Acerola dry powder and method for producing same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a new technical means for producing acerola dry powder having exceptional storage stability, including deliquescence resistance. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to: a method for producing an acerola dry powder, the method including a step for drying a mixed liquid containing a pulverized acerola core product and acerola juice; and an acerola dry powder obtained through said method.

Description

Acerola dried powder and its manufacturing method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to acerola dry powder and a method for producing the same.

[0002] Various methods for producing dried powder from acerola fruit without using artificial additives have been investigated. For example, the present applicant has reported the use of microwave drying in a process for producing dried powder from acerola fruit (Patent Document 1).

[0003] WO2021 / 066108 publication

[0004] From the viewpoint of ensuring a distribution period for use as a food processing material or health food, it is preferable that the acerola dried powder have excellent storage stability. The present inventors have investigated the storage stability of conventional acerola dried powders and found that conventional acerola dried powders exhibit deliquescence and become liquefied when stored under high humidity conditions.

[0005] As a result of further intensive research, the present inventors have now discovered that acerola dry powder that is resistant to deliquescence and has excellent storage stability can be obtained by combining and powdering acerola kernels and acerola juice. The present disclosure is based on this finding.

[0006] Therefore, one object of the present disclosure is to provide a new technical means for producing acerola dry powder that is resistant to deliquescence and has excellent storage stability.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for producing acerola dry powder, comprising a step of drying a mixture containing ground acerola kernels and acerola juice.

[0008] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an acerola dried powder containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice as ingredients.

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to produce acerola dry powder that is resistant to deliquescence and has excellent storage stability.

[0010] This figure shows the results of circularity and shape evaluation of acerola dried powder made from crushed acerola kernels and acerola juice, along with photographs taken with a digital microscope. This figure also shows the results of circularity and shape evaluation of commercially available acerola dried powder, along with photographs taken with a digital microscope. Commercially available product 1 is acerola dried powder (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass) obtained by subjecting acerola fruit to microwave-vacuum drying and powdering. Commercially available product 2 is acerola dried powder (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass) made from acerola juice and dextrin (additive). These photographs show various acerola dried powders during storage (at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 72 hours after the start of the test). Test plots 2-1, 2-3, and 2-4 are acerola dried powder (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass) made from crushed acerola kernels and acerola juice. Commercially available products 2, 3, and 4 are dextrin-containing acerola dry powders made from acerola juice and dextrin (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass).

[0011] Acerola (Malpighia emarginata or Malpighia glabra) is a plant of the Malpighiales family and is primarily native to the West Indies and Central and South America, but is also cultivated in other parts of the world under appropriate growing conditions. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, acerola harvested in the Brazilian states of Pernambuco, Sergipe, Ceará, Maranhão, Bahia, São Paulo, and Paraná can be used.

[0012] [Method for producing acerola dry powder] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for producing acerola dry powder includes a step of drying a mixture containing ground acerola kernels and acerola juice.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the raw materials for the acerola dried powder can include at least acerola kernel pulverized and acerola juice. However, from the perspective of producing an additive-free food product, the raw materials for the acerola dried powder are preferably acerola kernel pulverized and acerola juice. Preparing the acerola dried powder from only natural acerola-derived components is preferable for providing a highly safe additive-free material. Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the acerola kernel pulverized material, which is traditionally discarded during the production of acerola juice, can be utilized, contributing to the creation of a social structure that achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the perspective of upcycling and recycling.

[0014] Furthermore, it was surprising to those skilled in the art that acerola dried powder that is resistant to deliquescence even when absorbing moisture can be obtained by combining ground acerola kernels with acerola juice as raw materials. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that when a mixture of ground acerola kernels and acerola juice is dried, the relatively long fibers derived from the acerola kernels and the components derived from the acerola juice form a network structure that can retain a large amount of moisture, making it suitable for achieving deliquescence resistance. Furthermore, because acerola dried powder with this functionality is less sticky, it is easier to subdivide the powder, which is believed to contribute to improved productivity.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the acerola core is a solid material containing the endocarp located in the core of the acerola fruit and containing some or all of the acerola seeds. The acerola core can be obtained as a residue separated from the acerola outer skin, pulp, juice, etc. during the juicing process of the acerola fruit. More specifically, during the juicing process of the acerola, the acerola core can be obtained by straining or sieving when the acerola fruit is squeezed, ground, etc. to obtain acerola juice. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the acerola core can be some or all of the acerola seeds. The acerola juice and the solid material containing the endocarp can be obtained using, for example, a known device such as a pulper finisher.

