Plant Extracts

Three routes lead to a plant derived ingredient here. Dried and milled botanicals such as Dehydrated Garlic, Turmeric and Matcha keep the whole material. Standardised extracts such as Curcumin and Lutein isolate a marker compound and are traded on its assay. Fermentation gives materials botanical in character but grown rather than harvested, including Astaxanthin and Yeast Extract.

Assay is the first axis of choice. Curcumin is sold from roughly ten per cent in turmeric powder up to ninety five per cent curcuminoids, and those grades are not interchangeable in cost or in colour. Form is the second. Carotenoids such as lutein and astaxanthin are oil soluble and reach a beverage only as beadlets, emulsions or cold water dispersible powders. Extraction route is the third, since solvent extracted, supercritical carbon dioxide and steam distilled Ginger Oil differ in aroma profile and in the residue testing that applies to them.