The Variegato Pistachio with Kataif (Art. No. 875743) produced by Expertarom Food Ingredients S.R.L., Sibiu, Romania, is a pistachio-based cream designed for the food industry as a filling or decorative swirl for desserts and ice cream. The product provides a rich pistachio flavour combined with the texture of kataif pastry strands and can be used as needed depending on the desired recipe and application.
The cream is made from sugar, vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower), pistachio paste (15%), and kataif (15%) made from wheat flour and water. It also contains whole milk powder, lactose, milk protein, and skimmed milk powder, along with soy lecithin and polyglycerol polyricinoleate as emulsifiers. Additional ingredients include caramelised sugar, iodised salt, cocoa butter, flavourings, and colourings such as copper complexes of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins, plain caramel, and curcumin, with alpha-tocopherol used as an antioxidant. The formulation typically includes 10–12% wheat flour from the kataif, 4–5% whole milk powder, 4–5% lactose and milk protein, and 3–4% skimmed milk powder.
At 20°C, the product appears as a viscous green cream containing kataif strands, with a typical pistachio aroma and taste. Nutritionally, it provides 2318.9 kJ / 556 kcal per 100 g, with 35.0 g of fat (3.9 g saturated, 0.23 g trans fats), 52.5 g of carbohydrates (38.5 g sugars), 1.3 g of fibre, 7.1 g of protein, and 0.175 g of salt.
The product meets microbiological standards with limits of max. 10⁴ cfu/g total germ count, 100 cfu/g Enterobacteria, and 1000 cfu/g yeasts and moulds, and complies with EU Regulation (EC) No. 2023/915 regarding contaminants.
Variegato Pistachio with Kataif is supplied in food-grade polypropylene sealed buckets. It should be stored in its original unopened packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight at 15–20°C, with the container closed after each use. Separation of an oily phase may occur and is not considered a defect; the product should be homogenised before use. Under recommended storage conditions, the product has a shelf life of 12 months and should be transported in clean, covered vehicles to prevent contamination or degradation.
