New technology promises to stabilize citrus flavor in beverages 

California-based food and beverage flavor producer T. Hasegawa is launching an advanced innovation designed to help beverage manufacturers create fresh-tasting citrus drinks with better shelf life consistency.

Hasecitrus, a natural flavor stabilizing product, protects citrus flavors from the dulling effects of oxidation in beverages. During this process, oxygen, pH, and temperature react with flavor compounds in citrus, changing the color, aroma, and taste.

Citrus flavor oxidation poses significant problems for beverage producers, who require consistency of flavor and shelf stability for their products. Temperature and UV light can affect dry and liquid beverages, altering the pH balance and accelerating the oxidation process.

Hasecitrus uses a shelf-stable design to help manufacturers create beverage formulations that maintain citrus flavor profiles for longer periods without refrigeration or special packaging.

This is a particularly complicated challenge, as citrus beverages in categories such as sports nutrition and energy drinks often feature added functional ingredients like protein and electrolytes, making formulations increasingly more complex. The scenario gets even more complicated when considering that consumers also want clean-label, preservative-free products. 

"This is driving demand for new technologies like Hasecitrus that enable manufacturers to overcome the effects of oxidation and offer natural flavor beverages that remind consumers what fresh citrus tastes like," explains Mark Webster, vice president of sales and marketing at T. Hasegawa USA.     

A multicultural innovation 

Hasecitrus was developed over a two-year period, inspired by technology from the company's research and flavor innovations center in Japan. The product was developed as part of T. Hasegawa's Bridge to Tokyo program, which combines the R&D expertise and innovations of the company's global headquarters in Japan and its California-based U.S. subsidiary. 

"Hasecitrus is the result of a long process of adapting T. Hasegawa's existing technologies to serve manufacturing needs in North America,” says Masashi Miyamoto, Senior Flavor Chemist at T. Hasegawa USA. 

Hasecitrus launches in eight distinct flavor variants, including Lemon, Lime, Orange, Blood Orange. Navel Orange, Lemon Lime, White Grapefruit, and Pink Grapefruit. These flavors are offered initially in liquid form, with a dry powder option available upon request. 

Hasecitrus flavors meet FDA guidelines for natural flavors, upholding clean-label formulations, and the product can be made to conform to non-GMO and Kosher certifications.    

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