For many, a summer without ice cream is unthinkable, but it is a harsh reality that consumers who suffer from milk or lactose-intolerance must go without.

However, the newly developed ‘Lupinesse’ is made purely from plant based ingredients and contains proteins from the seeds of blue lupin. The researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Germany, said that the product is completely free of lactose, gluten, cholesterol and animal proteins and fats.

“This non-dairy ice cream is a first; there has never been a product like this on the market until now. It will certainly meet with wide acceptance,” said Hans Georg Maier, Managing Director of German supermarket EDEKA Suedbayern, which has brought the Lupinesse ice cream to market.

Lupin protein

The German research team used high-quality protein from the seeds of the blue sweet lupin to produce the ice cream.

The blue sweet lupin is particularly rich in protein, and has a balanced flavour, which the researchers said is vital to the ice cream. They noted that the secret behind the flavour lies in the selection of the lupin variety, combined with a special production method.

“The high portion of protein is important for the creamy consistency,” said Klaus Mueller of Fraunhofer.

Muller added that the cholesterol-regulating effects of the lupin protein make the new ice cream “nutritiously valuable at the same time.”

Development

The researchers at Fraunhofer worked in partnership with Spanish artisan ice-cream company Helados Alacant and EDEKA Suedbayern.

The ice cream is now produced by Helados Alacant, according to recipes devised by Fraunhofer researchers, and is available to consumers in EDEKA outlets.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer our customers a brand new food product in the form of Lupinesse ice cream, providing nutrition-conscious people, people allergic to dairy protein and lactose-intolerant people a safe way to enjoy ice cream,” said Maier.