Sponsored Content

Natural citrus fiber for clean label concepts: Herbacel® AQ® Plus Citrus

In today’s world, awareness of sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes is becoming increasingly important. A growing number of consumers prefer environmentally conscious solutions that have a positive impact on the planet. Herbafood Ingredients, a company that has been at the forefront of sustainable practices for 80 years with its production of multifunctional citrus fibers, is boldly embracing this trend and forging an innovative path.

As the pioneer in the field of functional fibers, Herbafood Ingredients GmbH was the first company in the industry to introduce the process of side stream utilization. Obtained from citrus fruit after de-juicing and after extracting the citrus pectin, the company sets the trend of valorizing citrus peels to multifunctional citrus fibers.

Whether you want to texturize, stabilize, emulsify, or adjust viscosity, Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus is an excellent choice to meet your functional requirements. With decades of experience in the development and manufacturing of natural and highly functional fibers, Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus is the benchmark in the industry and is known for its outstanding functional properties and consistently high quality.

Multifunctionality of Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus

Very high water binding: Due to their remarkable water binding capacity, Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus fibers can be used in a variety of food applications. In baked goods and plant-based meat alternatives, you can adjust moisture levels to extend freshness during shelf life and to provide juiciness. Important for the development of the full functionality is the activation of the citrus fiber by using high shearing forces, such as a high-speed mixer or homogenizer.

Emulsifying: Citrus fibers show powerful emulsifying properties when using shear forces. These basic citrus fiber emulsions are easy to use for stabilizing oil- or fat-based products. Citrus fiber emulsions are applied to enhance the consistency of dressings, sauces, and cream-based products over a wide range of different fat or oil levels.

^{© Herbafood Ingredients GmbH}

Viscosity formation: Thanks to the high water binding of Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus, the viscosity in the food can be precisely adjusted. The ability of citrus fiber to increase viscosity is particularly beneficial in sauces, soups and drinks.

Texturizing and stabilizing: One of the standout features of citrus fibers is their role in texturizing and stabilizing food products. The extraordinarily high water binding capacity in combination with the insoluble molecular structure supports the stability of multi-disperse food systems like ice cream, chocolate mousses or plant-based dairy alternatives.

Flavor release: Due to its unique manufacturing technology, Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus offers a better flavour release compared to other thickening agents. Thus, reformulated products with less salt or less sugar can be developed, such as sugar- and salt-reduced tomato-based grill sauces or other savory products.

Neutral taste: Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus fibers have a neutral taste profile. Thus, they can be easily integrated into a wide variety of recipes without influencing the original taste of the final product.

Introducing Herbacel^® AQ^® Plus Citrus fiber with its multifunctional properties into food formulations can lead to improved product quality and sensory experience. Whether it is water binding, texture improvement or flavor enhancement, these fibers prove to be versatile tools in the development of innovative and appealing food products. Herbafood ingredients supports you with the most reliable citrus fibers and technical expertise in:

• Recipe development
• Reformulation ideas
• Cost adjustment
• Process implementation

Visit our website or fill out the contact form below.

Contact form