Hello Tempayy: Bengaluru-Based Startup Vegolution Debuts Plant-Based Protein Food By Fermenting Soybeans

Bengaluru-based food startup Vegolution launches ready-to-eat tempeh products with the brand ‘Hello Tempayy’, developed from fermenting soybeans thus offering healthy and tasteful plant-based protein food for Indian consumers.

Vegolution was founded by Siddharth Ramasubramanian, who has a background in hospitality and foodservice, and Los Angeles-based Rajit Malhotra, a food and and wellness investor and entrepreneur, in an effort to provide tasty and healthy plant protein to the Indian market.

Tempayy (originally spelled as Tempeh or Tempe) is a centuries old soy product that is made by a natural culturing and fermentation technique that sets the non-GMO super beans into a cake form.

Using this as a foundation, Vegolution unveiled Hello Tempayy, prepared from super beans providing a delicious and nutritious source of vegetarian protein as well as an easy-to-cook dish that can be fused in multiple cooking styles.

The company claims that the Hello Tempayy products are gluten-free, dairy-free, low in saturated fats and carbohydrates, good for your gut as well as preservative-free.

In a press release seen by Green Queen, founder and CEO of Vegolution Siddharth Ramasubramanian, said that during their research, they realized that there aren’t products that can help meet the Indian market’s protein demand. “In-depth primary research has shown us that vegetarian Indian consumers crave variety and are usually unable to meet their daily protein requirement. Vegolution’s Hello Tempayy will offer vegetarians, fitness enthusiasts and people who want to make conscious food choices, a range of products suitable across meals and cuisines. More importantly, it will bring flavours and textures that fit the Indian taste profile. We are focused on encouraging people from all walks of life to build a healthy and enthusiastic relationship with food.”

Manufactured in a custom-built facility in Bengaluru, consumers can try the brand’s products in four ready-to-cook flavours: Natural Tempayy, Simply Sriracha Tempayy, Peppery Szechuan Chilli Tempayy, and Spiced Tawa Masala Tempayy.

In-depth primary research has shown us that vegetarian Indian consumers crave variety and are usually unable to meet their daily protein requirements. Vegolution’s Hello Tempayy will offer vegetarians, fitness enthusiasts and people who want to make conscious food choices, a range of products suitable across meals and cuisines. More importantly, it will bring flavours and textures that fit the Indian taste profile

Siddharth Ramasubramanian, Founder and CEO of Vegolution

A report shows that 73% of urban Indians are protein-deficient and a shocking 93% have no idea what their daily protein requirements should be.

With Indian vegetarians having poor levels of Vitamin B-12 and more than 50% of the women in India being iron deficient, Hello Tempayy’s products are fortified with Vitamin B-12 and iron to help the market meet their nutritional needs.

In an interview with Lifestyle Asia, Dr Sowmya Bharani, PhD (RD), Dietitian and CEO of NutriGENEus discusses the benefits of tempeh. “As a protein source, tempeh has 18.5 gms of protein per 100 gms. It has an amino acid score of 79. It is also a good source of PUFA (polyunsaturated amino acids) and is a moderate source of Omega-3 fatty acid. Tempeh is rich in manganese, copper, magnesium, and phosphorus too.

She added that tempeh helps gain muscle, reduces insulin spikes, is low in sodium and high in fiber, making it a good option for people with high blood pressure and further advised that tempeh should not be overcooked because that would reduce its bioavailability (body’s absorption of nutrients) and protein digestibility.

Research also shows that switching out meat for plant-based protein sources such as beans, lentils, and nuts could drastically reduce the effect of more than a decade of carbon emissions on the climate, and having a diet high in plant-based protein is associated with a lower risk of death from all causes.

Amid the rising plant-based food trend, several companies around India are beginning to launch plant-based offerings, for instance, Mumbai based startup Blue Tribe Foods launched plant-based ‘chicken’ nuggets, Domino’s Pizza, operated by foodservice giant Jubilant FoodWorks in India, debuted a pizza with plant-based meat toppings available across major cities and in November of last year, Upstablish Food Technologies, an Indian plant-based startup, under its brand Greenest, launched a range of high-protein plant-based alternatives to kebabs, the country’s first line of ‘hyper-realistic’ plant-based meats.

In a Smart Protein Summit hosted in October last year, the Good Food Institute India (GFI India) made several announcements such as the inclusion of a dedicated investment and advisory platform for Asian food techs, the launch of an India-focused alternative protein accelerator, and many more highlighting the increasing growth of the Indian alt protein industry.

Priced between INR₹130 to INR₹150 (approx. US$1.76 to US$2.04) for 200 gm. packs, the Hello Tempayy products are available for delivery only in Bengaluru through its website and on select e-commerce platforms.

Lead image courtesy of Hello Tempayy.