Orange is a longtime favorite among consumers of all ages from around the world and has enjoyed a burst of popularity in the wave of creative food and drink trends. Orange peel granules are an especially versatile food ingredient and a welcome addition to many sweet and savory recipes, making it easier than ever for you to get in on the trend with your food products.
When you want to add natural orange flavor to a recipe, orange peel granules serve as a convenient, shelf-stable alternative to fresh orange zest — and best of all, they’re available year-round.
Read on to learn more about this citrus ingredient and why you should consider using it in your next healthful food offering.
What Makes Orange Peel Granules a Popular Ingredient?
As their name implies, orange peel granules are made from dried orange peel. To make them, fresh oranges are washed and peeled. The peels are then trimmed of excess pith (the bitter white substance inside the peel), shredded, and dehydrated. The dried bits of orange peel are sifted to create a consistent granule size, and then packaged in 50 lb. master cases.
Because the highest concentration of orange oil is found in the fruit’s peel, orange peel granules are strong in flavor. When you use the granules in a recipe, you only need to add about one third of the amount of fresh orange zest originally required — a little bit goes a long way.
While they may be tiny in size, these citrus granules aren’t lacking in nutritional value. Orange peel contains vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. It’s also known for providing dietary fiber that aids digestion, and flavonoids that can reduce inflammation.
However, orange peel’s true nutritional appeal lies in what it doesn’t contain. These zesty granules can flavor a wide range of foods and drinks without adding any fat, sodium, or other undesirable elements. That means your consumers can feel good about enjoying this refreshing citrus taste — and you can feel good about adding it to your healthful food offerings.
How Can You Use Orange Peel Granules?
You can use orange peel granules dry, or rehydrate them by soaking them in lukewarm water for several minutes. Whether dry or reconstituted, this ingredient can be used in many recipes and food products. The suggestions below are just some of the ways you can incorporate orange peel granules into your beverages, sweet treats, and savory food products.
Beverages
- Add them to black, fruity, or spicy tea blends
- Brew beer with them to create spring and summer microbrews or spiced winter brews
- Heat them to make syrups and infusions for both cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages
Sweet Treats
- Include them as part of a boxed mix for breads, cakes, and cookies
- Add them to snack mixes and trail mixes with chocolate for a classic flavor combination
- Use them to enhance the flavor of jams and jellies, such as cranberry sauce
Savory Foods
- Include them as a garnish for bright salads and rice dishes
- Add them to seasoning blends, dry rubs, and marinades for meat, fish, and vegetables
- Use them to flavor chips and crackers for a zesty crunch
At Seawind Foods, we offer orange peel granules in your choice of conventional or organic varieties to suit your food product needs. Whichever variety you decide on, you can be sure that your ingredients are sourced from certified producers and are never soaked in sulfur dioxide. When you work with us as your trusted ingredients supplier, high quality and food safety are always our first priority — and it shows in your ingredients.
Contact Seawind Foods today for more information about our orange peel granules or to request a sample of our delicious products.
