Once upon a time, coffee was a thing you simply drank because you needed some extra ‘get sh*t done’ juice—or because you liked the taste. But in 2018, the beverage has become less of a recreational beverage and more of a superfood vessel. In a time where we’re all far more proactive about our wellness, we now want more from our daily cuppa. Within the last year, various coffee brands with added superfood ingredients have emerged—including everything from collagen to turmeric and brain-boosting nootropics. At the same time, we’ve also seen health elixirs like turmeric, beetroot and matcha lattes take centre stage.
But as much as we love Insta-worthy, coloured beverages, we’re not sure whether we’re going to be able to stomach the next latte trend. Yep, it looks like broccoli lattes are about to take the Aussie cafe scene by storm! A broccoli powder has been created by scientists at Hort Innovation and the CSIRO from imperfect-looking veggies that would otherwise be thrown out. The broccoli powder is made from 100% broccoli, maintaining all the nutritional goodness you normally get from the cruciferous veggie, like fibre, protein and phytochemicals.
Broccoli Lattes Are The Latest Healthy Coffee Trend—Would You Try It?
We've officially reached peak hipster.
The powder was recently trialled at Commonfolk, a sustainable coffee shop in Mornington, Victoria. According to an article from Business Insider, the green latte had mixed reviews and TBH, we’re not surprised. While we can’t imagine giving up our beloved lattes in favour of a bitter, green drink, we love the idea of using broccoli that would usually be discarded due to simply being ‘ugly.’ It’s definitely a step in the right direction to creating a healthier, zero waste society.
“With a rising trend in healthy eating across the board, Australian growers are always looking at ways to diversify their products and cut waste while meeting consumer demand,” said Hort Innovation chief executive John Lloyd. “Research shows the average Australian is still not eating the recommended daily intake of vegetables a day, and options such as broccoli powder will help address this.”
Thankfully, you’ll still be able to reap the benefits from the nutritious powder, even if you’re not keen on the idea of broccoli lattes. The powder will be able to be mixed into smoothies, soups and baking for a nutritional boost and it’s even a key ingredient in a couple of packaged, plant-based snacks that are set to be released soon. We could also see it being pretty useful for helping parents sneak veggies into their kids’ meals!
