Coffeeberry Brews Unique Products

While the coffee tree is typically grown for its beans, the cherry, or whole fruit, of the plant is emerging as a unique food and beverage ingredient. For intriguing new products, VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc., recently introduced CoffeeBerry™, the nutritious, non-roasted whole coffee fruit in powdered, liquid and flavor-distillate forms.

Coffee plants produce bright-red berries that contain the coffee seed or “bean.” Until now, it was difficult to process the whole, perishable fruit and, consequently, only the bean was commercially used. “We developed a patent-pending process for drying the whole fruit at the plantation soon after picking,” says John Hunter, vice president of business development. “The dried cherries are then shipped to the United States for further processing.”

Whole coffee fruit provides high levels of beneficial nutrients that are either lost when the fruit pulp is discarded or destroyed during roasting of the coffee bean. CoffeeBerry is rich in phenolic acids, natural plant antioxidants that neutralize toxic free radicals, which have been associated with coronary heart disease and other age-related conditions. “One gram of our whole powder has an ORAC (oxygen radical absorbent capacity) of 800, as compared to 24 to 100 ORAC per gram of fresh blueberries,” notes Hunter. “Plus, our products contain many healthy poly- and oligosaccharides.”

Available ingredients include CoffeeBerry Whole Powder (granular and fine grind), CoffeeBerry Forte Extract (a concentrated powder), CoffeeBerry liquid concentrate and CoffeeBerry flavor distillate. Caffeine content (about 0.5%) is significantly lower than in regular roasted coffee; however, the level can be adjusted for energy-type applications. The whole powders are light-tan colored with a pleasant, mild taste that blends well with other flavor systems. Standardized to 50% phenolic acids and 15,000 ORAC, the extract has an astringent note and is typically used in dietary supplements. The nearly flavorless liquid concentrate supplies the nutritious components of the coffee cherry, while the flavor distillate delivers an interesting and novel mild berry flavor. Both liquids can be customized to meet flavor and nutrition requirements.

“Our ingredients offer a new way to incorporate the appeal of coffee into foods and beverages,” says Hunter. “For instance, adding the liquid concentrate to a cup of coffee can supply additional antioxidants without impacting the flavor. In energy bars, the fine powder provides an appealing, subtle profile, as well as coffee nutrition, while the granular form could be blended with tea for a distinctive product, such as a CoffeeBerry Mango-Spice tea.” Other possible applications include chewing gum, prepared and dry-mix beverages, custom gourmet coffees, juices, snacks, syrups and baked goods.

VDF FutureCeuticals, Inc.
819 N. Dixie Hwy
Momence, IL 60954
Phone: 888/452-6853
Fax: 815/472-3850
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.coffeeberry.org