[0016] The acerola kernels may be dried before being crushed. The drying method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include atmospheric drying (air drying, etc.), freeze-drying, and heat treatment. However, atmospheric drying is preferred from the viewpoint of maintaining the natural components in the kernels.

[0017] The pulverized acerola kernels can be obtained by pulverizing the acerola kernels using a known pulverizer, taking into consideration the desired shape of the acerola dry powder, production suitability (yield), etc. Such pulverizers are not particularly limited, and known devices such as devices that physically pulverize using blades or hammers (e.g., hammer pulverizers, pulverizers, etc.) and devices that pulverize dried materials by colliding them with airflow (airflow pulverizers, jet mills, etc.) can be used. However, it is preferable that the pulverizer has a classification mechanism that separates the pulverized material by particle size when it is discharged from the pulverizer. Examples of such classification mechanisms include vibration classifiers and airflow classifiers.

[0018] The average particle size (D50) of the pulverized acerola kernels may be adjusted as appropriate, taking into consideration the desired shape of the acerola dry powder, production suitability (yield), etc., but from the standpoint of production suitability, it is preferably 4 to 30 μm, more preferably 4 to 20 μm, and even more preferably 4 to 15 μm. Here, the average particle size of particles in this disclosure refers to the average particle size D50 measured using a laser diffraction particle size analyzer. Further measurement details are described in the Examples section.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, acerola juice is made from acerola fruit, and a liquid obtained by squeezing, grinding, or the like of the fruit can be used. Acerola juice can be clear juice that does not contain solids derived from the peel or pulp, or cloudy juice that contains solids derived from the peel or pulp. The acerola juice can be concentrated or diluted with a solvent such as water.

[0020] The solids concentration of the acerola fruit juice is, for example, 10 to 50% by mass, preferably 15 to 45% by mass, and can be calculated based on the amount of evaporation residue of the acerola fruit juice.

[0021] The pH of the acerola juice is, for example, 2 to 4, preferably 2.5 to 3.5, and more preferably 2.7 to 3.3. The pH can be measured in accordance with JIS Z8802.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a mixture of acerola kernel powder obtained as described above and acerola juice is prepared.

[0023] The method for mixing the acerola kernel powder and acerola juice is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present disclosure are achieved, and any method commonly used in food manufacturing can be used. For example, the mixture can be stirred and mixed using a commercially available mixer at room temperature at a rotation speed of 1,000 to 7,500 rpm for 10 to 240 minutes.

[0024] Furthermore, the ratio of acerola kernel powder to acerola juice in the mixture containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present disclosure are achieved, and can be adjusted as appropriate to obtain acerola dried powder with the desired functions.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the mixing ratio of acerola kernel powder and acerola juice in the above-mentioned mixture can be adjusted in advance so that at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of vitamin C content, average particle size (D50), and circularity falls within a predetermined range in the acerola dried powder.

[0026] The amount of acerola kernel powder to be mixed with acerola juice is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present disclosure are achieved, but the mass of the acerola kernel powder is preferably 45 to 91% by mass, more preferably 50 to 85% by mass, and even more preferably 50 to 60% by mass, when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the acerola kernel powder and the solids in the acerola juice is taken as 100%.

[0027] In the manufacturing method of the present disclosure, the acerola juice or the mixture containing the acerola juice and the crushed acerola kernel may be filtered appropriately to remove large particles. For the filtration process, a strainer with a mesh size of #20 to #100, which is large enough to pass the crushed acerola kernel, may be used.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a mixture containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice is dried into a dry powder. The method for producing the dry powder is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present disclosure are achieved. While known methods such as freeze-drying, spray-drying, and microwave vacuum drying can be used, spray-drying is preferred. According to the present disclosure, acerola dry powder can be produced by spray-drying using naturally occurring raw materials, namely, acerola kernel powder and acerola juice, which is advantageous for mass production at low cost, i.e., efficiently. Specifically, the spray-drying method involves spraying a mixture containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice into a tower as droplets and drying them with hot air. For example, a pressurized spray nozzle, a rotary spray nozzle, or a rotating disk (rotary atomizer) can be used to spray the droplets. When a rotating disk (rotary atomizer) is used, the preferred rotation speed can be, for example, 10,000 to 30,000 rpm. The temperature of the hot air is preferably 100 to 250° C., more preferably 110 to 200° C., and even more preferably 120 to 195° C. The temperature at the outlet of the dryer chamber after cooling is preferably 20 to 120° C., and more preferably 50 to 115° C.

[0029] As described above, the manufacturing method of the present disclosure allows acerola dry powder to be obtained in a higher yield than acerola dry powder obtained by conventional manufacturing methods. According to one embodiment, the manufacturing method of the present disclosure achieves a yield of 80% or more, preferably 85% or more, and more preferably 90% or more. The method for calculating the above yield is described in the Examples.

