Launching at 16 restaurants in Hong Kong and 3 in Macau, Tindle is bringing a gastronomy-first approach to alternative chicken meat in the hopes of popularising it. We find out if it's worth the hype in our taste test
Close on the heels of the unveiling of OmniSeafood and Karana, Singaporean plant-based chicken brand Tindle has debuted in Hong Kong and Macau today (June 24) at 19 restaurants across the two special administrative regions. Created by food technology firm Next Gen, the chicken alternative is now available at venues like two-Michelin-starred Bo Innovation, pizza joint Alvy's, and soon-to-open cocktail bar Candour, where customers will be able to try the alternative protein in a wide variety of different cuisines and flavour profiles.
Tindle's first product, which seeks to emulate the thigh meat of chicken, is made using only nine ingredients—these include water, non-GMO soy, wheat gluten, wheat starch, coconut oil, methylcellulose, oat fiber, and Lipi, a trademarked blend of sunflower oil and natural flavoring that emulates the lipids in chicken fat to recreate the taste, aroma and browning effect of the real meat.
Next Gen says that Tindle's plant-based makeup contributes to a production process that requires 74 percent less land, 82 percent less water, and 88 percent less greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional chicken. It is antibiotic- and hormone-free, and contains no cholesterol, while containing 17g of protein per 100g.
See also: Karana, Asia's First Whole-Plant Based Meat Brand Launches In Hong Kong
Marketed as "made with chefs, for chefs", it's sold as frozen 50g patties that can be shaped into everything from kebabs to meatballs, and can be fried, grilled, pan-fried or incorporated into sauces and stews. In a marked shift away from the dual consumer- and restaurant-friendly approach taken by market leaders such as OmniFoods and Impossible, Tindle is currently only available from restaurants in Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, ostensibly to familiarise these markets with the novelty of the product in the hands of well-trained culinary professionals.
So what does it mean for the regular diner? At a media preview at Uma Nota ahead of its launch, Tindle was served in pasteis de frango (HK$70 for three, essentially a Brazilian-style deep-fried wonton), kushiage fried chicken skewers (HK$80 for two), and a chicken burger (only the pasteis and skewers will be available to the public at Uma Nota). Upon first bite, Tindle successfully replicates the taste of chicken, with the hard crust of the pasteis and crispy panko coating of the skewers helping to distract from the "bouncy" texture. They certainly make for tasty treats and an attractive alternative to their real meat equivalents.
But it's in the relatively unadorned burger patty where Tindle could be properly judged: the "bounce" and bite of the meat became more noticeable, the aftertaste of soy much more pronounced. Breaking the patty apart, the appearance of Tindle still has some way to go. Far from dense chicken thigh meat, Tindle's plant-based makeup more closely resembles that of cooked tuna, with flakes and fibres seemingly compressed into shape. The patty could also be pulled apart somewhat easily by fork and knife.
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