Acerola powder for use as a substitute for ascorbic acid in the agri-food field
The invention concerns a powder consisting of 0.5 to 0.8% by weight of water and a dry material consisting of 88 to 95% by weight of an acerola fruit dry extract and 5 to 12% by weight of magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium or potassium hydroxide or carbonate, the method of preparing same and the applications thereof for replacing ascorbic acid and/or the derivatives of same in food products.
1. A powder consisting of:
0.5% to 8% by weight of water, relative to the total weight of the powder; and
a dry material consisting of:
88% to 95% by weight of dried acerola fruit juice, relative to the total weight of the dry material; and
5% to 12% by weight of a hydroxide or carbonate of magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium or potassium, relative to the total weight of the dry material,
wherein the dried acerola fruit juice provides the powder with a vitamin C content of 30% to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of the powder.
2. The powder according to claim 1 , containing natural vitamin C content of 34%±3% by weight, relative to the total weight of the powder.
3. The powder according to claim 2 , wherein the natural vitamin C content is 34%±2%, by weight, relative to the total weight of the powder.
4. The powder according to claim 1 , having a pH varying from 4 to 8.
5. The powder according to claim 4 , wherein the pH varies between 4.5 to 6.
6. The powder according to claim 1 , comprising 0.5% to 5% by weight of water, relative to the total weight of the powder.
7. The powder according to claim 6 , comprising 1% to 3% by weight of water, relative to the total weight of the powder.
8. A method for preparing the powder of claim 1 , the method comprising the following steps:
(i) mixing acerola fruit juice; a hydroxide or carbonate of calcium, zinc, sodium or potassium; and water,
(ii) drying the mixture to a water content of 0.5% to 8% by weight, relative to the total weight of the powder, and
(iii) screening the powder obtained.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the drying is carried out by spraying.
10. A food additive or ingredient comprising the powder of according to claim 1 .
11. A food or food composition comprising the food additive or ingredient according to claim 10 combined with a food component.
12. A food or food composition comprising the powder according to claim 1 combined with a food component.
13. A method comprising:
providing a powder, the powder consisting of:
0.5% to 8% by weight of water, relative to the total weight of the powder; and
a dry material consisting of:
88% to 95% by weight of dried acerola fruit juice, relative to the total weight of the dry material; and
5% to 12% by weight of a hydroxide or carbonate of magnesium, calcium, zinc, sodium or potassium, relative to the total weight of the dry material,
wherein the dried acerola fruit juice provides the powder with a vitamin C content of 30% to 40% by weight relative to the total weight of the powder; and
applying the powder to a food product to replace ascorbic acid and/or derivatives thereof.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the powder is applied to a charcuterie product to replace erythorbate.