[0030] [Acerola Dried Powder] According to the present disclosure, an acerola dried powder can be provided by the above-described manufacturing method. Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an acerola dried powder is provided, which contains, as ingredients, a pulverized acerola kernel and acerola juice. According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, an acerola dried powder is provided, which is obtained by drying a mixture containing acerola kernel and acerola juice. According to a more preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the pulverized acerola kernel is a pulverized product obtained by drying and pulverizing a solid material containing the endocarp separated by acerola juice extraction process.

[0031] According to the present disclosure, from the viewpoint of improving deliquescence resistance and storage stability, the proportion of ground acerola kernel in the acerola dried powder can be increased compared to when whole acerola fruit that has been dried naturally or by microwave, etc. is directly dried and ground. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides an acerola dried powder that contains ground acerola kernel and the solids of acerola juice as dry components, in which the mass of the ground acerola kernel is adjusted to 45 to 91% when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the ground acerola kernel and the solids of the acerola juice is taken as 100%.

[0032] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the content of acerola kernel powder in the acerola dried powder is, as described above, 45 to 91% by mass, preferably 50 to 85% by mass, and more preferably 50 to 60% by mass, in terms of the mass of the acerola kernel powder when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the acerola kernel powder and the solids in the acerola juice is taken as 100%.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the content of the solids of acerola juice in the acerola dried powder is, as described above, for example, 9 to 55% by mass, preferably 15 to 50% by mass, and more preferably 40 to 50% by mass, in terms of the mass of the solids of acerola juice when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the acerola kernel powder and the solids in the acerola juice is taken as 100%.

[0034] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the acerola juice may be a clear juice that does not contain solids derived from the peel or pulp, or a cloudy juice that contains solids derived from the peel or pulp. Thus, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the solids of the acerola juice may include solids derived from the peel or pulp.

[0035] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, preparing acerola dried powder from only natural materials derived from acerola, such as ground acerola kernels and solids from acerola juice, is preferable in terms of providing a highly safe additive-free material; however, other additives that are acceptable from a food hygiene standpoint can also be added to the acerola dried powder as long as they do not interfere with deliquescence or safety, and such embodiments are also encompassed within the present disclosure.

[0036] Furthermore, the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure can be produced using a large volume of acerola-derived raw materials rich in vitamin C, allowing it to retain a high concentration of vitamin C. As described above, the vitamin C content in the acerola dry powder can be adjusted to the desired range by appropriately adjusting the mixing ratio of the acerola kernel powder and acerola juice, but is preferably 4.0% by mass or more, more preferably 16.5% by mass or more, more preferably 17.0% by mass or more, and even more preferably 20.0% by mass or more. The upper limit of the vitamin C content in the acerola dry powder may be adjusted as appropriate, but a preferred example is 25% by mass.

[0037] The vitamin C content in the acerola dry powder can be measured by the indophenol method. For further details, see the Examples section.

[0038] The average particle size (D50) of the acerola dry powder may be adjusted as appropriate taking into consideration the desired shape of the acerola dry powder, production suitability (yield), etc., but from the standpoint of production suitability, it is preferably 40 to 110 μm, and more preferably 40 to 69 μm.

[0039] The particle shape of the acerola dry powder can also be adjusted appropriately by preselecting the properties and mixing ratios of the acerola kernel powder and acerola juice, taking into account production suitability. The circularity calculated using the following formula can be used as an index of the shape of the acerola dry powder. A circularity of 1.0 indicates a perfect circle, and the more complex the shape, the smaller the circularity value below 1.0. The closer the circularity is to 1.0, the better the fluidity of the acerola dry powder can be expected.

[0040] (In the formula, S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle, and L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle.)

[0041] As described above, the circularity of the acerola dried powder can be adjusted to a desired range by appropriately adjusting the properties and mixing ratios of the ground acerola kernel and acerola juice. The circularity of the acerola dried powder is preferably 0.55 to 1.0, and more preferably 0.65 to 1.0. According to the present disclosure, adjusting the properties and mixing ratios of the ground acerola kernel and acerola juice allows the circularity of the acerola dried powder to be adjusted, which is advantageous in achieving a high bulk density, high fluidity, and improved production efficiency.

[0042] Furthermore, from the viewpoint of storage stability, the acerola dry powder is preferably completely dry, but may contain moisture as long as the effects of the present disclosure are achieved. The moisture content (hereinafter also referred to as moisture value) of the acerola dry powder is, for example, 0.1 to 10% by mass, and preferably 0.1 to 8% by mass.

