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Tag: beverages

March 23, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

BLOG: Top 7 FAQ about Citrus Fiber in Plant-based Milks

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber improves mouthfeel and stability in different types of plant-based milks. At low usage levels, 0.2% to 0.4%, this clean label citrus fiber creates high quality plant milk. To learn more, Fiberstar compiled a list of FAQ about citrus fiber in plant-based milks.

Vegan milks may differ in the plant bases, yet, they all possess similar textural goals. As a matter of fact, they all strive to provide consumers a wonderful mouthfeel and stability over time. One ingredient that offers these desired benefits is Citri-Fi citrus fiber. Because of this, Fiberstar works closely with plant-based milk manufacturers from bench top to commercialization to understand the science behind the benefits. And for that reason, the team compiled the following frequently asked questions (FAQ) about citrus fiber in plant-based milks.

Top 7 Questions about Citrus Fiber in Plant-based Milks

1. What Benefits Does Citrus Fiber Provide Plant Milks?

Citrus fiber, such as Citri-Fi, improves the creamy and full body mouthfeel and stability of the beverage over time. Due to Citri-Fi's high water holding and emulsification properties, this natural ingredient binds water and oil to improve the stability especially during harsh processing conditions. And, because this citrus fiber opens up in shear conditions, its high surface area also increases the viscosity of the drink. To learn more, please check out the Fiberstar Video Library.

2.  Which Type of Citri-Fi is Recommended and at What Dosage or Usage Level? 

Citri-Fi 100FG or Citri-Fi 100M40 dosage level ranges between 0.2% to 0.4%. However, increasing the usage level does not create better stability. Because this citrus fiber provides high functionality, lower levels deliver all the textural and stability benefits.

3.  How is Citri-Fi Labeled?

Citri-Fi labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour. In parts of Europe, other labeling options include citrus fibre or plant fibre from citrus fruits. These labeling options resonate well in the clean label and natural markets.

4. Is Citri-Fi Heat Stable? 

Yes, Citri-Fi citrus fiber is heat stable. For instance, Citri-Fi remains stable even through ultra high temperature (UHT) processing.

5. Can Citri-Fi Replace Gums in Non-dairy Beverages? 

Yes, in most cases, Citri-Fi citrus fiber replaces gums in different types of plant-based milks. For example, to replace gellan gum,  add 0.3% of Citri-Fi 100FG before the homogenization step. Other additives citrus fiber replaces include locust bean gum, guar gum and/or modified starch.

6. How Does Citri-Fi Compared to Gellan Gum, MCC or other Hydrocolloids and Emulsifiers Currently Used in a Different Types of Plant-based Milks? 

When using Citri-Fi citrus fiber instead of the latter, the citrus fiber creates a more natural mouthfeel and less sticky texture.

7. To Create Stable Plant Drinks, can Citri-Fi be Used Alone or Does this Citrus Fiber Need to be Used with Other Stabilizing Food Ingredients? 

Citri-Fi citrus fiber creates high quality plant-based milks when used alone. Some exceptions include when other ingredients are used such as fine cocoa particles which tend to settle over time. Depending on the formulation, Citri-Fi provides some suspension to create that stability.

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March 17, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

BLOG: Healthy Beverages Spill into 2020

Citri-Fi® citrus fiber improves texture, nutrition and labeling of healthy beverages such as acidified protein drinks, vegetable/fruit drinks, smoothies and powders. At low usage levels (0.1% to 1.0%), this natural fiber delivers emulsification, improved mouthfeel, stability and clouding to a variety of beverages.

Healthy beverages continue to spike interest in 2020. These healthy beverage launches range from using less sugar to incorporating more functional ingredients to promote overall well being.  For instance, Citri-Fi citrus fiber not only contributes some fiber to drinks, but also, this natural ingredient provides additional textural benefits such as emulsification, stabilization, clouding and improved mouthfeel.

Healthy Beverages using Citrus Fiber

Citri-Fi is a natural citrus fiber created by a patented process free from chemical modifications. This natural ingredient provides high water and oil binding which is ideal for healthy refreshments like acidified protein and fruit and vegetable drinks. As a result, these healthy beverages maintain stability during harsh processing conditions. Citri-Fi also thickens drinks such as smoothies to give a more pleasant mouthfeel. And, this natural fiber provides improved texture and clouding to powdered drinks such as sports performance beverages.

Turning Liquids into Flow-able Powders

Another benefit of using Citri-Fi citrus fiber includes using this natural ingredient as a plating agent. This citrus fiber's high surface area lends itself to holding high levels of oil. Depending on the oil, Citri-Fi plates up to 25-30% oil and turns the oil into a flow-able powder. As a result, product developers benefit by plating flavored and/or nutritional oils. Moreover, the plated Citri-Fi not only delivers oil to a liquid system, but it also contributes functional textural benefits. For instance, a developer has the ability to plate a flavor onto Citri-Fi and incorporate the plated fiber into a beverage. The plated Citri-Fi delivers and stabilizes the oil.  And the plated fiber improves the mouthfeel as well as creates a clouding effect

Citrus Fiber Usage in Healthy Drinks

Citri-Fi citrus fiber is used between 0.1% to 1.0% in most beverages. More is less when it comes to this citrus fiber. For instance, very low dosages provide all the textural benefits to improve healthy beverages. For best results, mix the citrus fiber with other dry ingredients first. At the same time, Citri-Fi can also be added to liquids with a strong vortex present to prevent fish eyes. Check out the beverage usage guide or the video library for additional information.

