Pea protein is one of the most popular vegetal protein products on the market today. It is cheap, vegan- and vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, and is a good source of many of the essential proteins that our bodies need. However, pea protein is consistently met with one frequent criticism: it does not taste great. Overcoming its off-flavor is a challenge that manufacturers using pea protein have been working to solve. While consumers will continue to find ways to make their pea protein more palatable for themselves, manufacturers are working to make that habit less of a necessity by improving the taste of their pea protein.
Masking flavors
Flavor masking is a common practice in all stages of food manufacturing. For pea protein manufacturers, finding effective masking flavors for pea protein powders can be a particularly effective method. Flavor masking is more than simply adding a stronger flavor to overpower an undesirable taste. It is about changing or masking the way that off-taste is perceived by our taste receptors.
This has been a common practice for many years, but the scope and role of flavor masking has undergone significant changes along with the many new developments in dietary habits worldwide in recent years. This trend includes the development of plant-based products like pea protein.
Pea protein is typically described as having an earthy, grassy, bitter, or chalky taste. Some effective ways to combat these off-tastes include other “earthy” flavor profiles, like nuts (macadamia, almond, etc.). Other flavor maskers exist to specifically target bitter flavors. As most pea protein comes in powdered form, other powder flavors tend to make the most effective flavor maskers for pea protein.
Whatever the case, it is important to remember that flavor maskers work best when they are specifically tailored to the flavor profile of a specific formulation.
Natural masking flavors
Not to be lost in the race to create the perfect masking flavor for pea protein is the importance of a clean label. One of the driving factors behind the increase in pea protein’s popularity is that it is a natural product that is both vegan-friendly and gluten free. Adding a masking flavor that does not adhere to these standards defeats the purpose of using pea protein for many consumers.
Therefore, it is important that flavor and pea protein powder manufacturers alike work to ensure that only the highest quality natural ingredients go into their formulations. OSF Flavors is well-equipped to meet all of these ethical and nutritional manufacturing demands. Ask for a masking flavor sample!