[0043] The acerola dry powder may be hygroscopic while retaining its deliquescence resistance. The moisture absorption rate of the acerola dry powder is not particularly limited as long as it exhibits the effects of the present disclosure, but from the viewpoint of storage stability, the moisture absorption rate is, for example, 1 to 30% when stored under high humidity conditions of 30°C and 80% humidity for 72 hours.

[0044] The acerola dry powder obtained by the manufacturing method of the present disclosure can be used as is or in combination with other ingredients. According to one embodiment, the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure can be used as a food (food composition) either as is, or after being encapsulated or processed into tablets by tableting. In another embodiment, the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure can be incorporated into other food ingredients or foods. Because the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure exhibits a high vitamin C content, it can be suitably incorporated into food ingredients or foods that require a high level of vitamin C.

[0045] According to one embodiment, the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure can be incorporated into cosmetics. Because the acerola dry powder of the present disclosure has a high vitamin C content, it can be suitably incorporated into cosmetics that require vitamin C.

[0046] In one embodiment, the acerola dried powder of the present disclosure can be provided as a product labeled with acerola juice and ground acerola kernels (e.g., also known as acerola seed powder) as ingredients. In a preferred embodiment, the product may also be labeled with the vitamin C content and / or average particle size.

[0047] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the following are provided: [1] A method for producing acerola dried powder, comprising a step of drying a mixed liquid containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice, wherein the acerola kernel powder is a powder obtained by drying and grinding a solid material containing the endocarp separated by acerola juice extraction process. [2] The method according to [1], wherein the acerola dried powder has a vitamin C content of 4.0% by mass or more. [3] The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acerola dried powder has an average particle size (D50) of 40 to 110 μm. [4] The method according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the acerola dried powder has a circularity of 0.55 to 1.00, as calculated by the following formula: (In the formula, S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle, and L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle.) [5] The method according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the mixing ratio of the ground acerola kernel and the acerola juice in the mixed solution has been adjusted in advance so that at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of vitamin C content, average particle size (D50), and circularity falls within a predetermined range in the acerola dry powder. [6] The method according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the ground acerola kernel and the acerola juice are mixed in the mixed solution so that the mass of the ground acerola kernel is 45 to 91% when the total mass (dry basis) of the ground acerola kernel and the solids in the acerola juice is 100%. [7] The method according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the mixed solution comprises the pulverized acerola kernel and the acerola juice. [8] The method according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein the acerola kernel is a solid material containing endocarp present in the kernel of the acerola. [9] The method according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the pulverized acerola kernel has an average particle size (D50) of 4 to 30 μm.

[10] The method according to any one of [1] to

[10] , wherein the drying is carried out by spray drying.

[11] A dried acerola powder obtained by the method according to any one of [1] to

[10] .

[12] An acerola dried powder comprising a ground acerola kernel and solids of acerola juice as dry components, wherein the mass of the ground acerola kernel is adjusted to 45 to 91% when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the ground acerola kernel and the solids of the acerola juice is 100%.

[13] The acerola dried powder according to

[12] , which has a vitamin C content of 16.5 mass% or more.

[14] The acerola dried powder according to

[12] or

[13] , which has a particle size (D50) of 40 to 110 μm.

[15] The acerola dried powder according to any of

[12] to

[14] , wherein the circularity of the acerola dried powder, calculated by the following formula, is 0.55 to 1.0. (In the formula, S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle, and L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle.)

[16] The acerola dry powder according to any of

[12] to

[15] , wherein the acerola juice is a clear juice that does not contain solids derived from the peel or pulp, or a cloudy juice that contains solids derived from the peel or pulp.

[17] The acerola dry powder according to any of

[12] to

[16] , obtained by the method according to any of [1] to

[11] .

[0048] The present disclosure will be specifically described based on the following examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise specified, the units and measurement methods described in this specification follow those described in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards).

[0049] Test Example 1: Evaluation of acerola dried powder obtained by spray drying acerola kernel-containing liquid (1) Preparation of acerola kernel powder and acerola juice. 100 kg of acerola fruit was squeezed, depulped, and concentrated to produce a clear concentrated juice. Acerola concentrated juice (hereinafter simply referred to as "acerola juice") was prepared so that the evaporation residue was 30-45% by mass. In all test groups below, the same lot of acerola concentrated juice prepared according to the above procedure was used as the raw material. The acerola fruit used was harvested in the Brazilian states of Pernambuco, Sergipe, Ceará, Maranhão, Bahia, São Paulo, and Paraná.

