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Start-up Greenforce
“Vegan egg” – can it really taste good?
What does a vegan egg actually taste like?
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Recreating the consistency and taste of scrambled eggs without any animal protein is one of the trickiest tasks in the food sector. The start-up Greenforce now seems to have solved the problem. But how does their vegan scrambled egg actually taste? We did the test.
The Munich Start-up Greenforce you have achieved the impossible: you have separated the egg from the hen. It took over 300 attempts and tests to copy the plant-based egg to the animal one. The bestseller so far is the “Easy to mix” powder, which has to be mixed with water. The powder replaces ten eggs and costs around 3.99 euros for 100 grams. For Easter, the “vegan egg” is now also available in liquid form. The liquid should be equivalent to six real eggs. Both mixtures are suitable for scrambled eggs or omelets. The basis of the whole thing is the broad bean. But can it really compete with animal protein in terms of taste, texture and appearance? We did the test.
What is inside?
The “vegan egg” is high in protein, low in fat, without soy and gluten. It also comes without flavor enhancers and without preservatives. Unlike animal eggs, the vegetable counterpart contains no cholesterol, no antibiotics and is low in saturated fatty acids. But it is rich in vitamin B12. The product is based on broad bean protein. The legume is grown in our home.
How do you prepare the vegan egg?
For the equivalent of 10 eggs, mix the egg mix (100 g) with 500 ml water. Mix everything together to form a smooth batter. The dough is then placed in a coated pan with a little fat. After all, the vegetable egg is prepared in exactly the same way as a conventional chicken egg. You can season the “vegan scrambled eggs” afterwards. But be careful: the mass is already very salty.
How does the plant egg taste?
This is what it looks like, the “vegan scrambled eggs” from the Munich start-up Greenforce
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First of all, the smell: the Pulverei actually has a small note of sulphur. One could almost think that it is a boiled egg that has been lying around for a few days. The powder quickly becomes thick when stirred, almost mushy. The consistency will not change anymore either: it remains rather sticky. Frying gives the vegetable egg a more intense yellow note. As it cools, the consistency will firm up a bit.
Let’s get to the taste: If you expect egg taste here, you will be disappointed. At first you only taste salt, the broad bean flavor comes through very subtly. The vegan egg is therefore irrelevant in terms of taste, so you should not buy the product.
Conclusion:
For those on a plant-based diet, Greenforce Powdered Egg is a good substitute. From a purely nutritional point of view, it is rich in proteins and rich in vitamin B12, which often has to be supplemented, especially by vegans. From a purely taste point of view, the “vegan egg” is not an adequate substitute for those who also eat animal products. You can eat it, but you don’t have to and you’ll be happier with a real scrambled egg at the end.