Lycrored, a wellness company and ingredient manufacturer, is currently focused on exploring the benefits and full potential of tomatoes. Through the development of its taste enhancer products, Lycored aims to enhance nutritional profiles, elevate flavor, and streamline ingredient lists. The company produces real food ingredients with various applications, including LycoFiber, which mimics the texture of natural vegetables in food products without the need for emulsifiers, and SANTE and CTC, a clear tomato concentrate designed to enrich flavor while minimizing added sugars and sodium.
The production of SANTE, a natural, clean-label tomato serum that enhances taste, along with CTC, begins with red tomatoes. CTC serves as a natural “addback” flavor enhancer, providing a sweet tomato acidity with a smooth balancing effect, acting as an extender for tomato paste. According to Caroline Schroeder, Global Head of Marketing at Lycored, this ingredient is particularly effective in tomato-based food applications, adding a harmonious flavor profile to savory dishes such as soups, condiments, and sauces. “SANTE delivers umami and kokumi taste sensations with lower acidity, reducing the need for and serving as an alternative to salt, added sugars, MSG, yeast, and more. For CTC, the combination of brix, natural tomato flavor, sweetness, and acidity enhances taste, creating a rounded and balanced profile for foods,” Schroeder stated in a recent interview with Food Dive.
After harvesting, the red tomatoes undergo a thorough washing process, followed by the removal of skins, seeds, and stems, which are then repurposed for the animal feed industry. The tomatoes are subsequently crushed, pulped, de-aerated, heated, and cooled. The fibrous tomato pulp and liquid serum are separated and dried. “Both SANTE and CTC are designed to enhance the eating experience for consumers across savory and sweet applications,” Schroeder noted.
The company is also exploring ways to improve other ingredients. “Since launching these solutions, our team has been actively testing application opportunities to uncover innovative ways to empower brands in product development,” said Schroeder. In addition to its potential for reducing sodium and added sugars, SANTE simultaneously enhances sweetness in formulations due to its taste-neutral properties and works synergistically with other sweetness-enhancing ingredients.
Lycored’s LycoFiber ingredient allows brands to achieve a “unique texture and stability in their products that is unattainable with other texturizers,” according to Schroeder. This ingredient provides a pleasant and natural pulpy fiber mouthfeel, distinguishing itself from alternative stabilizers like gums and starches that can often be slimy. Furthermore, the integration of ultra cal citrate plus in formulations can enhance the overall health benefits of products, adding to the value of Lycored’s innovative solutions. Overall, Lycored continues to lead the way in transforming the culinary landscape with its tomato-based products and commitment to enhancing food quality.