Formulation Guide
Chocho behaves differently from pea or whey. It is a whole food, with the protein and fiber of the chocho bean intact. Built correctly, it produces a smoothie that is creamy, balanced, and nutritionally complete. Built without the right pairing, it can be chalky. The difference is not the ingredient. The difference is the formulation.
This guide covers the four variables that resolve texture: dose, base ratio, pairing, and blend order. It closes with three smoothie builds and a troubleshooting reference for the most common issues.
Written for culinary teams, baristas, and foodservice directors.
First Step
Dose.
Chocho works across a wide dose range. The right amount depends on whether the smoothie functions as a standard build or a meal replacement. We recommend starting with our standard formulation and adjusting from there.
| Serving | Protein | Build | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 g (1 small scoop) | ~10 g | Standard build | Default cafeteria smoothie |
| 38 g (1/4 cup) | ~20 g | Meal replacement | Breakfast or full meal replacement |
Second Step
Base ratio.
The standard build for a sixteen-ounce smoothie uses almond, oat, or coconut milk with frozen fruit.
| Ingredient | 16 oz smoothie | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Almond, oat, or coconut milk | 8 to 12 oz | Unsweetened recommended |
| Fruit | 1 cup (~150 g) | Banana, berries, mango |
| Chocho | 20 to 38 g | Add with liquid first |
| Ice (optional) | 1/2 cup | Only if fruit is fresh, not frozen |
Third Step
Pairings.
This is the single most important variable of the build. Chocho carries omegas and other healthy fatty acids, but pairing it with an additional source emulsifies the blend, carries flavor across the palate, and eliminates any perceived chalkiness. Pick one per smoothie.
| Source | Amount | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Almond or peanut butter | 1 tbsp | Carries flavor, emulsifies, eliminates any perceived grit. See peanut butter blast recipe. |
| Banana or fruit (base) | 1/4 fruit | Adds creaminess without changing flavor profile |
| Coconut milk, yogurt | 2 tbsp | Best with Vanilla and Cacao. Adds creaminess. |
| Chia or flax seeds | 1 tbsp | Adds fat and additional fiber for extended satiety and gut health. |
Fourth Step
Blend order and time.
Order of addition matters more than total blend time. Adding Chocho with the liquid first, before the frozen ingredients, is the single largest contributor to a clean texture.
- Liquid first. Add almond or oat milk to the blender.
- Chocho second. Pulse three to five seconds with the liquid to disperse before adding anything frozen. This is the single biggest fix for chalky texture.
- Frozen fruit, pairing, optional ingredients. Add in that order.
- Blend on high for 60 to 90 seconds. High-powered blenders (Vitamix is our preferred partner) typically need sixty.
- Pour and serve. Smoothies are best fresh.
Smoothie Ideas
Three reference builds.
Operator-tested recipes for the three core Chocho flavors. Each yields a sixteen-ounce smoothie. Treat these as starting points. Once the formulation logic is internalized, the menu writes itself.
Build 01
Vanilla Almond.
- Liquid
- 8 oz unsweetened almond milk
- Frozen fruit
- 1 cup banana
- Chocho
- 15 g Vanilla
- Fat pairing
- 1 tbsp almond butter
- Optional
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- Sweetener
- None needed
Build 02
Cacao Banana.
- Liquid
- 8 oz unsweetened oat milk
- Frozen fruit
- 1 cup banana and cherries
- Chocho
- 15 g Cacao
- Fat pairing
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- Optional
- 1 tsp cacao nibs
- Sweetener
- 1 date if desired
Build 03
Pure Berry.
- Liquid
- 8 oz unsweetened almond milk
- Frozen fruit
- 1 cup mixed berries
- Chocho
- 15 g Pure
- Fat pairing
- 1/4 avocado
- Optional
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- Sweetener
- 1 tsp honey if desired
Reference
Troubleshooting.
The most common issues operators encounter, and the corrections.
| Issue | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Chalky or gritty texture | Underblended, or no pairing | Blend 60 to 90 sec. Add a fat source from section three |
| Too thick | Not enough liquid | Add 2 oz liquid at a time |
| Too thin | Frozen fruit ratio low | Add 1/4 cup frozen banana |
| Flavor reads earthy | Pure used without pairings | Add 1 date or pairing |
| Clumping at the top | Chocho added last | Add with the liquid first, before frozen items. Reblend. |
For foodservice teams
Samples, on-site support, and culinary calls are available to any operator working with Chocho at scale. Write us at care@mikunafoods.com for guidance, questions, and recommendations.To order, visit mikunawholesale.com.
