In the US, the popularity of a new product is growing - milk made from South American bananas.
Over the past year, Bananamilk owner Mooala recorded an increase in sales of 900%. The growing popularity of organic drink appeared on the shelves of more than 2 thousand stores across the country - Bananamilk is sold, including in grocery chains Kroger, costco and Whole Foods.
The idea behind the new product is investment banker Jeff Richards. In 2012, he first tried to create a milk replacer from ordinary bananas, based on consumers who, due to various factors, refuse dairy products, as well as nut-based milk replacers.
The project was developed with the participation of specialists from the University of Minnesota. The result was Bananamilk, a plant-based drink made from fruit, water, sunflower oil, sea salt and cinnamon. According to the company, the product is non-allergenic and contains no traces of soy, gluten or nuts. According to Richards, the product development process went from a simple banana puree to a drink with a rich, creamy taste. The company also produces a special chocolate milk made from bananas with the addition of natural cocoa.
The cost of 1 liter of "alternative milk" from bananas in American stores is about 3.5-4.3 dollars. The drink contains only 60 calories and 3 grams of sugar in one glass versus 150 calories and 12 grams of sugar in regular cow's milk. In the future, the company plans to reformulate and improve the taste of Bananamilk: the new version of the product will contain more calcium and less potassium than traditional milk. According to Richards, banana milk goes great with coffee and is also great for smoothies, cereal, and baking.