Tag: Tasty Treat

Small villages can inspire innovation for the circular economy in cocoa production. Now an Oxford-based startup is working on a sustainable substitute to the cocoa bean. Sound familiar? This time rather than cell cultures the team is using the plant’s pod. First, the shells are chopped up and, using an age-old Japanese method, fermented with the help of fungi. The...

Changing style doesn’t have to mean hitting the shops. Buying second-hand clothing also saves money. Now a Vienna-based startup has developed an app, which allows charity retailers and vintage stores to upload their second-hand stock to selected platforms with greater efficiency. Just supply a photo, and an AI detects the shape and colour of the item to be sold,...

Analogue speakers have joined the digital world. Now, a startup in Chicago has developed a sensor which allows analogue watches to be converted into smartwatches. The 3mm thin disc is placed on the underside of the watch, attaching through special magnet-free micro-suction technology. Next, the sensor is connected to wearers’ smartphones via an app. Once in place, wearers can...

In the Netherlands, corn is a source of sustainable tiles. In California, however, a startup is using corn waste to create a super-absorbent and biodegradable material to replace the petrochemical liners in products like nappies and hygiene pads. The team developed special microorganisms to convert the corn’s sugar into a polymer, which can absorb as much liquid as materials...

Even jellyfish have culinary potential. But those undergoing radio- or chemotherapy often lose their sense of taste and smell. Enter a Swiss startup aiming to support those affected, in the process reducing the risk of malnutrition and helping cancer patients rediscover their love of food. An olfactory kit first establishes which aromas and scents patients can still perceive and...

Crispy cutlery and edible cups make a good snack for those on the go. But there are healthier options out there. A startup in the metropolitan area of Munich has taken a well-known high-protein, high-fibre meal and turned it into a drink. Its patent-pending process will see organic porridge turned into a liquid dish. Enzymes break down the starch...

Spirit production provides furniture in Scotland. And as another Scottish startup discovered, whisky by-products can also help reduce overfishing. The team uses distillery waste water to manufacture Omega-3s. Wild fish are known to be a rich source of the fatty acids, but they actually acquire them by eating algae. The team used the waste from whisky distillation (including barley)...

Chickpeas double as a coffee alternative. Capsule machines are increasingly used for a quick, authentic caffeine hit, with natural capsules helping reduce waste. But now a Munich-based startup has developed a compact new machine that makes do without them. Two levers make it a breeze for users. Push the horizontal one in and the grounds enter the portafilter. Compress...