Each one as tiny as a grain of quinoa, Mini’s (sic) is a range of extremely small fruit pieces that has been developed for food manufacturers to real fruit to applications where it has not previously been possible.
Growing Asian demand
According to Peter Tinholt, Taura’s regional general manager, Asia-Pacific is going through a period of increased demand for very small fruit pieces that are suitable for use in fine bakery and confectionery applications like ultra-thin biscuits and premium thin chocolate tablets.
“The market is crying out for very small real fruit pieces that offer an alternative to ingredients that contain high levels of added sugar and other additives, such as sprinkle-style products,” Tinholt said, adding that health-conscious consumers are increasingly seeking out indulgent products with fewer calories so they can enjoy snacking on treats without the guilt.
The new product is made using Taura’s proprietary Ultra Rapid Concentration process, which concentrates the taste, texture and natural goodness of fruit into pieces, flakes and pastes for use in applications such as cakes, snacks, confectionery and chocolate for both the retail and quick service restaurant sectors.
Taura expects Mini’s to be popular as toppings on donuts and muffins and as inclusions in fruit and nut mixes. They can also be used as a fresh addition to frozen dairy beverages and desserts, or as a fruity twist in popcorn products.
Regional market
The product has been created for the Asia-Pacific market, and Taura will be targeting a range of segments for the product, including industrial food manufacturing, bakery, confectionery and quick service restaurants.
The small size and the consistency of the Mini’s pieces means that they travel easily through production equipment such as depositor nozzles and rollers, offering exceptional distribution, Taura says.
They are also free-flowing and bake stable, contain high fruit content with no artificial colours or preservatives, which means they are suitable for clean label products, and have a water activity of 0.41-0.45 to suit both dry and moist applications.