White Lupine (Lupinus albus)

White lupine (Lupinus albus), also known as white lupine, white lupine, tremoso, turmus, sweet lupine, white lupine, or white thistle, is an annual plant that belongs to the legume family. It is originally native to the Mediterranean and is widespread in Europe, Asia, America and Africa. This plant is very popular for its decorative uses in gardening and also for its nutritional qualities. The white lupine is distinguished by its long spikes of flowers, which can range from white to various shades of blue to purple. Its fruits are pods containing seeds that are white, plump and flat.

The seeds of the white lupin have important applications in the food industry. Their high protein and fibre content makes them a popular part of vegetarian and vegan diets. They can be found in the form of lupin cuts, lupin mince, lupin pasta or lupin chips. Another way of processing is to sweeten and salt the seeds, which are then eaten as a snack on various occasions. The seeds can also be used as an alternative to coffee. In the cosmetic industry, white lupins are used to make various creams and face masks. Due to its nutritional properties, white lupin is also used in animal nutrition, especially for birds and cattle.