Barry Callebaut’s Van Houten brand devises first powdered ruby chocolate drink
Barry Callebaut’s cocoa brand Van Houten has unveiled its latest innovation in becoming the first business to introduce a powdered chocolate drink made from ruby chocolate, reports Neill Barston.
According to the company, it will be delivered to the hospitality sector, specifically baristas and coffee bars – almost 200 years after its revolutionary invention of the cacao press.
The Van Houten brand has been under the ownership of Barry Callebaut since 1998, and identified its latest product development as a natural extension to the ruby chocolate segment – which was first released in 2017 and has gone on to be used around the world, most notably in KitKats, in additional to a number of other specialist confectionery series.
“We are proud to be the first to offer a ruby chocolate drink powder. This chocolate drink has all the flavor and color of ruby chocolate and the powder dissolves very easily in any type of milk, in hot or cold applications. Ruby chocolate drink powder will help us to unlock the beverage category for Horeca customers,” explained Freek van der Knaap, Vice-President Vending & Beverages EMEA.
The story of Van Houten begins in 1806 when Casparus Van Houten started a coffee & spice shop in Amsterdam. In 1828 he invented the cocoa press, which kickstarted the industrialization of cocoa. His son, Coenraad Van Houten, invented the alkalisation method in 1846. It was a further improvement, allowing the cocoa powder to mix more easily with water.
The two inventions by father and son Van Houten paved the way for cocoa to become a popular indulgence in the 19th century. About 200 years later, still famous for premium quality, Van Houten opens a new chapter with the launch of the ruby chocolate powder drink that goes hand in hand with an entirely updated packaging design.
Like all Van Houten products ruby chocolate drink powder is made with 100% sustainably sourced cocoa beans. The next generation of consumers cares deeply about the origin and processing of their foods and drinks. This is why Van Houten partners with Cocoa Horizons, the company’s impact-driven program, established in 2015, focusing on cocoa farmer prosperity by creating self-sustaining communities that protect nature and children.
