Macadamia nuts boast a delicate, buttery flavour, gentle crunch texture and excessive monounsaturated fats content material. They’re additionally excessive in fibre, magnesium, copper, manganese and thiamine, and are a supply of vitamin B6, niacin and minerals comparable to iron, phosphorus, potassium and selenium. Their versatility means they’re used as components in snack, bakery and confectionery merchandise.
However there’s a catch. Macadamias are notoriously pricey to reap and develop. Excessive-quality nuts fall from solely mature bushes. They attain full manufacturing in 12 to fifteen years and may last as long as 40 years.
Meals producers have due to this fact tended to shrink back from utilizing macadamias as a hero ingredient in product. The World Macadamia Organisation (WMO) claims the nut is the world’s most untapped and undiscovered wholefood. That’s slowly altering. Almonds and walnuts accounted for 32% and 19% of world 2021/2022 manufacturing, respectively, in accordance with the Worldwide Nut and Dried Fruit Council, adopted by cashews (17%), pistachios (15), and hazelnuts (11%). Macadamias, with pecans, pine nuts, and Brazil nuts made as much as the remaining 6%.
International macadamia manufacturing has nonetheless continued to extend from a small base during the last ten years, with the estimated crop for 2021 reaching greater than 66,400 metric tons (kernel foundation), up 5% from the earlier season and 131% than in 2011.
More and more showing in NDP
Macadamias are additionally more and more showing in NDP, particularly dairy alternate options. For instance, German model Veganz launched a plant-based various to camembert comprised of 5 components together with cashew and macadamia nuts. Inexperienced & Gold Macadamia, which represents six completely different macadamia processors throughout 5 continents, has invested in an innovation programme to discover potential makes use of for macadamias as an ingredient. Outcomes up to now embrace a dairy-free mushroom soup, mango smoothie, drinkable yogurt and set yogurt, proving there’s a tangible enterprise risk for macadamias as an ingredient that delivers to wholesome consuming shopper calls for, in accordance with the agency.
Extremely steady emulsification properties
Inexperienced & Gold Macadamia additional claims macadamias are a wonderful flavour provider with very excessive and steady emulsification properties, once more attributable to their excessive fats content material, permitting them to retain creamy texture in an finish product.
UK snack model Home of Macadamias has introduced the nationwide launch of its chocolate coconut, salted caramel & darkish chocolate macadamia nut bars on the retailers WH Smiths, Planet Natural & Partridges. “Clients are bombarded with so many bars and types at the moment. There are additionally many wholesome bars with no sugar and pure components within the combine nonetheless they lean in direction of cheaper nuts almonds, peanuts,” co-owner Brandon Hiemstra instructed FoodNavigator. “We did not discover any with Macadamias because the hero ingredient.”
Whereas dearer, Hiemstra believes he’ll discover an viewers for these customers ready a premium for better-for-you snack bars. “We did not wish to compromise. As an alternative of merely including macadamias, we made it the primary ingredient, virtually have of the bar (45%), and the ensuing style is certainly one of a form as a result of we consider clients deserve the most effective,” he defined. “Having different wholesome components and energy decrease than many main bars is only a plus.”
Distinctive properties of macadamias
Hiemstra careworn the distinctive dietary qualities of the macadamia that different nuts can’t declare. “They’ve 30-40% fewer carbohydrates than almonds, with extra monounsaturated fat than any nut, even olive oil and avocado. They’re wealthy within the very uncommon omega 7s. Few nuts, if any, have hint quantities. Omega 7 provides numerous advantages however two of my favourites are the pure collagen manufacturing and fats loss.” They’re additionally simple to digest, he revealed. “Macadamias are distinctive as they do not comprise lectins which make some meals arduous to digest. Ever puzzled why you typically get cramps from almonds and peanuts? It is the lectins.”
Lastly, the nut matches specialist on-trend diets like keto, vegan and paleo. “Except you might be allergic to nuts, they match into virtually any food regimen,” stated Hiemstra. “We have now discovered a major following of macadamias amongst keto and vegan fraternities. Since macadamias have decrease sugar and carbohydrate content material, these on keto love them. It retains blood glucose ranges very low, eliminating spikes and crashes in power. Vegans additionally appear to love macadamias for the protein, nutritional vitamins and pure collagen manufacturing discovered within the omega 7s.”
Are fragile provide chains a priority?
However regardless of their dietary qualities, genetic variability can depart macadamias crops weak to issues like rising pests, illness, pure disasters and local weather change. How a lot of a priority is that this to the trade? Home of Macadamias sources its nuts from South Africa, the primary macadamia rising nation on this planet behind Australia. “The farmers there are famend worldwide, giving us high quality few different nations can rival,” claimed the co-founder. “The local weather and farming practices assist stop these variations. Many farmers have began overhead irrigation to assist with cooling, however extra undoubtedly must be performed, and likewise why macadamia manufacturing hasn’t saved up with demand.”
To deal with the problem of utilizing the world’s costliest nut, Home of Macadamias went straight to the farmers for sourcing. “Over years of constructing relationships, we managed to get unbelievable charges of bulk macadamias forming a partnership as additionally they wish to see demand develop by our model,” Hiemstra instructed us. “To additional save prices, all our packaging and product manufacturing is accomplished a brief drive away from the farms lowering logistics prices and making certain the freshest product to our clients. Lastly, we’ve got a comparatively small distant crew who share the identical ardour and work lengthy hours to cut back prices additional.”
‘We can’t promote too nicely in Poundland’
Hiemstra finally believes macadamia’s style and diet credentials will permit them to carve a distinct segment, although most likely not on the low finish of the snack market. “The character of macadamias being so uncommon and never low cost imply we’re a luxurious model that is not for everybody,” he defined. “Because of this we began in additional high-end retailers. A 3 quid protein bar most likely will not promote too nicely in Poundland. However we firmly consider, simply as you see, peanuts and almonds in every single place. Finally, you will note Macadamias, and we wish to give the client a option to buy one thing with the most effective style and diet though it might not be the most cost effective nut on the town.”
