Media Release by Extracta
Extracta, an Australian manufacturer utilising agricultural waste like grape marc (skins and seeds), sugarcane husk and orange peel (after juicing) has produced its first products utilising grape marc in a consumer range of spice blends and baking mixes.
Rod Lewis, Extracta’s CEO, says that the new products to be marketed under the brand name Devine Connoisseur are just the start for Extracta which has plans to upcycle many types of agricultural waste.
“The new products will be available at several outlets in the Hunter Valley which makes sense because they contain Hunter grape skins and seeds which would otherwise have ended up in landfill. This saves winemakers money because they won’t have to pay to dispose of waste and benefits the environment by diverting agricultural surplus from landfill.
“There are other companies who use agricultural waste like grape marc, but unlike most others, we will be utilising 100 per cent of waste rather than just one element. We will also use the same factory to process other waste streams which gives us economies of scale,” said Lewis.
Extracta sees many other opportunities beyond extracting ingredients from the waste of grape marc, sugar cane and citrus including the waste from mangoes, avocadoes, stone fruits, watermelons, soy, berries, and more. There are significant export opportunities for many Extracta products and US agents are now involved.
Once Extracta is in full-scale production, the main focus will be on making wholesale products like sugarcane husk and pectin but as a prelude, the company has put together this consumer range of spice blends and baking mixes.
The Devine Connoisseur range will be sold via specialty retail outlets in the Hunter Valley including the two outlets of the Smelly Cheese Shop, Tintilla Estate and The Store Pokolbin.
The main ingredients used in these products are by-products of Extracta’s upcycled elements from grape marc that is being produced at Tamburlaine Winery.
There are five products in the range:
- The Hunter Dry Rub – Extracta’s upcycled and nutrient-dense red grape skins blended with native bush tomato, native pepper leaf and a range of other zinging flavours.
- The Seafood Spice blend – Based on Extracta’s nutrient-dense, zero-waste Chardonnay grape pomace that delivers a subtle sweetness, blended with Australian sea salt, native lemon myrtle and finger lime, and other flavours to enhance seafood dishes.
- All Purpose Seasoning – A blend of Extracta’s nutrient-rich, zero-waste Semillon grape skins and seeds left from winery pressing, native pepper leaf and a versatile blend of spices and herbs.
- Cab Merlot Brownie Mix – Extracta’s Australian ‘zero-waste’ grape flour is blended with wheat flour, cocoa powder and other ingredients to create nutritious brownies containing no alcohol.
- Artisan Focaccia & Pizza Base mix – Based on Extracta’s grape flour, this mix also includes wheat flour, yeast and other ingredients.
