A Melbourne café is experimenting with broccoli powder developed by researchers from imperfect-looking produce that would have previously been wasted.
The product, developed by Hort Innovation and CSIRO, has approximately one serve of broccoli in every two tablespoons of powder.
The Common Folk café says it has received mixed reviews for its broccoli lattes, but the powder could have wider application in smoothies, soups, baking, according to Hort Innovation chief executive John Lloyd.
"Research shows the average Australian is still not eating the recommended daily intake of vegetables a day, and options such as broccoli powder will help address this," he said.
The broccoli powder has already been used for the production of extruded snacks with high vegetable content, according to CSIRO's lead researcher Mary Ann Augustin.
"Prototype extruded snacks with 20-100 per cent vegetable content were displayed during National Science Week at the Queen Victoria Market last year and were well-received by parents and even by kids," she said.
The 100 per cent broccoli powder is made from whole broccoli, and produced using a combination of selected pre-treatment and drying processes to retain the natural colour, flavour and nutrient composition of fresh broccoli.
The broccoli powder, and associated extruded snacks, are being developed as part of a larger research and development project which aims to reduce vegetable waste by creating healthy food products from 'ugly' produce.
Augustin, said the broccoli was high in protein and fibre, and health-promoting bioactive phytochemicals, making it an ideal candidate for powder development.
"The powders are an option for farmers who want to produce value-added vegetable ingredients for the lucrative functional food markets," Dr Augustin said.
The next steps, Dr Augustin said, are to take the powder into further product development and consumer sensory evaluation trials.
"The CSIRO team and Hort Innovation are discussing potential commercial applications with produce growers and grower groups across Australia who are interested in getting the powder on the market," she said.
