Samyang Corporation's Kestose is a high-purity crystalline soluble fiber, which was recently introduced at Future Food-Tech San Francisco 2026. The ingredient is positioned as a solution for manufacturers seeking to reduce sugar content and increase dietary fiber in food and beverage products.
Kestose is a form of fructooligosaccharide. The ingredient contains over 99% prebiotic fiber and is distinguished by its crystalline structure, which offers low hygroscopicity to minimize clumping and fast dissolution compared to conventional liquid or powder fiber ingredients. The high-purity crystalline soluble fiber delivers approximately 30% of the sweetness of sugar while containing only about one percent sugar by composition. This, in turn, allows formulators to achieve sugar reduction and fiber fortification simultaneously without sacrificing sweetness.
During the conference, Samyang provided tasting samples of a sports drink mix formulated with the ingredient to demonstrate its application potential across different categories.
Image Credit: Samyang Corporation
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Crystalline Prebiotic Fibers
- The emergence of high-purity crystalline fructooligosaccharides presents new formulation possibilities by combining prebiotic benefits with stable, fast-dissolving physical properties.
- Sugar-reduction Sweetness Enhancement
- By delivering significant sweetness at minimal sugar content, ingredients that provide partial sugar equivalence enable lower-calorie products without relying on synthetic sweeteners.
- Low-hygroscopic Ingredient Formats
- Ingredients engineered for low moisture uptake and reduced clumping create opportunities for simpler dry-mix applications and longer shelf-life in powdered products.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Beverage Manufacturers
- Sports drinks, ready-to-mix beverages, and functional waters can be reformulated to offer fiber fortification and sugar reduction while preserving mouthfeel and dissolution.
- Sports Nutrition
- Supplement powders and recovery mixes stand to benefit from soluble prebiotic fibers that maintain mixability and add digestive-health claims alongside reduced sugar.
- Functional Food Ingredients Suppliers
- Ingredient suppliers can differentiate by offering crystalline prebiotic extracts that simplify manufacturing, improve label claims, and support clean-label trends.
