only helps to build and repair muscles and bones, and make hormones and enzymes, but is also an energy source. “The iron Solein contains is also an important nutrient for vegans and those with an iron deficiency,” adds Pihlainen.
Plus, the snack bar is studded with dried strawberries, hazelnuts, and fibre-rich oat puffs. Taste-wise, it is smooth, balanced and rich with a slight fruity aftertaste. Why strawberries and hazelnuts? “We did quantitative consumer testing in Singapore on taste. They were two variants consumers were keen on tasting in a good chocolate.”
So what other products can we expect? “Let’s see, now we’re open to feedback on this product and how people feel about this futuristic ingredient in it. It is so versatile, Solein could go into any number of products,” Pihlainen concludes.
A Taste the Future chocolate snack bar will be given to customers who buy $30 worth of Fazer products at The Cocoa Trees stores at Raffles City Shopping Centre, Tanglin Mall, Suntec City, Jurong Point, and Parkway Parade until the end of February. Fazer hopes consumers will provide feedback on their tasting experience using the QR code provided on its packaging.
