Flavor Without Compromise: The Faba Protein Story
A university partner-led blinded sensory study shows PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate outperforms pea protein—and matches whey—on taste.
Almost every plant protein supplier claims neutral flavor. GPC is the one that proved it. PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate scored significantly lower than pea protein for off-flavor, beany notes, and bitterness—and performed on par with whey—in a third-party blinded study. For formulators looking to boost protein and fiber without negatively impacting the flavor profile, faba bean protein is the answer.
Protein Is Booming. Taste Is Still the Barrier.
Protein has gone mainstream. Three in five global consumers are actively adding more of it to their diets, and new food and beverage launches featuring protein alongside a health claim are up more than 32%. Bean-based snacks alone have seen an 18% surge as consumers look to legumes for everyday nutrition. (Innova, 2026)
The demand is real. The formulation challenge is too.
Taste remains the number one barrier to plant protein adoption. A third of consumers say taste and texture stop them from buying more plant-based products. (Innova, 2026) Formulators are familiar with the challenge of overcoming beany, bitter, chalky notes and a lingering aftertaste. These off-notes limit inclusion rates, hurt repeat purchases, and have made it difficult to create a plant-based protein that consumers actually enjoy.
Faba bean protein helps overcome a common barrier to plant-based protein adoption. Based on actual consumer feedback, PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate addresses flavor concerns and provides an appealing alternative to other plant proteins that often present sensory challenges.
The Problem With Today's Plant Proteins
Formulators working with plant proteins face a familiar set of tradeoffs. The good news is that faba bean protein was created to solve them.
The Flavor Problem
Beany, bitter, and earthy off-notes are among the most common challenges in plant-based protein formulations. These unwanted flavors can limit protein inclusion, forcing manufacturers to compromise between nutritional targets and consumer acceptance. Creating great-tasting, protein-rich products starts with choosing the right ingredient.
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate delivers a mild flavor profile that integrates cleanly across applications without flavor trade-offs.
The Processing Problem
Many plant protein isolates rely on chemical or solvent extraction to achieve high protein content. Issues with clean-label protein positioning can arise, creating a challenge today’s brands can’t afford to ignore. Consumers are reading labels, and "minimally processed" is no longer optional—it's expected.
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is produced using physical processing methods without chemical extraction or solvents, delivering a clean, simple ingredient story consumers can trust.
The Supply Problem
Overseas protein sourcing increases lead times and supply chain risk. This can be a challenge for brands meeting rising demands.
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is produced from North American grown faba beans, providing a reliable, traceable plant-based protein source without the logistical uncertainty of overseas supply. The result is shorter lead times, improved supply continuity, and a domestic sourcing story your brand can confidently stand behind.
The Allergen Problem
Soy is still one of the most widely used plant proteins. It's also one of the top nine allergens, which may limit its use for some manufacturers. For brands targeting broader audiences or building allergen-friendly lines, a non-soy protein alternative is more than just “nice to have.”
As a pea protein alternative and soy-free option, PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is plant based, gluten free, and allergen friendly. It also delivers both protein and fiber, giving formulators a nutritional two-for-one from a single ingredient.
A Closer Look at PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate
What is faba protein concentrate? It's a plant-based protein derived from the faba bean, minimally processed to increase the protein and fiber content while maintaining a mild flavor.
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate helps overcome common plant protein formulation challenges. Unlike highly processed isolates, it retains naturally-occurring fiber through a mechanical concentration process.
Here are a few quick facts about PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate:
- Minimally processed — no chemical extraction, no solvents
- Mild flavor — won’t compete with target flavor profile
- North American supply — reliable, traceable sourcing
- Plant-based and allergen-friendly — fits a broad range of dietary needs
- Nutrient-dense — delivers both protein and fiber in one ingredient
Composition and Nutrition Facts
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is nutrient dense and contributes protein and fiber in a single ingredient:
| Component | % |
|---|---|
| Protein | 58% (60-70% dry basis) |
| Fiber | 15% |
| Other carbohydrates | 12% |
| Moisture | 6% |
| Ash | 5% |
| Fat | 4% |
For formulators, the combination of protein and fiber means the potential for two nutrition claims from a single ingredient.
- Gluten free: Yes
- Allergen friendly: Yes
- Plant based: Yes
The Evidence: A Blinded Sensory Study
Every plant protein supplier claims a neutral flavor. GPC put that claim to the test.
To get an objective read on how PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate actually performs, GPC commissioned a blinded sensory study with a university research partner. One hundred participants evaluated muffins made with our faba protein concentrate against muffins made with pea protein concentrate and whey protein concentrate. Standard hedonic and intensity scales were used for liking and flavor attributes and a full statistical analysis was applied to the results.
Faba bean protein vs. pea protein: a clear win on taste.
Against pea protein concentrate, PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate scored significantly higher (p<0.05) on flavor liking, aftertaste liking and overall liking. It also scored significantly lower (p<0.05) in off-flavor intensity, beany flavor, and bitter taste—the exact attributes that have kept formulators wary of pea protein. For applications currently built on pea protein concentrate, this is a clear flavor upgrade. (GPC Proprietary Research, 2025)
On par performance with whey protein concentrate.
