Bluegrass Ingredients® Releases New Findings on Lemon Powder Functionality

BOWLING GREEN, Kentucky (August 13, 2024) – Bluegrass Ingredients, Inc. ®, a leading R&D-based specialty food ingredients supplier, announced today findings related to the functionality and flavor impact of lemon powder in a variety of applications, as compared to both lemon juice in application and a control without any lemon ingredient. The findings come from the Agile Kitchen at Bluegrass’ team of food scientists and culinary experts. 

Bluegrass Ingredients’ Lemons Juice Powder BDF0423, when rehydrated, has a pH of 2.57, which matches conventional lemon juice. Given this similarity, the Agile Kitchen team conducted a number of experiments to determine if lemon powder could be used in place of lemon juice to achieve the same flavor, form and functional benefits.  

Key observations include: 

• Flavor potentiator: Lemon powder functioned as a clean label, low (or no) sodium flavor potentiator that elevates flavor and mouthfeel and improves palatability. 

• Enhanced emulsification: Lemon powder delivered enhanced emulsification properties in sauce applications – a functional benefit that has also been validated by customers.  

• Consistent texture: When used in white bread formulations, lemon powder delivered more consistent textures.  

For food manufacturers, lemon powder offers several advantages over conventional lemon juice. Dry powders are more stable and have reduced shipping weight and volume compared to liquid ingredients, which reduce shipping costs and complexities while minimizing spoilage and waste. At the same time, lemon powder requires no refrigeration, which reduces storage costs and considerations.  

In addition to lemon juice powder, Bluegrass Ingredients offers a wide portfolio of citrus powder ingredients in a variety of flavors including lime, pineapple and orange. These ingredients offer important flavor, form and functional benefits in applications across industries, including desserts, bakery, meat processing, seasoning systems, side dishes and more.  

The Agile Kitchen at Bluegrass™ is a creative space that blends innovation and insights to deliver formulations and products that align with pressing consumer trends. The company’s incubator for advancing flavor, form, and function, the Agile Kitchen is staffed with food scientists and culinary experts who work directly with customers to craft tailored formulations. This commitment to innovation and market analysis is a cornerstone of the company’s Agile Ingredient Innovation® service model. 

About Bluegrass Ingredients® 

Founded nearly three decades ago, Bluegrass Ingredients has evolved from a boutique dairy ingredients provider into one of the nation’s leading R&D-based specialty ingredients suppliers to the food industry. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of turnkey and custom flavor powders, concentrates, dairy seasoning blends and ingredient solutions with best-in-class processing capabilities. Through its Bluegrass Agile Ingredient Innovation® service model, Bluegrass Ingredients utilizes its partner-driven approach and deep technical expertise to help startups and leading brands rapidly concept, test and produce the custom flavors and formulations they need to stay ahead. The Agile Kitchen at Bluegrass™ is the company’s innovation R&D hub, monitoring pressing industry trends and empowering remote and in-person collaboration to bring tomorrow’s flavors to life today. To learn more, visit www.bluegrassingredients.com. 

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