Yes... and no.

Lupin beans are perfectly safe to consume after the alkaloids have been removed (more on this below). The production of Tarwi involves a debittering process where the grain is boiled and subsequently subjected to extensive leaching in water to remove the alkaloids. The process is cumbersome, but done with all the care so that you can take advantage of all the amazing nutritional benefits of this powerful bean.

A bit more on alkaloids: one key trait of lupins is the accumulation of anti-nutritional compounds in the grain, in the form of alkaloids, most of them belonging to the family of quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) (Frick et al., 2017). These are notoriously bitter and toxic to both humans and farm animals, displaying both teratogenic and anti-cholinergic effects (Lourenço et al., 2002). 

Like other protein containing foods (such as peanuts, or soybeans), lupin beans might trigger an allergic reaction. It has been shown that people who are allergic to peanuts may react to lupins as well - please be mindful if that is your case!

Our Lummus range can be purchased online via the Shop page. If you prefer an in-store experience, check our Store Locator to find a shop near you!

Our ambition is to make healthy nutritious food as accessible as possible and we are working hard to spread Tarwi nationwide to a shop close to you. Follow us or subscribe to be the first to know!

Yes, you can absolutely freeze the Lummus. The texture will be slightly different, but it is a great way to prevent food waste and extend their shelf life.

Top tips:

- Once frozen, consume within 4 months.

- The best way to defrost the products is to place them in the fridge and leave overnight before using.

- Sometimes the Lummus separates, gets watery or loses its creamy texture after thawing - just give it a good stir before serving.

Lupin seeds have a whopping 42g of protein per 100g (that's impressive, we know). We don't want to bore you with details, but research has shown that cooking beans reduces their protein content. If you are in the mood for some bed time reading, you can find the research paper here.

Tarwi was founded by Portuguese friends in love with food and conscious living with the ambition to change the way people perceive and consume healthy foods. Growing up close to lupin beans but never knowing they were this nutritious (it was just a tasty beer snack) - you can imagine how we felt when we found out about all their nutritional benefits. It was too good to keep it to ourselves and that's how Tarwi was born!