Kabochamilk is a new milk alternative made from New Zealand grown kabocha buttercup squash - it's fully vegan and free from artificial flavours and colours. Photo / Supplied
Kabochamilk is a new milk alternative made from New Zealand grown kabocha buttercup squash - it's fully vegan and free from artificial flavours and colours. Photo / Supplied
There's been sheep's milk, goat's milk, soy milk, almond milk, oat milk and even avocado milk. Now there's pumpkin milk.
Hawke's Bay squash grower Shane Newman has partnered with Japanese celebrity chef Sachie Nomura – the brains behind avocado milk - to bring a new plant milk to the marketmade from New Zealand grown kabocha buttercup squash.
Kabochamilk is fully vegan, free from artificial flavours and colours, and can be used as an everyday "milk alternative" product.
There was none available for Hawke's Bay Today to try on Monday, but according to Newman it tastes outstanding too.
"Our Kabochamilk uses the unexported tag-3 fruit, creating a high-value, sustainable and exportable product from produce that would otherwise go to waste.
"It's immensely satisfying to have hit upon a new opportunity for New Zealand's kabocha industry."
Shane Newman, one of Hawke's Bay's largest squash growers, has partnered with Japanese celebrity chef Sachie Nomura to bring you Kabochamilk, made from a buttercup squash. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand is one of the largest exporters of kabocha to Japan and Korea, however, about 10-15 per cent of kabocha grown in New Zealand is currently used for stock food.
The new plant-based milk is being marketed primarily to consumers in Japan, Korea, China and beyond, where Newman said kabocha is a staple and regular healthy part of the Japanese and East Asian diet.
"There are no other comparable kabocha milks in any of those markets, and it became a really exciting opportunity to fill that gap," he said.
The story of the kabocha being grown and produced in New Zealand is an important part of the branding, he said.
"New Zealand growers already have very high credibility among consumers, so we emphasise the product's origin story in our marketing.
"The market feedback already has been extremely positive, from product concept, to taste, to brand."
Kabochamilk has already gained access to a large distribution network of around 5000 Asian retailers, supermarkets and convenience store chains, Newman said.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has contributed more than $95,000 to the development of Kabochamilk through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. Photo / Supplied
"Our products are already available in Tsurya and Harashin, high-end chain stores in Japan, which is a major coup.
"While all our product will go offshore, we're using local farmers, local R&D, and local manufacturers, packaging, and domestic logistics companies – so the benefits to the New Zealand economy are considerable."
The Ministry for Primary Industries has contributed more than $95,000 through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) to help boost efforts to formulate, manufacture, and market a shelf-stable kabocha milk recipe.
Investment programmes director Steve Penno said Kabocha Milk Co provided valuable employment opportunities in New Zealand's food sector which would only grow as the as the company expands.
"This product promotes a positive story about New Zealand grown products, which is invaluable for our reputation.
"It's also an innovative way to extract greater yield and value for our growers from surplus produce."
