inspired by nature and tribal wisdom

Sweet and Flavour modifying proteins

we produce more with fewer resources

ABOUT NAMBAWAN

Sweetening the World Naturally

Nambawan Spain SLU is a spin-off of Nomad Bioscience GmbH. Our area of business interest is Sweet & Taste Modifying Proteins for Food & Feed Markets.

We are making efforts to bring to market two products: recombinant Thaumatin II (Thauma ™) and Brazzein III proteins extracted and purified from tobacco seeds. Our lead candidate, Thauma™, is at an advanced preindustrial state.

In recognition of the discovery of Thaumatin by Indigenous People we named our company NAMBAWAN, which is Pidgin English for ‘Number One’). A common greeting in this culture is to show your thumb up (👍) symbolizing the person you’ve met is ‘nambawan’, or the best.

Our Team

PROVIDING NATURAL PROTEIN BASED SWEETENERS

SUGAR & OUR ENVIRONMENT

The global area dedicated to sugar cane and sugar beet cultivation now exceeds 31 million hectares (78 million acres), roughly the size of Germany. Additionally, over 2.5 million hectares (6.25 million acres) of corn are grown in the U.S. for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) production. In contrast, even at an early stage of production, Thauma™ requires less than 10% of this land area to produce the same amount of sweetness.

SUGAR & OUR HEALTH

Our current diet is both unhealthy and unsustainable, primarily due to the excessive consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners in our food and beverages. Sugar is a leading cause of obesity, weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, and many other health issues. Medical authorities recommend reducing sugar intake by up to 50% to achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Our new product, trademarked Thauma™, offers a tool to help reach this goal without compromising the taste of foods and drinks.

the product - What is thauma™

Thauma™ is a natural, plant-derived, non-caloric sweetener and flavor-modifying protein, specifically Thaumatin II. Thauma™ is 10,000 to 15,000 times sweeter than sugar when blended at 35-50% sweetness contributioin with sugar or other sweeteners. It can be blended with sucrose (sugar), high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), stevia rebaudiosides like Reb A and Reb M, monk fruit mogrosides Mog V, Brazzein, and other sweeteners to deliver outstanding results. 

manufacturing process - AGRICULTURE

Our Thaumatin II (Thauma™) is produced through recombinant technology using plant biofactories. Thaumatin II is the finest of all Thaumatins and is an exact copy of the Thaumatin produced by the original plant. The producer plants are cultivated in Extremadura, Spain, in partnership with our agricultural contract manufacturers, including Olivos de Badajoz, Pueblonuevo de Guadiana, CTAEX, and Madeinplant. Even at this early stage of agriculture, we harvest more than ten times the sweetness per hectare compared to sugar cane or sugar beets.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS - PURIFICATION

Subsequent extraction and purification process yields a protein of more than 95% purity. Depending on user needs, Thauma™ can be formulated either as pure protein or as a blend, with Thaumatin II comprising 10% of the mixture (i.e 90% being a non-sweet maltodextrin). NAMBAWAN began pilot-scale production of Thaumatin II in 2024, with plans to manufacture 500 kg per year (equivalent to the sweetness of 5,000 tons of sugar) by 2026, followed by rapid expansion to meet market demand.

Thauma™ has Broad applicability

  • Versatile sweetener and flavor modifier
  • Can be used in a wide range of products:
    • Soft drinks, fruit juices, alcoholic beverages.
    • Savory foods, confectionery, chewing gum, dairy products.
    • Sweetener blends.
  • Bitterness masker and sourness enhancer.
  • Reduces aftertastes and off-notes in sweetener blends.

THAUMA™ IS SAFE

  • Thaumatin II: Major protein component of approved Thaumatin mixtures
  • Highly pure, plant-derived protein (over 95% purity)
  • Consumed in small amounts (typically less than 5 mg per day in final products).
  • Fully digestible.
  • GRAS-approved by FDA (USA) and other regulatory bodies.
  • Recognized as safe in multiple countries.

INTELECTUAL PROPERTY

NAMBAWAN holds an exclusive commercial license for sweet and taste-modifying proteins, including Thaumatin II and Brazzein III, from Nomad Biotech GmbH, Germany. The intellectual property includes patent applications for sweetener compositions involving Thaumatin II combined with sucrose, stevia (Reb M and Reb A), monk fruit mogroside Mog V, and Brazzein. These patents are being pursued globally, with additional patent applications in progress.

REGULATORY APPROVALS

Our Thaumatin II product holds GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) approval in the U.S., with multiple approvals from the FDA, FEMA, and GRAS Expert Panel. We are actively expanding approval efforts for Thaumatin II in other countries. Additionally, NAMBAWAN has secured the Thauma™ trademark for its Thaumatin II product in the EU and UK, with pending applications in other important markets. «Thauma» is derived from the Ancient Greek word (θαύμα), meaning «wonder» or «miracle.»

OUR IMPACT

PROVIDING THE FINEST PRODUCT TO CONSUMERS

  • Thauma™: Natural plant-derived protein sweetener.

  • Meets highest standards of modern consumers.

  • No warning labels required – clean label.

  • Non-caloric sweetener with significant health benefits
    • Does not trigger insulin spikes
    • Reduces sugar intake by up to 50%
    • Helps bring consumption in line with healthy guidelines

  • Tastes the same as sugar.

  • Used in milligram quantities per day, much less than typical daily sugar intake (100g/day in U.S./EU).

  • Up to 15,000 times sweeter than sugar

  • Functions as a taste modifier:
    • Enhances overall flavor.
    • Improves natural «halo» of sweetness.
    • Lowers cost of sweetness in formulations.
    • Reduces bitterness.
    • Increases saltiness perception in foods.

PROVIDING THE FINEST PRODUCT TO MANUFACTURERS

  • GRAS-approved by FDA and FEMA, with no warning labels.

  • Available in needed industrial volumes with high supply security.

  • Cost-efficient due to high sweetness potency, reducing overall production costs.

  • Superior sweetener & flavor modifier, enhancing taste in varieties of formulations.

  • Positioned to compete with sugar and high-intensity sweeteners in manufacturing.

  • Reduced environmental footprint compared to traditional sweeteners.

  • Working on certifications for diabetic safety, kosher, halal, and vegan standards in other markets.

NAMBAWAN PARTNERS

CONTACT