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Case06

NIKKEN Foods leveraged our patented production method to develop sweet seasonings conveying fruity ripeness and a pulpy texture suitable for use in powdered beverages and many other products.[Product: raisin powder(powder)]

Dried fruit powder using a unique patented method Dried fruit powder using a unique patented method

Challenge
Conventional fruit-based powdered seasonings rely on powderized fruit juice. We sought to create a seasoning that conveys a fruity ripeness and a pulpy texture.

The typical fruit-based seasoning is a fruit juice powder. While flavor varies by fruit type, fruit juice powders typically have a strong acidity which does not have universal appeal. Nikken Foods set about developing a fruit juice-derived seasoning conveying ripeness and a pulpy texture.

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    *Images are for illustrative purposes

R&D
Dried fruit has concentrated sweetness, aroma, and nutrition. The trick is...how to powderize it?

Nikken took on the "dried-fruit challenge," focusing on the strong healthy image and popularity dried fruit enjoys in other countries. Using taste sensors to compare fruit juice and dried fruit,* we discovered that the dried fruit (1) produces a fruity flavor while suppressing acidity and (2) is characterized by a sweet and mild flavor. The team speculated that powderized dried fruit might yield an ideal sweet seasoning. During verification, the team found that powderizing required tweaking, as dried fruit has high sugar content and is rich in fiber. With help from the Production Department, the team rehydrated the fruit and created a paste, studied manufacturing methods, and settled on a Continuous Vacuum Drying Device (CVD) to powderize the product. (Patented manufacturing method: patent number 6791514)
*Raisins, apricots

Results
Achieving a powder from solid dried fruit, enabling multiple uses

NIKKEN Foods succeeded in developing the first commercialized dried fruit powder. The richness of ripe fruit complements other flavorings, resulting in a product that unifies overall flavor while providing a natural fruity taste. The unique patented manufacturing method creates a product other firms cannot reproduce, described by a client as "an intriguing and unprecedented material."
The product can be kneaded into chocolate or added to powdered beverages, leveraging its sweetness, and is equally useful in other cuisines such as including savory curries and stewed dishes.

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    *Images are for illustrative purposes

Nikken offers contract processing services leveraging our extraction, concentration, drying, and blending technologies plus our production equipment, covering products ranging from extract and powdered flavor blends to OEM-based functional ingredients. We welcome orders, inquiries, and proposals.

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