Mankai: The Israeli Superfood Revolutionizing Green Nutrition

Mankai

As the world searches for sustainable, complete, and accessible food solutions, Israel offers a huge response: Mankai, the world’s smallest leafy green. Grown in high-tech greenhouses at Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel and processed at a facility in Netivot, Mankai embodies a thoroughly modern approach to functional nutrition. Behind its microscopic size lies a powerhouse of nutrients with immense potential for public health.

Founded in 2018 by Oren Shani, Hinoman has set out to revolutionize the global approach to nutrition with this barely visible plant-based superfood, packed with extraordinary nutritional power.

Mankai is cultivated using an ultra-technological closed-loop industrial system that incorporates sensors, algorithms, and artificial intelligence, while ensuring a fully controlled environment. The result: a consistently high-quality product with a stable nutritional profile all year round—pesticide-free, non-GMO, and with a minimal environmental footprint.

“What we have developed is not just a food, but a sustainable production technology platform,” says Oren Shani, founder and CEO of Hinoman. “Thanks to our proprietary system, we can offer the world a new source of complete nutrition tailored to modern health demands.”

Several studies, conducted in Israel as part of the Green Mediterranean Diet Study, have shown Mankai’s concrete health benefits. When consumed daily as part of a balanced diet, it significantly reduces liver fat, improves insulin sensitivity, lowers LDL cholesterol levels, and supports sustainable weight loss. In some patients, it has even helped restore balance to a disrupted gut microbiome.

“What we’ve observed with Mankai is a rare synergy between nutritional efficacy and metabolic impact. It’s not just about nourishing well, but about truly transforming physiology in a positive way. In a world facing pandemics of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, that’s a major asset,” says Professor Iris Shai, a nutritional epidemiologist who led several clinical trials on the product.

Mankai’s nutritional profile is exceptional. It contains complete proteins with all essential amino acids, bioavailable iron, plant-based absorbable vitamin B12, as well as a unique mix of polyphenols, antioxidants, soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Beyond its effectiveness, Mankai also stands out for its culinary versatility. Thanks to its neutral taste, it can be seamlessly incorporated into a wide range of recipes: smoothies, soups, sauces, vegetarian dishes, fortified breads, or even functional beverages. This ease of integration makes it ideal for both individual consumers and food industry professionals.

“We believe it’s possible to feed the planet differently—smarter, cleaner, and without compromising nutritional quality,” affirms Oren Shani.

Mankai

From a legal and commercial standpoint, Hinoman has firmly secured its leadership position. The company holds several international patents covering Mankai’s cultivation and processing, and its exclusive strain is protected by plant breeder rights. The Mankai brand is also registered in many countries, reinforcing the product’s unique value in the global market.

Today, Hinoman stands at the forefront of a nutrition revolution driven by science, technology, and sustainability. Its ambition goes beyond simply selling a product—it aims to fundamentally rethink the global food production and distribution chain.

Beyond Israel, Mankai is already being exported to the United States, Europe, and several Asian countries.

It has attracted the attention of sports nutritionists, hospitals, and organizations combating malnutrition, as well as public policy makers driving food system transformation. The company behind its production and distribution plans to expand its industrial capacity by 2026, with the goal of making Mankai a global standard in plant-based nutrition.

Caroline Haïat