Compared to whey protein concentrate, PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in beany intensity, off-flavor intensity, bitterness intensity, aftertaste liking, or flavor liking. It scored significantly higher (p<0.05) in texture liking. It’s clear that faba bean plant protein holds its own against an animal-based benchmark, not just other plant proteins. (GPC Proprietary Research, 2025)
The evidence-based opportunity.
Consumers are eager to explore new protein options, with 81% of participants saying they were open or extremely open to trying new protein sources. Despite that enthusiasm, awareness of faba bean protein remains relatively low. Two-thirds of participants were unfamiliar with it prior to the study, but very few viewed it negatively, suggesting a strong opportunity for broader adoption.
Participants didn't hold back in their own words. Panelists described muffins made with faba protein as pleasantly sweet and mild, with a nice chew and moist texture, and several noted they would purchase the product regularly.
By contrast, feedback on the muffins containing pea protein included descriptions like bitter, dry, earthy, or musty, with several mentioning that it was their least favorite of the samples.
(GPC Proprietary Research, 2025)
Where PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate Works
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate makes it easy to add protein across a wide range of everyday foods, with minimal disruption to existing formulas. GPC has investigated and published trial formulas for several faba protein applications, including:
- Bagels
- Pizza crust
- Muffins
- Crackers
- Extruded snacks and crisps
Featured application: high-protein naan.
To show what's possible with a single ingredient change, GPC developed a high-protein naan featuring PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate. The result: 14 grams of protein per serving, or 27% of the daily value, which is enough for a high-protein claim. This is 8 grams of protein more than a control naan without faba protein. PURE-TEIN™ also provides 3 grams of fiber per serving, enough to achieve a good source of fiber claim while still maintaining a soft chewy texture consumers expect.
| Ingredient | % by weight |
|---|---|
| PURE-TEIN™ FB160-PRO Faba Protein Concentrate | 30.61 |
| Water | 28.88 |
| Bread flour | 22.25 |
| Butter | 6.12 |
| Sugar | 4.40 |
| Vital wheat gluten | 4.08 |
| PURE-PULSE™ MB100 egg replacement blend | 1.47 |
| Salt | 0.75 |
| Instant yeast | 0.74 |
| Mono & diglycerides | 0.70 |
| Total | 100.00 |
This formula shows that faba bean protein integrates into baking applications with minimal formula changes, making it easy for product development teams to incorporate and increase protein.
Why GPC?
Choosing a new protein ingredient often comes with questions: Will it perform? Will it scale? Will it have label appeal? GPC is prepared to answer all of these questions and more—with proven clean-label ingredients, a reliable plant-based protein supply, and a technical team that’s here to help.
80+ Years of Specialty Ingredient Expertise
GPC has been a trusted specialty ingredient manufacturer for more than 80 years. Over that time, we've developed a deep understanding of what food formulators actually need, and a consistent ability to deliver it. Our commitment to innovation led us to introduce PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate to the market.
A Technical Team Built for Formulation
Our dedicated team of food scientists and application specialists doesn't just supply ingredients, they help you use them. From early-stage trials to scaling up, GPC's Technical Solutions team is available to support your development process every step of the way.
A Clean Label You Can Stand Behind
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is produced using a proprietary dry process without chemicals or solvents. That means a simpler ingredient story and a cleaner label. GPC also holds Non-GMO Project Verification and other certifications to support your label claims.
North American Supply, Built to Scale
Overseas protein sourcing means long lead times and supply uncertainty. Our faba protein concentrate is produced from North American grown faba beans, providing a traceable, reliable supply that can scale with your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is faba protein?
Faba protein is a plant-based protein derived from faba beans. PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is a nutritionally-dense, minimally-processed ingredient that retains dietary fiber along with protein.
Q: How does faba bean protein compare to pea protein?
In a university partner-led blinded sensory study, PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate scored significantly higher (p<0.05) than pea protein concentrate on flavor liking, aftertaste liking, and overall liking. It also had significantly lower (p<0.05) off-flavor, beany taste, and bitter intensity. (GPC Proprietary Research, 2025)
Q: Is faba protein gluten-free?
Yes. PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is gluten free and allergen friendly.
Q: How much protein can faba add to my product?
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate can help formulators easily achieve good and excellent protein claims across a range of applications. In GPC's high-protein naan example, a single formula change delivered 14 grams of protein per serving (8 grams more than a standard naan).
Q: Is faba protein minimally processed and clean label?
Yes. Our faba protein concentrate is produced using physical processing methods without the use of chemicals or solvents. The result is a simpler ingredient story and a label that's easier to stand behind. GPC also offers Non-GMO Project Verified Certification and other certifications to support your label claims.
Q: Where is GPC's faba protein sourced?
PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate is produced in North America, offering formulators a traceable, reliable protein source without the lead times and supply uncertainty of overseas sourcing.
Ready to Formulate with PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate?
Getting started with a new protein ingredient doesn't have to be complicated. Here's our simple process:
Discuss your challenge. Tell us what you're working on. Our Technical Solutions team will help you understand how our faba protein concentrate fits your formulation goals.
Test and evaluate. Request a sample of PURE-TEIN™ Faba Protein Concentrate and put it through its paces in your own trials.
Scale with confidence. When you're ready to move forward, our North American supply is built to grow with you.