Clean Benefits in Healthy RTD

Citri-Fi's labeling options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour.  As a result, this natural fiber helps clean up label declarations which resonates well in the natural market. Also, Citri-Fi is non-GMO project certified and gluten-free/allergen-free. This natural fiber has no E-number which is ideal for the European markets.

Additional Articles on Citrus Fiber in Beverages 

To learn more about using Citri-Fi citrus fiber in beverages, please check out the below articles:

Ingredients for coffee, tea and juice provide new opportunities (Dairy Foods)

Plant-based Beverages: An Untapped Opportunity for Citrus Fiber (Part 1) BLOG

Plant-based Beverages: An Untapped Opportunity for Citrus Fiber (Part 2) BLOG

The Rough and the Smoothie BLOG

How to Make Clean Label Yogurt using Citrus Fiber BLOG

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February 20, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

BLOG: How to Make Clean Label Yogurt using Citrus Fiber

Citrus fiber can be used to create clean label yogurts due to its highly functional benefits including stability, reduced syneresis, improved mouthfeel and increased thickness.

Yogurt is the one food product that exploded in popularity over the years. Consumers quickly embraced this health halo food regardless of its contents. However, today, the clean label movement is changing how consumers decide on which yogurts to purchase. And seeing that retailers' dairy sections offer wall-to-wall variety of yogurts, it is no surprise consumers are reading labels to determine the best choice. Now, not only do consumers need to be aware of added sugar, but also the number and type of ingredients used in the yogurt. They now desire simplicity and natural options.

Making Clean Label Yogurts

Fiberstar's Citri-Fi® natural citrus fiber is an ideal food ingredient when making clean label yogurts. This natural citrus fiber has high water holding and emulsification properties which provide the stability, reduced syneresis improved mouthfeel and increased thickness in yogurts. As a matter of fact, less is more. Citri-Fi is used between 0.1% to 0.5% depending on the targeted texture. And this natural citrus fiber helps reduce the number of ingredients in the clean label yogurt.

Typical methods include the following: 1) Mix together cream, milk and dry milk to form the base. 2) Slowly add Citri-Fi 100FG powder into the vortex while mixing at high speed. 3) Keep batch lightly agitated to prevent settling until pumped into a pasteurization unit. 4) Cool the mixture down to 43°C and fill into clean containers. 5) Add the culture and incubate at 43°C until pH reaches 4.4 to 4.5 (about 8 hours).

This plain style yogurt contains only seven ingredients including water. And because Citri-Fi's label options include citrus fiber, dried citrus pulp or citrus flour, this fiber resonates well in the clean label and natural markets. Moreover, this natural citrus fiber is a great complement in fruit-based yogurts.

To learn more about Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber in clean label yogurts or other clean label foods, please contact Fiberstar - techsupport@fiberstar.net.

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January 6, 2020
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Fiberstar Blog

BLOG: Top 5 Most Read Fiberstar Editorial Posts in 2019

Fiberstar continues to broadcast top line information about Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber and how this functional fiber fits the market need. As a result, the top 5 topics below highlight the key interests. However, though these may be the top 5, our article archives capture topics ranging from food applications to ingredient functionality.  Please check out the other archived articles about natural citrus fiber HERE: 

1.  Citri-Fi 100 Natural Citrus Fiber Clean Label Gelling Pectin Replacement

This natural citrus fiber contains native pectin content which can be activated in low pH and high Brix conditions. As a result, using Citri-Fi in fruit prep bakery fillings improves the texture and quality. Also, it may prevent blow-out in enrobed bakery items.

2.  BLOG: The Magic of Turning Liquid Oils into Natural Flowable Powders

Liquid oils can be difficult to handle due to their consistency and shelf-life. Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber contains high surface area which binds high amounts of oil and water. As a result, this natural ingredient binds oil to create a flowable powder. Additional benefits include using the plated oil in applications such as beverages or sauces to improve texture and stability.

3. Fiberstar Introduces Natural Clean Label Citri-Fi to Replace Phosphate in Meat and Poultry

Due to the natural and clean label movements, phosphate fell out of favor in several food products. For instance, in meats, natural ingredients like Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber replaces phosphate in conjunction with either rice starch and/or carrageenan to produce high yields and reduce purge.

4. Fiberstar Unlocks the Science Behind Clean Label Emulsification in Food

One of the key attributes that sets Citri-Fi citrus fiber apart from other citrus fibers is the natural emulsification properties. Due to Citri-Fi's composition of soluble and insoluble fiber, this functional ingredient binds oil and water and locks it in. In 2019, clean emulsification hit the charts as one of the key benefits manufacturers sought out to improve their label declarations.

5.  BLOG: Breaking the Myths about Fibers

Not all fibers are created the same. This also includes citrus fibers. Learn more about how Citri-Fi natural citrus fiber provides higher functionality which improves a variety of food applications in the food and beverage market.

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May 9, 2019
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Fiberstar Blog

BLOG: The Rough and the Smoothie

RTD fruit smoothies face texture, mouthfeel and stability challenges. Citri-Fi® natural citrus fiber provides clean label stabilization and texturizing which improves the quality over the smoothie’s shelf-life.   When the smoothie trend hit, consumers followed suit with high enthusiasm. Patrons flocked to the stores…

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