The number of people eating vegan food is increasing. On the other hand, there are also a growing number of problems with vegan foods, such as additives added during manufacturing and a lack of amino acids and vitamins. 

▲ Viroute / CEO Taewook Huh

Excellence of water lentil

Viroute is the first company in Korea to develop itprot, a vegan protein bar, utilizing water lentil grown in smart farms. Water lentils, also known as duckweed, are an aquatic plant that is so nutritious and high in protein that it’s often referred to as the lentil of the water. It is quite high in protein, reaching 37% protein by weight when dried, and has twice the calcium and six times the iron of anchovies by weight. Many plant-based protein sources used in vegan diets are lacking in B vitamins, but water lentils make up for this by also containing vitamin B12. There are more than 30 species of water lentils worldwide, and in Korea, Spirodela Polyrhiza, also known as duckweed, and Wolffia Arrhiza, also known as rootless watermeal, are used. Currently, Viroute is researching the cultivation of these two varieties of water lentils and is introducing them to the Korean market for the first time with various product developments.

itprot, the vegan protein bar!

Using water lanteil, Viroute succeeded in developing a vegan protein bar and named itprot. Instead of the puffy taste of protein or the hard texture of too many nuts, itprot has a moist, fudgy, brownie-like texture that reduces the artificial taste of protein. This makes itprot easy for first-time protein or vegan eaters to enjoy. itprot vegan protein bars are perfect for everyone from busy office workers who don’t have time for breakfast to students who need protein during their growth spurts, especially when they’re working out and need more protein.