[0050] The process of producing acerola juice also yields acerola kernels (endocarp-containing solids, including endocarp and seeds, and pulp, obtained by separating the acerola juice when the acerola is processed using a pulp fisher (device name: D-010, manufactured by Macamau) during juice extraction). The acerola kernels were dried (air-dried) and coarsely pulverized using a CONDUX150 pulverizer (manufactured by NETZSCH). The median particle size (D50 value) of the coarsely pulverized product was 400 to 1100 μm.

[0051] Next, the coarsely ground product was processed using the following mills to prepare ground acerola kernels with various average particle sizes (D50 values): (i) Using an impact mill ACM-30CR (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), four types of ground acerola kernels with D50 values ​​of 4.7 μm, 10.6 μm, 11.7 μm, and 14.5 μm were prepared. (ii) Using a jet mill 200AFG (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation), three types of ground acerola kernels with D50 values ​​of 11.8 μm, 17.4 μm, and 25.1 μm were prepared. (iii) Using a fine grinding atomizer MKA-10J (manufactured by Masuko Sangyo Co., Ltd.), ground acerola kernels with a D50 value of 29.4 μm were prepared. (iv) Using an airflow mill 10-550 (manufactured by Powder Bank Japan Co., Ltd.), ground acerola kernels with a D50 value of 34.0 μm were prepared.

[0052] (2) Preparation and Evaluation of Acerola Dried Powder Using a Small Spray Dryer 2-1: Preparation of Acerola Dried Powder Using a Small Spray Dryer A mixture of the nine types of acerola kernel powder and acerola juice was prepared and spray-dried using a small spray dryer (L-8i spray dryer: tower inner diameter 0.8 m, manufactured by Okawara Kakoki Co., Ltd.) to obtain acerola dried powder. In preparing the mixture of acerola kernel powder and acerola juice, the dry blend ratio of the solids of the concentrated acerola juice to the crushed acerola kernel was adjusted to a vitamin C content of approximately 17% by mass (solids of concentrated acerola juice / crushed acerola kernel (solids) = 40 / 60). Water was also added to the mixture to achieve an appropriate viscosity for spray drying. The recovery rate of the acerola dry powder was calculated from the total dry mass of the solid content in the above mixture sprayed by the spray dryer and the mass of the resulting acerola dry powder.

[0053] 2-2: Evaluation of acerola dried powder's suitability for productionThe suitability for production of acerola dried powder was evaluated based on the following evaluation criteria A, B, and C. A: The predicted recovery rate with a large spray dryer (equipment actually used on an industrial basis) is 90% or more. B: The predicted recovery rate with a large spray dryer is 70% or more. C: The predicted recovery rate with a large spray dryer is less than 40%.

[0054] Here, the above evaluation criteria, which are based on large dryers, are based on a correlation calculated in advance using multiple acerola dried powders, between the recovery rates obtained with the small spray dryer used in (2) and the medium-sized spray dryer used in (3) described below, and the recovery rates obtained with a large spray dryer manufactured by GEA and used on an industrial basis with an inner diameter of 3 m or more.

[0055] (3) Preparation and evaluation of acerola dry powder using a medium-sized spray dryer In accordance with (2), six types of acerola kernel pulverized material were used to spray-dry the above mixture using a medium-sized spray dryer (OC-16 spray dryer: tower inner diameter 1.6 m, manufactured by Okawara Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd.), obtaining acerola dry powder, and evaluating its suitability for production.

[0056] (4) Physical Property Analysis of Acerola Kernel Crushed Product and Acerola Dried Powder The average particle size (D50) of the acerola kernel crushed product and acerola dried powder in (1) and (2) was measured using a Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer (Malvern Panalytical). The moisture content of the acerola dried powder was calculated as the percentage of mass lost after drying at 105°C for 3 hours in a thermostatic oven. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content was measured by titration using indophenol reagent according to the 18th Edition of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia.

[0057] Results The results of the evaluation of the physical properties and production suitability of the acerola powder prepared using the small sprayer are shown in Table 1 below.

[0058]

[0059] From the viewpoint of the above-mentioned productivity, the average particle size (D50) of the pulverized acerola kernels is preferably 4 to 30 μm, more preferably 4 to 15 μm, and the average particle size (D50) of the dried acerola powder is preferably 40 to 110 μm, more preferably 40 to 69 μm.

[0060] Furthermore, taking into consideration the above results and the results of preliminary experiments not shown in the table, it was observed that as the size of the acerola kernel powder increases, the size of the acerola dried powder also increases, making it more likely to be insufficiently dried, resulting in a higher moisture content and a larger acerola dried powder, and a tendency for its production suitability to decrease. This suggests that the production suitability of acerola dried powder can be adjusted by adjusting the size of the acerola kernel powder in advance and adjusting the final average particle size of the acerola dried powder.

