Pomegranate juice powder
The Pomegranate Juice
The pomegranate fruit is a native fruit of Iran, one of its biggest producers and exporters, producing over 0.67MT annually. Pomegranate juice has potential anti-atherogenic effects in healthy humans and atherosclerotic effects in mice along with other nutritional and health advantages, (Negi et al. 2005; Turk et al. 2008; Aviram et al. 2004). As a result, pomegranate juice has become popular worldwide.
Numerous studies on antioxidant activity have shown that pomegranate juice contains higher levels of antioxidants than most fruit juices, (Gil et al. 2000; Hong et al. 2008). Epidemiological studies have suggested that the consumption of red fruit juices, such as pomegranate, berry and grape, correlates with reduced risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancers and aging, (Hertog et al. 1997; Sumner et al. 2005). It has been reported that pomegranate juice is an important source of anthocyanins (cyanidin, delphinidin, pelargonidin), which gives the fruit and aril its red color, and phenolics and tannins (punicalin, pedunculagin, punicalagin, ellagic acid), (Kulkarni and Aradhya 2005).
The pomegranate is a seasonal fruit and not available year round and also pomegranates concentrate on the long-term deposits. However, its high nutritional value makes it desirable to have a pomegranate product available throughout the year. Drying is an option. Dried products are used mainly as convenience foods and have long storage life at normal temperatures.
Spray drying of Pomegranate Juice
Spray drying is one of the most complex methods for fruit juice drying. Fruit juice is very sensitive and affected the different drying parameters.
Powder was produced using a mini spray dryer (BUCHI, B-191, Laboratory-Techniques LTD, Flawil, Switzerland). The spray dryer operates concurrently and has a spray nozzle, two-fluid atomizer with 0.7 mm diameter orifice. The inlet air temperature was 140 °C for all the solutions investigated. The outlet air temperature varied from 91 °C to 102 °C depending upon the sample.
Pomegranate juice was fed into the drying chamber using a peristaltic pump. The liquid feed rate to the dryer was 10% (0.000046 kg/s), the flow rate of the atomizing air was 600 mL min−1 and the aspirator rate was 60% of 100% (0.0149 kg/s). The testing was performed at constant process conditions. The product obtained was vacuum-sealed in polyethylene bags. The bags were then stored in a desiccator containing silica gel before quality evaluation. The physical properties of the powder measured were bulk density, solubility, dryer yield and Tg.
Materials and methods of Pomegranate Juice Spray drying
Fresh Pomegranates (cv. Malas) were purchased from a local market in Saveh, Iran. Only sweet, mature fruits were selected for these tests. The skin was removed and fruit juice extracted from the fleshy sacs using a hand-operated domestic press. The juice was stored at 4 °C overnight to allow the suspended particles to settle. The fresh juice was then clarified using a spiral ultrafiltration system with a molecular weight-cut off of 40 KD (Osmonic, USA). The cold sterile single strength clarified juice with 14.2% TSS (total suspended solid) was rapidly cooled and frozen at −25 °C.
Before dehydration, the juice was diluted and standardized with distilled water to 12°Brix TSS. Maltodextrin 20 DE (Glucosan Co., Iran), gum Arabic (Merck, Germany) and waxy starch (Merck, Germany) at 8% and 12% (w/w) concentrations were added after standardization. The solution was also treated with microcrystalline cellulose (Merck, Germany) at concentrations of 0%, 1.5%, 3% and 4.5% (w/w). All mixtures were homogenized using a laboratory homogenizer (UltraTrux, IKA, Germany) for 2 min.
Bulk Density of Pomegranate Juice Powder
To determine the bulk density of 20 g of powder, it was weighed in a 100 mL graduated cylinder then gently dropped 10 times on a rubber mat from a height of 15 cm. The bulk density was calculated by dividing the mass of the powder by the volume that occupied the cylinder (Goula et al. 2008).
Advantages of Pomegranate Juice Powder
Pomegranate juice powder is made from dehydrated pomegranate juice, so it has much of the same nutritional content as the fresh fruit, although some nutrients may be lost during processing, namely vitamin C. However, the antioxidant content of pomegranate powder is similar to that of fresh pomegranate juice. For Pomegranate juice powder, there are a lot of advantages that we will mention most of them:
- High nutritional value
- Long shelf life at normal temperatures.
- Available in all year
- Reduce transport costs
- No added preservative
- No harmful chemicals
- Usages Mainly as convenience foods
The Benefits of Pomegranate Juice Powder
- Rich in Antioxidants
Pomegranates are rich in polyphenols, namely ellagitannins, which are natural antioxidants. Ellagitannins in pomegranates are as effective in powder form as in juice form. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals and toxins. A 2010 issue of “Cancer Prevention Research” stated that ellagitannins from pomegranates demonstrated anti-cancer abilities by stopping the growth and proliferation of breast cancer tumors in an in vitro study.
- Heart Health Benefits
The antioxidants in pomegranates also have good anti-inflammatory effects, which can help with reducing the symptoms in people with hypertension and heart disease. A 2011 publication of “Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice” included a review that found that regular consumption of fresh pomegranate juice reduced overall blood pressure levels, as well as reducing the risk of hardened arteries, contributing to overall heart health. However, researchers stated that larger study groups over the long term were needed to further support current research.
- Regulates Blood Sugar
A 2012 publication of the “Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders” stated that pomegranate juice, consumed regularly, could help patients with Type 2 diabetes. The human study, conducted on 50 patients over six weeks, included a dietary supplement of 200 milliliters of fresh pomegranate juice per day. Scientists found that blood sugar levels were steadier, and overall cholesterol levels were lower in the study group when compared to the placebo group. Their conclusion was that pomegranate juice’s antioxidant abilities may help with keeping fasting blood sugar levels steady, as well as improving overall blood lipid profiles for diabetics.
- No Weight Gain and Less Fat
In a study published in a 2011 issue of the “Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism,” researchers found that drinking fresh pomegranate juice may help with reducing overall body fat content in obese people. In a group of 20 obese adults, pomegranate juice consumption, along with a fasting state, led to no weight or fat gain, even though insulin sensitivity was not changed. This was significant compared to the control group participants, who exhibited significant weight and fat gains over the study period.
How to Enjoy Pomegranate Juice Powder
Pomegranate Juice powder has a slightly tart and sweet fruity flavor. It can be added to a wide variety of dishes to give them an extra kick: salads, meats, guacamole, gravy, smoothies, yogurt, cereal, and desserts, to name a few. You can also use pomegranate powder to make juice and tea.
Pomegranate juice powder Supplier
Glad to inform you that Ario Co is one of the main suppliers and old exporters of Pomegranate Juice powder in Iran. This company was founded in1985 and supplies all kinds of the Fresh Pomegranate Fruits, Pomegranate Juice, Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, Pomegranate Paste and Pomegranate powder with best quality and reasonable price, and of course competitive.
We have over three generations of experiences working side by side (India, Russia, Seoul and etc.) as a manufacturer and worldwide exporter of Fresh Pomegranate and Pomegranate Products in all varieties, sizes of PREMIER quality and in all kinds of packaging. (Bulk packs or retail packs, your own brand).
Our products are nutritious, delicious and safe. Only because our activities all are under the control of international quality control organizations from harvest raw materials to clean, sort, pack, detect metal, fumigate vacuum, inspect and load in containers.
We will guarantee our products quality because our main purpose is supplying and exporting products with the best quality and purity to be provided customers satisfaction.
Trust us and we will carry out your orders and we also know that we are judged by performance so we strive to be trusted.
You can take more information about our products on our website: www.iranpomegranate.com