A New Plant-Based Ice Cream Has A Totally Unexpected Ingredient

Correction 6/11/22: A previous version of this article stated that this ice cream doesn't melt and would be available at a national retailer. The ice cream does need to be frozen, and retailer availability is not yet known.

Summer has arrived with ice cream season in tow — and in 2022, ice cream season means vegan offerings, including frozen treats from oat milk giant Oatly and animal product-free artisanal gourmet ice cream flavors from Van Leeuwen.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for dairy-free ice cream — or, do we? Taly Nechushtan, CEO of InnovoPro, says the largest obstacle for plant-based food manufacturers is overcoming pre-existing consumer ideas about quality. It's true that plant-based alternatives have been falling flat with many consumers, who have gotten burned by disappointing products that don't always deliver on taste and texture. "There was some greenwashing in the beginning," Nechustan says, via FoodDive. "But right now I think the [food] companies are more aligned on the main goal, which is creating new products that are not only plant based but also are healthy and tasty." 

Now, or rather later this summer, a new plant-based ice cream could be coming your way — and it's made with a surprising ingredient. 

InnovoPro is partnering with Milkadamia (which makes non-dairy milk products from macadamia nuts) to make this new supposed-miracle. The secret, InnovoPro says, is its exclusive chickpea protein called CP-PRO 70 — but the company has yet to disclose how the science behind it actually works. InnovoPro says CP-PRO 70 has emulsifying properties that create a firm texture that remains stable during its shelf life. The protein also boasts water and fat binding abilities that naturally create a rich taste experience. These qualities make CP-PRO 70 a seemingly perfect candidate for the new plant-based ice cream.