[0061] The results of evaluating the physical properties and production suitability of the acerola powder prepared using a medium-sized sprayer are shown in Table 2 below. Here, although the size of the sprayer is different, the samples in test plots 2-1 to 2-5 correspond to the samples in test plots 1-3 to 1-6 and 1-8.

[0062]

[0063] Test Example 2: Investigation of the blending concentration of ground acerola kernels in acerola dried powder In order to investigate the blending concentration suitable for spray drying of ground acerola kernels, a test was conducted using the same method as Test Example 1, except that the concentrations of ground acerola kernels and acerola juice components (solid content) in the acerola dried powder were varied. The Jet Mill 200AFG (manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Corporation) was used to prepare the ground acerola kernels. The resulting D50 value of the ground acerola kernels was 11.8 μm. A small spray dryer (L-8i spray dryer, manufactured by Okawara Kakoki Co., Ltd.) was used for spray drying.

[0064] The results are shown in Table 3.

[0065] Taking into account the above results and the results of preliminary experiments not shown in the table, it was suggested that the vitamin C content and production suitability of the dried acerola powder can be controlled by adjusting the mixing ratio of crushed acerola kernels to acerola juice.

[0066] Furthermore, the results in Table 3 indicate that suitable production suitability can be achieved if the proportion of ground acerola kernel in the acerola dried powder (on a dry matter basis) is at least 45 to 91% by mass. Furthermore, commercially available acerola dried powder generally contains 5% or more by mass of vitamin C. Therefore, from the perspective of achieving a vitamin C content of 5% or more, the above results suggest that the proportion of ground acerola kernel in the acerola dried powder (on a dry matter basis) should preferably be 85% or less by mass.

[0067] Test Example 3: Circularity of Acerola Dried Powders The circularity of the acerola dried powder particles was measured for comparative test plots 1-1 to 1-3 and 1-5, as well as for commercial acerola dried powder products 1 and 2 (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass in both cases) according to the following method. Commercial product 1 is an acerola dried powder obtained by subjecting acerola fruit to microwave-vacuum drying and powdering. Commercial product 2 is a dextrin-containing acerola dried powder made from acerola juice and dextrin.

[0068] The circularity was measured using a Keyence VHX-7000 digital microscope by measuring 100 or more particles in three or more fields of view and calculating the average value.

[0069] The circularity was calculated by the following formula: where projected area S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the particle obtained by projecting it vertically from above, and perimeter L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the particle.

[0070]

[0071] The results are shown in Figures 1A and 1B. Taking into account the results of Figures 1A and 1B and the results of preliminary experiments not shown in the figures, it was found that acerola dry powder made using smaller-sized ground acerola kernels was more likely to have a spherical shape with a circularity closer to 1.0. This suggests that the circularity and shape of the acerola dry powder can be adjusted by adjusting the size of the ground acerola kernels and the mixing ratio of the ground acerola kernels to acerola juice, thereby adjusting the final average particle size of the acerola dry powder.

[0072] Test Example 4: Evaluation of deliquescence and moisture absorption rate of acerola dried powder Test plots 2-1, 2-3, and 2-4 (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass) and commercial acerola dried powder products 2, 3, and 4 were kept in an incubator at 30°C and 80% humidity, and the deliquescence and moisture absorption rate of each sample was evaluated. Commercial products 2, 3, and 4 are dextrin-containing acerola dried powders made from acerola juice and dextrin (vitamin C content: approximately 17% by mass).

[0073] The evaluation criteria for deliquescence were the following four points: A: Not deliquescent B: Partially deliquescent C: Deliquescent D: Completely liquid

[0074] The moisture absorption rate was calculated using the following formula.

[0075] The evaluation results for deliquescence are shown in Table 4. Photographs of each acerola dried powder during the storage period (0, 1, 3, 6, and 72 hours after the start of the test) are shown in Figure 2. The acerola dried powders prepared using the crushed acerola kernels in test plots 2-1, 2-3, and 2-4 did not exhibit deliquescence. On the other hand, water was observed on the powder surface for commercial products 2 to 4 6 to 72 hours after the start of the test, and all of them liquefied.

[0076] The moisture absorption rate for test plots 2-1, 2-3, and 2-4 was 21.6% or higher 72 hours after the start of the test. This indicates that 100% acerola powder, a dried acerola powder prepared using crushed acerola kernels and fruit juice, absorbs moisture but does not deliquesce, even when left out in an environment of 30°C and 80% humidity for 72 hours.

