TFTAK and Iktos Created Estonia’s First Honey-Based Functional Food Supplements

Honey has been part of the Estonian diet for centuries, but its role has been largely limited to that of a traditional sweetener or a home remedy. In today’s highly competitive market, where product differentiation is low, adding value to honey has become a critical necessity. This challenge was taken up by Iktos OÜ, which, in cooperation with TFTAK, developed Honest Nektar’s innovative range of functional food supplements.

Increasing the Added Value of Honey Through Scientific Product Innovation

The cooperation was driven by the fact that although honey is a valuable raw material, its sales margins are low and differentiation is difficult.

Iktos OÜ aimed to increase the added value of honey products and thereby find new distribution channels, such as pharmacies, outdoor stores, and health product retailers.

The goal was to create functional portion products of up to 50 ml that would combine the beneficial properties of honey with vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts in a way that would provide additional effects. The company aimed to explore possibilities for categorizing the products as food supplements.

“We were looking for a user-friendly format that would stand out on the Estonian market. We chose TFTAK as our partner because their expertise in food science and modern laboratory facilities are unique - we wanted our product development to be based on a strong scientific foundation,” explains Mart Kullamaa, CEO of Iktos OÜ. “We are very satisfied with the result, as the collaboration produced a practical, tasty product in small portion packaging that can be used as an additive to drinks, on porridge, or consumed directly.”

From Market Analysis to Industrial Validation

The development work was divided into two extensive stages, moving from theoretical analysis to actual production. The first stage focused on thorough market mapping and defining the legislative framework. Since food supplements are subject to strict requirements - for example, the energy content of the daily dose must not exceed 40 kcal - these limitations formed the basis for the prototype formulations. The first stage concluded with specific concepts and raw material selections, focusing on the Relax and Focus concepts.

The aim of the Focus concept product was to support the nervous system, cognitive functions, concentration, and memory.

The aim of the Relax concept product was to promote a calm state, relaxation, and unwinding.

In the second stage, work progressed to creating the flavor profiles of prototype products and testing the technology. A critical step in the project was testing laboratory-developed formulations at industrial scale to assess how the production process affects the stability of the components.

“During the development process, we tested a wide range of vitamins and plant extracts to find the most suitable combination with honey,” explains Rain Kuldjärv, Head of Functional Foods and Beverages at TFTAK. “The ingredients that best supported our concepts were selected - for example, in the Relax range, lemon balm, hops, and valerian proved to be the most successful. As flavors, we selected strawberry, blueberry, and blackcurrant, which, in addition to providing a pleasant aroma and taste profile, also add natural antioxidants to the product. Our goal was to ensure not only good taste but also the preservation of functional components throughout the entire shelf life.”

Key Technological Challenges in Product Development

Product development did not proceed without obstacles. One of the biggest challenges was finding a balance between pasteurization and the preservation of functional components. Heat treatment is necessary to ensure safety, but excessive heating can degrade vitamins and polyphenols and increase HMF content.

Product viscosity also proved to be a critical technological factor. For portions to be packaged industrially and accurately, the rheological properties had to be precisely controlled. Measurements showed that heating reduced product viscosity, which had to be taken into account during packaging.

Another challenge was color stability. While strawberry-flavored products remained relatively stable, the red color of blueberry- and blackcurrant-flavored samples turned brownish over time, especially in low-barrier packaging where oxygen access was higher.

Consumer Study: Preferences of Estonians and Latvians

In the second stage of the project, an extensive consumer study was conducted with a total of 105 participants from Estonia and Latvia. The results revealed interesting cultural differences: Estonians are significantly more inclined to pay attention to health claims when purchasing food supplements than their southern neighbors.

In terms of flavor preferences, the winner was clear - consumers in both countries preferred the strawberry-flavored product. At the same time, products in the Relax range generated greater purchase interest than those in the Focus range.

“The consumer test confirmed that we are on the right track - interest in functional honey is high, but people expect a clean flavor profile and clear health benefits,” notes Kristiina Leibur, Functional Products Development Specialist at TFTAK.

Project Results and Opportunities for the Honey Sector

By the end of the project, a series of six food supplements had been created, featuring four functionalities and three flavors (strawberry, blueberry, and blackcurrant). All developed prototypes have been successfully tested at industrial scale, meaning that the laboratory formulations are applicable in real production.

Iktos OÜ hopes that a broader and more attractive product range will bring positive attention and increased turnover to the company. This is not a win for just one company, but for the entire honey sector, offering Estonian beekeepers new opportunities to sell their production at higher margins.

In conclusion, we see that even a traditional food product like honey can be transformed into a modern, healthy, and export-capable high-tech product through science and technology. TFTAK thanks the Iktos OÜ team for their great trust and smooth cooperation - this is exactly the kind of visionary food producers Estonia needs!

The project was supported by PRIA - many thanks! The applied research project 616224790138, “Study on the Valorisation of Honey into New Innovative Products,” is co-financed by the EAFRD fund under the Rural Development Programme measure 16.2.