Provided herein are shelf-stable, layered foods and systems and methods for producing the same. In at least one embodiment, the layered foods comprise a first layer comprising a first hydrogel component and a second layer comprising a second hydrogel component, wherein the first and second hydrogel components are formed from one or more biomaterials extracted from one or more plant-based sources.

Compositions which are fragrant and contain at least a member set culled from a library of compositions, each being comprised of sub-combinations of selected terpenes. Fragrances that mimic that of various states of organic and synthetic aromatics including products, processes and those from non-combusted plant products, among other things, uniquitous products, processes, medicinals, and related moieties leverage databases of all known terpene groupings are offered for consideration, and have been provided, according to the instant teachings.

A method for making a highly soluble steviol glycoside composition is described. The resulting composition readily provides solutions with at least 0.5% concentration.

A method for providing dried chicory particles made up of intact plant cells, including the following steps: a. providing chicory roots; b. cutting the roots in pieces, having a thickness between 1.5 cm and 8 cm; c. leaving the pieces for 60-500 seconds to release a bitter tasting exudate and yielding debittered pieces; d. wash off the bitter tasting exudate from the debittered pieces with an aqueous solution containing antioxidant and/or acidulant to yield washed pieces; e. chopping the washed pieces into particles having a particle size between 1.5 mm and 10 mm; f. performing a heat treatment of the particles followed by or in combination with drying of the particles to provide dried chicory particles, and wherein no heating step is conducted before step f.

A method for preparing a plant derived product or a process intermediate or a process input, the method comprising the steps of providing a plant derived starting material, subjecting the starting material to a forward osmosis step against a draw solution so as to produce a plant material concentrate, and subjecting the draw solution to a water removal step. The water removal step may include further forward osmosis in combination with an evaporator system.

Compositions which are fragrant and contain at least a member set culled from a library of compositions, each being comprised of sub-combinations of selected terpenes. Fragrances that mimic that of various states of organic and synthetic aromatics including products, processes and those from non-combusted plant products, among other things, uniquitous products, processes, medicinals, and related moieties leverage databases of all known terpene groupings are offered for consideration, and have been provided, according to the instant teachings.

The present invention relates to a savoury food article consisting of a solid, savoury composition having an elongate member extending therefrom, and also to a method for preparing such a savoury article and to the use of such a savoury article.

A method for preparing a plant derived product or a process intermediate or a process input, the method comprising the steps of providing a plant derived starting material, subjecting the starting material to a forward osmosis step against a draw solution so as to produce a plant material concentrate, and subjecting the draw solution to a water removal step. The water removal step may include further forward osmosis in combination with an evaporator system.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a yeast protein concentrate, said method comprising the lysis of yeast cells in a suspension that was adjusted to a particular pH prior to lysis, subsequently subjecting the soluble fraction obtained from lysis to filtration to reduce the content of molecules smaller than 30 kDa, and optionally drying the solution obtained from filtration. The present invention further relates to a yeast protein concentrate obtainable by the method of the invention. The yeast protein concentrate comprises a high amount of proteins which are still folded and are therefore capable of aggregation to form a solid protein matrix upon heating. In addition, the yeast protein concentrate of the invention will be of unobtrusive taste and is therefore particularly suited for use in the preparation of food items, such as meat substitute products.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a yeast protein concentrate, said method comprising the lysis of yeast cells in a suspension that was adjusted to a particular pH prior to lysis, subsequently subjecting the soluble fraction obtained from lysis to filtration to reduce the content of molecules smaller than 30 kDa, and optionally drying the solution obtained from filtration. The present invention further relates to a yeast protein concentrate obtainable by the method of the invention. The yeast protein concentrate comprises a high amount of proteins which are still folded and are therefore capable of aggregation to form a solid protein matrix upon heating. In addition, the yeast protein concentrate of the invention will be of unobtrusive taste and is therefore particularly suited for use in the preparation of food items, such as meat substitute products.