[0077]

[0078] The evaluation results regarding moisture absorption rate are shown in Table 5. There was no significant difference in moisture absorption rate among the samples.

[0079] [Summary] Acerola fruit is used in a variety of foods, beverages, and cosmetics because it contains a large amount of vitamin C. Meanwhile, in recent years, especially in Europe and the United States, an increasing number of consumers are preferring "clean label" products that avoid the use of synthetic chemical ingredients and additives, and acerola is expected to be a natural vitamin C-containing material that can replace synthetic vitamin C.

[0080] Acerola is available in the form of juice, puree, and dried powder obtained by spray drying or vacuum freeze drying. Dried powders are widely used because they generally have a long shelf life and are easy to add to a variety of foods. However, the energy costs involved in producing vacuum freeze dried powders make spray dried powders more economical and popular.

[0081] In the production of spray-dried powders, additives such as dextrin, shell calcium, and magnesium preparations are generally required to accelerate drying and prevent the powder from clumping or solidifying due to moisture after powderization. Commercially available spray-dried acerola powders include those made by mixing dextrin with acerola juice and powdering it, and those made by mixing shell calcium or seawater-derived magnesium preparations with acerola juice. However, these products differ from the authentic flavor of acerola, and consumers who expect health benefits also tend to prioritize naturalness, so products that do not contain the above-mentioned additives are desired.

[0082] Furthermore, the inventors' investigations revealed that when conventional acerola dried powder is stored under high humidity conditions, it becomes deliquescent and liquefied.

[0083] Given this technical situation, the present disclosure provides a method for producing acerola dry powder that is resistant to deliquescence and has excellent storage stability, as shown in the above examples. Furthermore, the present disclosure allows for production by spray drying using naturally derived ingredients, namely, ground acerola kernels and acerola juice, which is advantageous for producing acerola dry powder in large quantities at low cost, i.e., efficiently. Furthermore, the present disclosure allows for the use of these naturally derived ingredients to provide acerola dry powder as an additive-free material. Furthermore, the present disclosure allows for the use of acerola-derived ingredients rich in vitamin C in large quantities, which is advantageous for producing acerola dry powder with a high vitamin C content.

[0084] Test Example 5 Preparation of Test Samples <Control Group 1> Frozen acerola fruit from Brazil was thawed at room temperature. The thawed whole acerola fruit was then coarsely pulverized using a mincer. The resulting coarsely pulverized product was then finely pulverized four times using a mass colloider (HP10-40JIV, manufactured by Masuko Sangyo) to obtain a pulverized whole acerola fruit (average particle size (D50 value): 66 μm). Next, water was added to the pulverized whole acerola fruit in accordance with the description of Test Example 1 (2) 2-1 to prepare a stock solution, which was then spray-dried (apparatus used: L-8i spray dryer) to obtain a dried acerola powder.

[0085] <Test plots 1-2 and 1-8> In addition, for test plots 1-2 (average particle size (D50 value) of crushed acerola kernels: 10.6 μm) and test plots 1-8 (average particle size (D50 value) of crushed acerola kernels: 29.4 μm), a stock solution was prepared using concentrated acerola juice and crushed acerola kernels as raw materials, and spray-dried (equipment used: L-8i spray dryer) as described in Test Example 1 to obtain acerola dried powder.

[0086] In the production of control area 1, test area 1-2, and test area 1-8 in the comparative test, the acerola dry powder recovery rate (%), acerola dry powder production efficiency per hour (g / h), and acerola dry powder production efficiency (fold) (multiple of the acerola dry powder production efficiency per hour compared to control area 1) were compared.

[0087] The results are shown in Table 6 below. Compared to control area 1, test areas 1-2 and 1-8 had higher acerola dry powder recovery rates and acerola dry powder production efficiencies. As shown in Table 6, control area 1, which used whole acerola fruit as the raw material, had a powder recovery rate of 7.1% and a powder production efficiency of 3.0 g / hr, while test area 1-2 had a powder recovery rate of 54.7% and a powder production efficiency of 244.0 g / hr, and test area 1-8 had a powder recovery rate of 20.9% and a powder production efficiency of 65.0 g / hr. In other words, test areas 1-2 and 1-8 had powder production efficiencies that were 81.2 and 21.8 times higher, respectively, than control area 1, which used whole acerola fruit as the raw material.

