The brand is owned by GOOD NATURE STATION, a multi-purpose commercial facility in Kyoto operated by BIOSTYLE Co Ltd, which is a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Keihan Group.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Launched on January 29, the Thinned Apple Madeleines are a new addition to its GOOD CACAO series, a range of products made using upcycled cacao husks (outer shell of cocoa beans) that are often overlooked as a by-product of the chocolate-making process.
According to the company, cocoa husk makes up about 30% of the entire cocoa bean, and has a soothing aroma and robust flavour.
Fruit thinning involves removing some fruit from a tree so that the remaining fruit can grow bigger and healthier to bring about a good harvest.
The thinned apples used for the madeleines are sourced from Hirosaki, Japan’s top apple producer. Apples from the city are known for their balance of sweetness and acidity with a firm texture and juiciness.
The freshness and slight astringency of these thinned apples, which would normally be discarded, are complemented by the richness of cacao, with its “gentle aroma” pairing well with and accentuating the taste of Japanese tea.
“Cacao husk powder is kneaded into the dough, further enhancing the richness of the madeleines. In addition to eliminating food waste, we believe that purchasing whole cacao beans leads to a better food cycle,” the firm said.
This product is the result of a collaboration between GOOD NATURE STATION and Ryukoku University, which began in December 2023.
“75% of the annual work time [in the apple orchard] is spent discarding the leaves, branches, and thin fruit. In order to turn this time into valuable manufacturing, we began cooperating with Ryukoku University’s Fujioka Seminar on product development, including conducting surveys with regard to planning and promoting the product.”
The university previously researched and worked with other companies on the utilisation of unused resources, such as branches and stems of budo sansho (Japanese grape-like pepper), and mandarin peels.
Extended shelf life
The “light and easy-to-eat” texture of the madeleines are attributed to the addition of whey from Miyama milk.
“Whey is the liquid residue of yoghurt and cheese production. It used to be thrown away, but it has been attracting attention as a low-fat, high-protein ingredient in recent times. Using whey in baked goods gives them a moist and fluffy texture.”
Packaged in cans, the madeleines are said to be able to be “stored for a long time”.
“Baked goods typically have a short shelf life, which often leads to wastage. By packaging our madeleines in cans, their shelf life can be extended to 12 months. This helps reduce food waste and is thus more environmentally friendly.
“Consumers can enjoy the fresh taste at any time, so the product is also recommended as a food stockpile. Furthermore, the Japanese-style packaging design blends in well with tea canisters, making it a perfect gift or souvenir.”
The Thinned Apple Madeleines are available at the GOOD NATURE MARKET store and GOOD NATURE STATION’s official online shop.
