Enzy, the startup of new healthy seasoning that can replace MSG but still remain mild sweet taste is the brainchild of Bui Dang Truong, Director of Enzy Co., Ltd located in Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District and his associates. This product is made entirely from natural ingredients, without additives or taste enhancers.

Mr. Bui Dang Truong (first, right) and his associates. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Truong and his co-founder previously worked in tourism and studying abroad but were unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tough time, as it turned out, helped him look back on himself and his career path.

Initially, his team planned to start a business with dipping sauces. Everything is fine from the selection of ingredients to the actual finished product (sesame salt, chilli sauce, dipping sauce), but still not achieving the highly-seasoned taste as desired. This shortcoming was due to a lack of flavour enhancers, but Truong is sensitive to MSG. Immediately, he realized the potential of a substitute for MSG - a seasoning that must be present in thousands of food products.

Without hesitation, they began researching MSG’s ingredients to understand the origin of this seasoning, and found that Melientha suavis ( rau sang)- the leaves of an ancient tree, which grows a lot in the North of our country- is a good replacement because of its wild-sweet taste. However, this vegetable is very limited, growing seasonally and its peak prices can be up to VND1 million per kg. Therefore, it is not suitable for popularizing all social classes.

With the spirit of not giving up, they created a pure natural seasoning including easy-to-find ingredients such as kohlrabi, seaweed, stevia, pineapple, shiitake, yeast, sugar and salt.

According to Truong, the common difficulties of other natural seasoning product makers are “How to increase the storage time without using chemicals? What drying temperature is optimal? Which chain is suitable? When I embark on this market, I realized how great the temptation of additives is because it solves a lot of taste problems. Our market has offered many seasoning products but the problem of using flavor enhancers is still being debated"

After lots of ups and downs in research, Truong contacted lecturer from the Faculty of Food Technology Industry of the Da Nang College of Food Industry to ask for support.

Dr. Dang Thi Mong Quyen, Vice Rector of the college said, “The Da Nang College of Food Industry has always accompanied businesses in production and product research and development for many years. We initially cooperated with Enzy Company in consulting technology and equipment for pure natural, clean and safe seasoning in a bid to bring a more attractive option to consumers. In the coming time, we will continue to cooperate in developing some other pure natural seasoning product lines.”

Enzy seasoning powder, a product of Enzy Co., Ltd. Has undergone more than 2 years of research, perfecting and now is ready to go into mass production with the ability to supply to the market 1 tonne of Enzy seasoning powder per day at the price of VND200,000/kg.

On March 9, 2021, Enzy received a satisfactory product certificate from the Da Nang Food Safety Management Board.  Currently, the product is known through the trial sample registration program held at Enzy’s fanpage.

“All we have is simply an idea and enthusiasm. Therefore, we are very happy and satisfied with our meaningful products for the sake of consumers’ health,” said Truong.

Reporting by QUYNH TRANG – Translating by T.VY