Pectin-rich citrus puree production

The process consists in heating whole fruits thoroughly and immediately subjecting them to a vacuum. Once refined, citrus purees produced by flash-release have novel properties compared to products prepared using traditional crushing methods. Consistency and viscosity are greatly improved. Product colour is both paler and more intense, and the puree has more flavour.

• The product is smooth (pectin-rich) and full-flavoured (aroma-rich).
• The process is well suited to lemon, which is particularly acid, and which gives low yields with traditional extraction processes. Lemon puree is a new product.

Patented process. Co-holders: Aurore Développement - Cirad.

Cirad is looking for manufacturers of lemon drinks with pulp and firms in the citrus-based drinks sector as a whole to apply the process on an industrial scale.