Food-grade pulse protein concentrates prepared from various pulses and flours derived therefrom are provided. Also provided are method of making the concentrates and beverages and foodstuffs that include the concentrates. The pulse protein concentrates are characterized by a high protein content, high digestibility, and complete essential amino acid profile.

The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid food compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to liquid food compositions that contain no added sugar and that can be used as dairy alternatives. Dairy alternatives usually do not comprise dairy proteins. For example, such dairy alternatives may comprise alternative protein sources. The liquid food composition of the present invention contains pea protein. Hence, the present invention relates, for example, to a liquid food composition comprising pea protein isolate, sunflower oil, gellan gum, tribasic calcium phosphate, inulin, dipotassium phosphate, and water, wherein the liquid food composition does not comprise dairy proteins or added sugar.

The present invention relates generally to the field of liquid food compositions. In particular, the present invention relates to liquid food compositions that contain no added sugar and that can be used as dairy alternatives. Dairy alternatives usually do not comprise dairy proteins. For example, such dairy alternatives may comprise alternative protein sources. The liquid food composition of the present invention contains pea protein. Hence, the present invention relates, for example, to a liquid food composition comprising pea protein isolate, sunflower oil, gellan gum, tribasic calcium phosphate, inulin, dipotassium phosphate, and water, wherein the liquid food composition does not comprise dairy proteins or added sugar.

The present invention provides plant-based dairy substitutes and methods thereof. Those substitutes may be a cheese substitute, a yogurt substitute, a coffee creamer substitute and more. The present invention discloses a plant cell culture, preferably, carrot cells, which expresses transgenic casein proteins. This unique casein-expressing culture is then transformed into a slurry, which serves as the platform for the production of the plant-based dairy substitutes. Furthermore, those dairy substitutes are highly nutritious, as they contain beneficial ingredients derived from the plant cells (such as beta-carotene) in addition to high protein (casein) content. The application of carrot cell slurry containing casein proteins to those dairy substitutes provides organoleptic and physicochemical properties enhanced or similar to conventional dairy products. The carrot cells expressing casein proteins can be conserved in a powder form, as the plant cells successfully encapsulate the casein proteins, thus protecting them from physicochemical conditions, such as spray drying.

A dry powder including an edible part and an inedible part of immature pulses is provided. The dry powder has a proportion of the inedible part to the edible part of immature pulses from 1 mass % to 200 mass % by dry mass, a moisture content of 20 mass % or less, brightness in a Munsell color system of 7 or more, chroma in the Munsell color system of 3 or more, and hue in the Munsell color system from 5Y to 10Y or from 0GY to 10GY. The dry powder also has a specific surface area per unit volume of dry powder particles before ultrasonication of 0.05 m.sup.2/mL or more, a standard deviation of particle size distribution of dry powder particles before ultrasonication of 200 μm or less, and a number average diameter of dry powder particles after ultrasonication of less than 30 μm.

A dry powder including an edible part and an inedible part of immature pulses is provided. The dry powder has a proportion of the inedible part to the edible part of immature pulses from 1 mass % to 200 mass % by dry mass, a moisture content of 20 mass % or less, brightness in a Munsell color system of 7 or more, chroma in the Munsell color system of 3 or more, and hue in the Munsell color system from 5Y to 10Y or from 0GY to 10GY. The dry powder also has a specific surface area per unit volume of dry powder particles before ultrasonication of 0.05 m.sup.2/mL or more, a standard deviation of particle size distribution of dry powder particles before ultrasonication of 200 μm or less, and a number average diameter of dry powder particles after ultrasonication of less than 30 μm.

A protein product, such as a beverage or the like, includes a mixture of water, a paste comprising protein, pH buffers, and a stabilizer. In particular, the protein product includes from about 40.00 wt. % to about 98.00 wt. % water, from about 0.50 wt. % to about 35.00 wt. % protein paste, from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.50 wt. % sodium bicarbonate, from about 0.30 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % calcium carbonate, and from about 0.10 wt. % to about 0.80 wt. % stabilizer. The pH of the protein product is from about 7.60 to about 8.40. The protein paste may be derived from peanuts processed at a heat load of greater than 3 and less than or equal to 2000.

The present invention relates to a vegan food composition comprising at least 30 wt % legume and at least 20 wt % non-legume seeds or non-legume nuts on a dry basis, wherein said composition comprises at least 5 wt % dietary fiber provided by the legume and at least 22 wt % protein provided by any one or more of said legume, non-legume seed, and non-legume nuts, and wherein the D90 particle size of said composition is less than 400 microns.

The present invention relates to a vegan food composition comprising at least 30 wt % legume and at least 20 wt % non-legume seeds or non-legume nuts on a dry basis, wherein said composition comprises at least 5 wt % dietary fiber provided by the legume and at least 22 wt % protein provided by any one or more of said legume, non-legume seed, and non-legume nuts, and wherein the D90 particle size of said composition is less than 400 microns.

An almond based dispersion including water; an almond butter base homogeneously dispersed in the water; and nisin derived from a non-dairy source of Lactococcus lactis that is homogeneously dissolved in the water. The dispersion has a shelf life of at least 28 days and up to 45 days when stored at 4° C., maintains a pH ranging from 6.1 to 7.0 while stored, and is satisfactory for human consumption.