[0088]

[0089] Test Example 6 Preparation of Test Samples <Control Group 2> Dextrin powder (Pinex #100, Matsutani Chemical Co., Ltd.) was added to the crushed whole acerola fruit in Control Group 1 to obtain a mixed powder (solid content of crushed whole acerola fruit / dextrin powder (solid content) = 60 / 40). Next, water was added to the mixed powder to prepare a stock solution, which was spray-dried in accordance with the description in Test Example 1 (2) 2-1 to obtain a dried acerola powder. Here, the solid content concentration of the stock solution in Control Group 2 was 12.1%.

[0090] <Test Plots 1-8> As in Test Example 5, acerola dried powder for Test Plots 1-8 was obtained according to the description of Test Example 1 of the present specification. Test Plots 1-8 (raw material liquid solids concentration 17.8%) was chosen for use in this comparative experiment because the raw material liquid solids concentration was relatively close to that of Control Plot 2.

[0091] Comparison test: Control plot 2 and test plots 1-8 were compared for deliquescence according to the description of Test Example 4. The results are shown in Table 7. Although the solids concentrations of the two original solutions were similar, control plot 2 lost its deliquescence resistance 3 hours after the start of the test and became caramel-like 72 hours after the start of the test, while test plot 1-2 maintained its deliquescence resistance even 72 hours after the start of the test.

[0092]

[0093] Test Example 7 The following experiment was conducted to confirm the mass proportion of solids derived from the crushed acerola kernel in the dry powder obtained by drying and crushing the whole acerola fruit.

[0094] Approximately 900 g of frozen acerola fruit was completely thawed, and the core (endocarp) containing the seeds was manually separated from the remaining pericarp, pulp, juice, etc., and collected in a container. 400 g of water was added to the container containing the collected core, and washed. This washing process was repeated twice. The washing solution was also collected and dried. The collected core and other fruit components were subjected to a primary drying process using a freeze-drying process, followed by secondary drying at 105°C for 3 hours to remove moisture, and the powdered dry mass was measured. The results are shown in Table 8.

[0095]

[0096] As shown in Table 8, the mass ratio of the core (endocarp, etc.) containing the seeds in the acerola fruit after drying was 26.8%. These results indicate that in the dried powder obtained by drying and grinding whole acerola fruit, the mass of the ground acerola core was significantly lower than 45-91% when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the ground acerola core and the solids in the acerola juice was taken as 100%. This is thought to be the same mass ratio of the core when the whole fruit is microwave-dried. These results indicate that acerola dried powder in which the mass of the ground acerola core is in the range of 45-91% when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the solids in the acerola juice is taken as 100% differs in composition from conventional acerola dried powders made from whole acerola fruit.

Claims

1. A method for producing dried acerola powder, comprising a step of drying a mixture containing ground acerola kernels and acerola juice, wherein the ground acerola kernels are obtained by drying and grinding a solid material containing the inner peel separated by acerola juice extraction process.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vitamin C content in the acerola dry powder is 4.0% by mass or more.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average particle size (D50) of the acerola dry powder is 40 to 110 μm.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circularity of the acerola dry powder calculated by the following formula is 0.55 to 1.

00. (In the formula, S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle, and L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle.) 5. The method described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mixing ratio of the acerola kernel powder and the acerola juice in the mixture is pre-adjusted so that at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of vitamin C content, average particle size (D50), and circularity in the acerola dried powder falls within a predetermined range.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acerola kernel powder and the acerola juice are mixed in the mixture so that the mass of the acerola kernel powder is 45 to 91% when the total mass (dry basis) of the acerola kernel powder and the solids in the acerola juice is 100%.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the mixture consists of the acerola kernel powder and the acerola juice.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acerola core is a solid material containing the endocarp present in the core of the acerola.

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the average particle size (D50) of the ground acerola kernels is 4 to 30 μm.

10. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the drying is carried out by spray drying.

11. Acerola dry powder containing acerola kernel powder and acerola juice solids as dry components, wherein the mass of the acerola kernel powder is adjusted to 45 to 91% when the total mass (dry equivalent) of the acerola kernel powder and the acerola juice solids is 100%.

12. Acerola dry powder as described in claim 11, having a vitamin C content of 4.0% by mass or more.

13. The acerola dry powder according to claim 11 or 12, having an average particle size (D50) of 40 to 110 μm.

14. The acerola dry powder according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the circularity of the acerola dry powder calculated by the following formula is 0.55 to 1.

0. (In the formula, S represents the area of ​​the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle, and L represents the circumferential length of the planar projection of the acerola dry powder particle.) 15. The acerola dried powder according to claim 11, wherein the acerola juice is a clear juice that does not contain solids derived from the peel or pulp, or a cloudy juice that contains solids derived from the peel or pulp.

16. Acerola dry powder according to claim 11, obtained by the method according to claim 1.

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