Plant-based protein brand Aloha has announced the launch of its next special-edition protein bar, the Pa’akai Bar, made with Hawaiian sea salt and macadamia nuts.

The bars are part of the company’s initiative to support small farms rooted in sustainability while giving back to the communities where their ingredients are grown.

In Hawaiian, Pa’akai translates to “solid ocean” or “sea salt” and carries cultural significance within the community. The sea salt in Aloha’s latest bar is produced by sourcing pure water surrounding the island channels, taking it through nine levels of filtration, pumping it into special “solar seal” evaporators and letting it dry and crystallise in the sun – a naturally occurring process that can take up to five weeks.

According to Aloha, the resulting product is some of the world’s purest salt, containing more trace minerals and lower sodium concentrate (80% sodium chloride), making it less ‘salty’ and more flavourful.

In addition to the pure salt, the bar features Hawaii-grown macadamia nuts from Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company. Hamakua dries its nuts by converting the energy of clean-burning macadamia nut shells into steam, generating nearly all its electricity via solar, hydro and biomass energy.

The bar also contains Ponova oil, a regenerative plant-based oil from agriculture company Terviva. It is made by expeller pressing and lightly refining the beans of Hawaiian pongomia trees.

Other ingredients include organic dark chocolate and Aloha’s proprietary plant-based protein blend. Like all of Aloha’s products, the Pa’akai bar is non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and made without sugar alcohols.

It will be available from Aloha’s website beginning 26 March before rolling out to additional retailers, including Thrive Market, in the coming months.

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