The burgeoning long-life non-dairy milk category has a new rival with the launch of Quinoa Milk by Freedom Foods.
The company's new Quinoa Milk with Chia is the first widely available, locally produced quinoa milk product and will vie for shelf space alongside a growing category of dairy alternatives like soy, rice and almond milk.
Freedom Foods said the launch was in recognition of the United Nation declaration that 2013 is The Year of Quinoa.
Quinoa has long been embraced by the gluten free community for its health credentials, and is a low-calorie, high-protein grain, with a unique flavour profile that Australians seem to love, according to the company, which makes a number of allergy-free brands.
The new milk product also features Australia’s other favourite ancient grain, chia, so as to provide Australia’s growing vegan community with a non-animal source of Omega 3 ALA.
“We are excited to expand our portfolio of allergy free products and provide the nation’s large community of healthy shoppers with a new and exciting way to consume this popular grain,” said Freedom Group managing director, Rory Macleod.
The company has also launched a new 3 Ancient Grains Muesli cereal product.
“The combination Muesli was created not only to capture the growing interest of quinoa, but also the demand for fructose-free foods as fructose malabsorption awareness increases throughout Australia,” said Macleod.
Fructose malabsorption is a digestive disorder in which absorption of fructose (or other sugars like lactose or sorbitol) in the small intestine is impaired. It is believed that upwards of 30 per cent of Australian could suffer from it.
Freedom Foods operates a 12,000sqm manufacturing site at Leeton which is the largest dedicated gluten and nut-free factory in the southern hemisphere.
Quinoa Milk with Chia retails at $3.80 a litre and is available in Coles and independent retailers now and is expected to roll out in Woolworths.
Freedom Foods launches new breed of milk alternative that's made from quinoa.
