According to Belcolade, the flagship chocolate brand from Puratos, its plant-based innovation is the industry’s first chocolate “that offers an indulgent taste profile and mouthfeel similar to milk chocolate while being both dairy-free and nut-free”.
Furthermore, “it achieves superb smoothness, the creaminess of a milk chocolate and balanced sweetness, all without common allergens,” according Puratos.
Belcolade Selection M. Plant-Based Cacao-Trace, described as ‘a real Belgian Chocolate’ as it is manufactured at the Belcolade factory in Erembodegem, becomes commercially available this week.
We’re very excited to have solved the puzzle of delicious, allergen-free, plant-based chocolate -- Youri Dumont, SBU chocolate director, Puratos
In our latest podcast, Youri Dumont, SBU chocolate director at Puratos, talks listeners through its development and says: “Until now, there was a very clear gap in the plant-based chocolate market.
“We know the chocolate sector is still driven by many millions of milk chocolate lovers, whose expectations weren’t being adequately met when they looked for plant-based alternatives. So this new product is really about indulging these milk chocolate fans with a really attractive plant-based option. We’re very excited to have solved the puzzle of delicious, allergen-free, plant-based chocolate.”
The creation of Belcolade Selection M. Plant-Based Cacao-Trace is a true co-creation project, involving professional chocolatiers and customers from the outset, alongside Belcolade’s own experts.
Their mission was clear, says Dumont: “Developing a no-compromise, truly indulgent milk-alike chocolate that can be enjoyed by absolutely everyone, including allergy sufferers.”
The collaboration enabled the team to determine the taste, texture and working behaviour that would best reflect both the needs of Puratos’s professionals customers and the preferences of consumers.
Belcolade Selection M. Plant-Based Cacao-Trace is highly versatile, suitable for the production of tablets, hollow figures and pralines by chocolatiers. It also has numerous artisan and industrial uses, including mousses, ganaches, coatings and dipping.
- To find out more on Belcolade Selection M. Plant-Based Cacao-Trace, listen to our podcast.
- Puratos is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 12 January, during which Belcolade’s chocolate expert Michel Eyckerman will create two exceptional confectionery and patisserie recipes based on Belcolade Selection M. Plant-Based Cacao-Trace, and answer viewers’ questions. More information from www.puratos.com
