INGREDIENT & CHEMICALS
Squeezing
the most from your
orange
juice
Demandfor fruit juice amongst Malaysian consumers shows no signs of slowing down.Some estimates suggest the country is now drinking more than 150 million litres of juicedrinks a year1, with many consumers preferringthem to fizzy drinks.Not surprisingly, orange juice is the most popular variety. Although three manufacturers account for over half the Malaysian juice market,2there is still a large market for smaller brands and niche manufacturers, with many concentrating on fresh and unpasteurised products. Chilled productsare particularlypopular with premium customers and, likemany other manufacturersaround the world, Malaysian manufacturers can now use ‘flash pasteurisation’ in order to appeal to discerning consumers, while prolonging the life of their products. The dash for flash With or without pulp, the challenge for manufacturers of fresh orange juice is the speed at which the flavour and quality alters and deteriorates after the orange is squeezed. Like any fruit, oranges are perishable commodities and need to bepasteurised to stop the product spoiling. If there is to be an acceptable shelf life, the juice has to be pasteurised to destroy microorganisms and stop enzymatic activity.
14
ASIA FOOD BEVERAGE THAILAND
