For a longtime, plant-based foods were not exactly known for tasting that good. In recent years, that has changed as brands have innovated with new ingredients to appeal to a broader consumer base. Now, more consumers than ever are eating plant-based, either regularly or occasionally to improve their health and support sustainability efforts. When it comes to the plant-based food trend, there’s one ingredient in particular that has managed to generate a lot of buzz – thanks to its versatility, health properties, and mainstream appeal. We’re talking about chickpeas. Keep reading as we breakdown what’s made chickpeas so popular – and the opportunities for capitalizing on this trend.
Chickpeas in the Plant-Based Space
As plant-based foods have continued to grow in popularity, they’ve managed to garner the attention of not only vegans, but consumers of all ages and demographics. Even not-so-adventurous consumers have been gravitating towards plant-based foods. Products that feature recognizable ingredients – think black beans, chickpeas, and lentils – allow consumers to try out this trend without stepping too far out of their comfort zones. According to Mintel, over 60% of plant-based consumers in the United States report wanting to see meat alternatives with whole ingredients. Chickpeas bring something familiar to an unfamiliar space, allowing them to appeal to everyone from strictly vegan consumers to those just trying out plant-based foods out of curiosity.
The plant-based food trend has been driven in part by a renewed focus on health. With health and wellness top of mind, consumers have been seeking out ways to get healthier – and incorporate more protein into their diets. Enter chickpeas. Often lauded for their high protein content, chickpeas are also high in fiber.
And we can’t talk about chickpeas without talking about their versatility. From snacks and meat alternatives to baking ingredients and pasta, chickpeas are blank canvas when it comes to plant-based foods.
The Trends Behind the Trend
One way to tell if a trending ingredient is going to fizzle out or is here to stay is to look at the number of trends it leans into. Not only are chickpeas trending due to their place in the vegan space, but they’ve also gained popularity for being featured in on-trend ethnic dishes. Ethnic cuisine has been on the rise for over a decade now, and Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines have been standouts in recent years, growing substantially for use of flavorful spice blends and healthy ingredients. These cuisines also happen to prominently feature chickpeas, also lending to this trending ingredients’ growth. Dishes like chana masala and ever-popular hummus have contributed to consumers’ cravings for chickpeas.
Sustainability and the push for low waste foods have also been a hallmark trend of recent years as climate change and food shortages have become major concerns. The plant-based food trend has been driven in part by with these environmental issues in mind. Beyond being plant-based, what do chickpeas have to do with this? Enter aquafaba. Aquafaba, the liquid that chickpeas are cooked in, serves as a substitute for egg whites. Up-and-coming brands have been experimenting with aquafaba as an ingredient in everything from frosting to mayonnaise. Aquafaba leans into the low-waste trend, appeals to environmentally conscious consumers.
Ready to innovate with chickpeas? Fuchs has got you covered! Contact us today to see how Fuchs can help you make something special.