Lypid, an alt fat startup based in Taiwan and the US, has launched what it claims to be the world’s first plant-based pork belly.
The meat alternative is made with PhytoFat, Lypid’s patented technology that creates animal-like fats using plant oils. The fat is combined with fibrous plant-based protein to achieve the same taste and texture as conventional pork belly.
The product is said to cook just like pork, and was recently served at the Future Food-Tech Summit in San Francisco. It is now being tested by chefs in the Bay Area, and has also debuted in Taiwan at Taipei-based vegan diner Baganhood.
Lypid said it chose to develop a pork alternative because pork is one of the most popular types of meat worldwide, with few high-quality alternatives currently available. In future, the company may add to the range with plant-based lardons and proscuitto.
Plant-based whole cuts
Last year, Lypid told vegconomist that it aims to “elevate the sensory experiences of alternative proteins”. In March 2022, the company raised $4 million in seed funding to take production to an industrial scale.
Five months later, Lypid partnered with Taiwan’s largest coffee chain, Louisa Coffee, to offer plant-based burgers made with PhytoFat. The patties are served in sandwiches, rice burgers, muffins, and bagels.
Now, Lypid has turned its attention to whole cuts, targeting a gap in the market.
“Our PhytoFat™-filled pork belly provides premium taste and texture giving consumers an unparalleled meat-free sensory experience,” said Lypid on LinkedIn. “Ever since we delivered elevated meat alternatives utilizing our proprietary fat ingredient PhytoFat™, we’ve seen positive feedback on alt proteins. With our technology, we strive to make plant-based meat an appetizing sensory experience and be more than an alternative to all.”
