Certified
Documented to spec.
USDA Organic
Non-GMO Project
OU Kosher
ISO
ISO 22000
GF
Gluten-Free
NSF
NSF Contents
GMP
GMP
HACCP
HACCP
Single-origin Lupinus mutabilis, supplied to manufacturers in three protein grades, with the density, solubility, and clean label your formulation needs.
Chocho is the name this seed has carried in Ecuador for generations. Botanically it is Lupinus mutabilis, the Andean lupin. The Kichwa farming communities of the highlands grew it, debittered it, and built meals around it long before anyone measured it as a protein.
We kept the name the seed already had, rather than inventing one for a spec sheet.
Chocho carries far more protein in the raw seed than soy or other pulses, so it reaches high-protein grades with less processing.
A single origin, fractionated to three protein loads. Each grade is named for what it is and the job it does.
Debittered, lightly defatted whole-seed flour. Keeps the seed's fiber and the cleanest label of the three.
A defatted concentrate that balances protein load with functionality. The versatile workhorse grade.
De-oiled and de-fibered for the highest protein load, with strong solubility and emulsification.
CF-52 ships today, tested on the latest Eurofins COA. PC-60 and HC-80 are target specs reached by defatting and removing fiber.
| CF-52Chocho Flour | PC-60Concentrate | HC-80High-Concentrate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 52% | 60% | 80% |
| Total fat | 23% | ~11% | ~6% |
| Dietary fiber | 18% | ~21% | ~4% |
| Moisture | 4.2% | <6% | <6% |
| Processing | Debittered whole-seed, lightly defatted | Defatted | Defatted, most fiber removed |
| Best for | Bakery, snacks, pasta | Bars, RTD, dairy & meat alt | Sports, clinical, beverages |
| Basis | As tested | Target spec | Target spec |
CF-52 reflects the latest Eurofins COA (CPP5LBPC) and varies by lot. PC-60 and HC-80 are target specs, confirmed per lot. Full panels, including amino acid, microbiological, and contaminant results, available on request.
Each grade is milled for how it will be used, from clear ready-to-drink protein to dense bakery and meat alternatives. One origin behind all of them.
Disperses into ready-to-drink protein, shakes, and lattes, with solubility above 90% so it stays in suspension.
The highest protein load of the three grades, with a complete amino acid profile, for recovery powders and performance blends.
Adds protein and bite to bars, cookies, and extruded snacks while holding a clean, single-ingredient label.
Whole-seed flour brings fiber and a mild, nutty base to breads, tortillas, and pasta.
Emulsifies and binds water to build body and texture in plant-based yogurts, spreads, and patties.
A digestible, lectin-free protein base for meal-replacement powders and sensitive formulations.
One of the most studied Andean crops. The peer-reviewed findings behind chocho, and how every lot is verified.
Among cultivated lupins, chocho carries the most protein, roughly 41 to 53 percent of the dry seed, with a complete amino acid profile. Methionine is first-limiting.
Lupin protein concentrates show solubility above 90 percent, with strong water binding, emulsifying, and foaming, the functional behavior formulators rely on.
In phase II trials, chocho lowered blood glucose and insulin in people with elevated fasting glucose. The studied component is the seed protein gamma-conglutin.
The seed's native oil is mostly unsaturated, and lupin protein has been linked in the literature to healthy cholesterol levels.
Beyond protein, the seed carries polyphenols, phytosterols, and bioactive peptides, plus prebiotic fiber linked to beneficial gut bacteria.
A nitrogen-fixing legume, chocho returns nitrogen to the soil and thrives on marginal, high-altitude land with low inputs.
Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. (2016) · Nutr. Hosp. (2012) · Br. J. Nutr. (2012) · J. Food Compos. Anal. (2021) · Front. Plant Sci. (2019) · Plant J. (2024). Full citations on request.
Summaries of peer-reviewed research on the seed and on lupin protein, for technical context, not health claims for any finished product. Buyers substantiate the claims they make in their market.
The essentials on the ingredient, the grades, sourcing, and testing.
Chocho is the Ecuadorian name for Lupinus mutabilis, the Andean lupin, a high-protein legume grown in the highlands of Ecuador. The Kichwa farming communities of the Andes have grown and debittered it for generations. As a raw material it carries roughly 41 to 53 percent protein in the whole seed, with a complete amino acid profile.
Chocho is supplied in three grades from a single origin: CF-52, a debittered whole-seed flour at about 52 percent protein; PC-60, a defatted concentrate at about 60 percent; and HC-80, a high-concentrate at about 80 percent for the highest protein load.
Every grade comes from one origin in the Ecuadorian Andes, grown at altitude by Kichwa farming communities. There is no broker between the field and the manufacturer.
Every lot is third-party tested at Eurofins before it ships, with a Certificate of Analysis on each delivery. Lead measures below 0.010 mg/kg, under 0.38 mcg per serving. Pesticides and a 16-compound PFAS panel report not-detected at the limit of quantification, and glyphosate is below 0.01 mg/kg. Quinolizidine alkaloids are reduced below the accepted food-safety limit through controlled debittering.
Chocho protein is USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, OU Kosher, Gluten-Free, and NSF Contents Certified, produced under ISO 22000, GMP, and HACCP systems. It contains lupin and is free from soy, dairy, egg, and wheat.
For bulk supply, chocho ships in 1,000 kg food-grade supersacks, one per pallet. Foodservice formats include 15 kg multi-wall boxes and smaller pouches. Shelf life is 24 months stored cool and dry. Alternative formats, such as 25 kg paper sacks, are available on request.
Lupin is a recognized allergen in the EU and UK and must be declared on labels in those markets. Buyers are responsible for confirming allergen labeling and regulatory status, including any novel food requirements, for the markets they sell into.
Request a sample to evaluate any of the three grades on your bench. Each delivery ships with a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis, and pricing is quoted by grade and volume.
Chocho has been grown in the Ecuadorian Andes for thousands of years. Every grade traces back to Kichwa farming communities around Cayambe, who grow it near 11,000 feet and debitter it with methods passed down for generations.
Sourcing directly from these communities, with no broker in between, keeps more of the value with the people who steward the crop and the land it grows on.
One origin, three grades, a sample on your bench, and a Certificate of Analysis on every lot.
info@chocho.com