Callebaut release its ‘NXT’ innovation of free-from chocolates for chefs

‘Callebaut NXT’ are 100% plant-based dark and milky tasting chocolates, guaranteed free from any traces of dairy – but with the same great taste and quality as traditional chocolate.

The group has also launched its 'NXT' online platform, offering know-how, guides and tested recipes for vegan and plant-based chocolate delights.

It said the platform will aid ambitious artisans to create premium chocolate delights for lovers of vegan, plant-based and allergens-free foods without compromising on taste, snap, smell or shine.

Dutch pastry chef and vegan expert Marike van Beurden said: “This innovation completely redefines and revolutionises the commercial use of chocolate in the vegan kitchen. NXT provides artisans and chefs a solution to the growing demand for plant-based foods. It’s dairy-free and vegan chocolate that tastes like Callebaut chocolate, with the same level of indulgence… and that simply works like what you’d expect from Callebaut​.”

Taste and indulgence

Unlike vegan chocolates, Callebaut’s NXT dairy-free range claims to contain “no traces of dairy whatsoever​” and is a total solution to chefs when creating dairy-free, lactose-free, vegan and plant-based delights – without any compromise on taste and indulgence.

To achieve the creamy mouthfeel and flavour, Callebaut extracted a 100% vegetal milk-alternative from the chufa plant, which adds a fully creamy texture and neutral taste to chocolate recipes.

In addition, the plant-based alternative is better for the environment. Compared to cow’s milk, growing m lk from chufa has considerably lower carbon emissions: 0.3 CO2e/kg compared to 10.68 CO2e/kg for skimmed powder milk.

Callebaut’s NXT chocolates are also Cocoa Horizons certified, where the focus is on improving the livelihood of farmers, sustainable cocoa practices and eliminating child labour from the supply chain.

Xuan-Lai Huynh, Global Brand Leader of Callebaut, said: “After our infamous Ruby launch and the conversion to traceable cocoa for all our chocolates, we’re very proud to present Callebaut NXT dairy-free.​

“It took Callebaut experts and R&D teams three years to bring this unique innovation to life. What makes it even more special is the whole concept is being fuelled not only by our R&D team, but even more by passionate chefs and artisans. Creating vegan, plant-based and dairy-free recipes stirs up all the know-how chefs have been applying for generations.​

"For many, it’s like starting over. NXT will help ambitious chefs to re-invent the traditional pastry and chocolate recipes and elevate dairy-free, vegan, plant-based chocolate delights from a ‘niche’ segment to a global movement.​”

PRODUCT DETAILS

Callebaut NXT Dairy-Free M lk​

Min. Cocoa Solids: 42.3%

Available in 10kg and 2.5kg packs

Shelf life: 18 months

Callebaut NXT Dairy-Free Dark​

Min. Cocoa Solids: 55.7%

Available in 10kg and 2.5kg packs

Shelf life: 24 months