Having trouble introducing different tastes and textures to your kids (as well as it being healthy food)? Taleii is a new locally-made range of purée blends that aims to take the stress out of mealtimes and early nutrition. It’s a great solution for infant puree and toddler food, and an option for older kids too. Packed with essential nutrients, and quick and easy to prepare, the healthy food pouches are designed to fit seamlessly into daily life. We hear from CAROLE and TALEÏ BUTEL, the Franco-Lebanese mum-and-daughter duo behind the baby food brand.
New kids’ and baby food in Singapore
How did the idea for the baby food brand first come about?
Carole: As a young mum living in the Fiji Islands, I soon realised that options for nutritious and great-tasting baby purées were limited. So, I set about preparing my own, sourcing ingredients from the local market and creating healthy blends for my daughter Taleï’s mealtime. As my children grew, I kept evolving to their culinary needs. Three decades later, Taleï and I are meeting the demand for fresh and nutritious solids for little ones with a high-quality infant puree product line of healthy food pouches.
What makes your infant purėe stand out from others?
Taleï: I graduated from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in Paris, so I knew that the ingredients’ integrity and product preservation were important. Our unique High-Pressure Processing (HPP) method, known as cold pasteurisation, preserves freshness, texture, colour and taste while removing impurities, pathogens and bacteria. Significantly, cold pasteurisation retains up to 95 percent of essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and folic acids. By contrast, heat pasteurisation causes nutritional values to plummet between 50 to 80 percent!
We also routinely test our infant and toddler food products in a laboratory for heavy metals and other impurities.
What ingredients do you use in your purėe blends?
Taleï: We are plant-based and mix beautifully paired vegetables, fruits, legumes, herbs and spices. Some of our best-sellers include Sweet Potato, Mango, Coconut; Apple, Coconut, Raspberry; and Broccoli, Pear, Quinoa. They’re perfect for kids of all ages and babies aged six months and up, and each of Taleii’s nine blends are free from preservatives, allergens, gluten, dairy, nuts and soy, and contain no added sugar or salt. To preserve their freshness, the pouches should be stored in the fridge but can be kept outside for up to four hours and in a cooler bag for longer. Enjoy chilled or warmed!
Why did you choose Singapore to launch your business?
Carole: This is my third time living in Singapore, and we now consider it our home base since I became a Singapore citizen. The government also makes it easy to open and start a business here. Enterprise Singapore was instrumental in providing advice and support to help us get our infant food business set up.
What has been the most rewarding part of starting this business together?
Taleï: Working together has brought us closer, though, of course, we do have the occasional heated argument! We have clear roles, which helps us manage our day-to-day tasks.
What are your future plans for this baby food business?
Taleï: Watch this space for new infant food blends, along with a product line especially for growing children!
A word from customers:
“I’m not kidding when I say I love the product and the brand story behind Taleii. It resonates with fellow parents, and the food is yummy!” – Cordelia
“I highly recommend these convenient yet well-balanced and delicious meal pouches! My 16-month-old loves the sweet potato, mango and coconut blend. Filled with fresh goodness!” – Chelsea
Shop the baby and toddler food range at taleii.com. Prices start at $6.80 per pouch, and orders over $68 receive free next-working-day delivery.
This article on infant purée and healthy food in Singapore first appeared in the August 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe so you never miss a copy!
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