Best Practices for Measuring the Colour of Citrus Juice

Accurately measuring the colour of citrus juice is a balancing act. You must meet the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) standards and produce appealing citrus juices that catch your customers' eyes. For the most accurate results, measure opaque liquids with reflectance spectrophotometers and translucent beverages with reflectance or transmission spectrophotometers.

Ensure the Colour of Your Citrus Beverages Appeals to Consumers

Consumers measure the quality of your citrus juice by its colour, and with good reason. Natural compounds in citrus fruits give them their unique colours. The carotenoids in orange juice give it its zesty, orange colour, while lycopene adds a pink, reddish hue to grapefruit juice. The more of these compounds are in your juice, the brighter in colour the product will be, which heightens quality perception.

Measure the Colour of Citrus Juice With Industry Standards in Mind

The importance of colour in citrus juices is so decisive that it's used to classify them based on commercial standards, among other factors. This quality cornerstone means dull, off-yellow orange juice won't meet citrus industry standards. The colour of citrus beverages strongly indicates quality due to the natural components that give them their respective hues.

Always Test the Colour of Your Juice Objectively

To maintain colour consistency, measure your citrus juice objectively rather than subjectively. The human eye can assess colour but is prone to errors and fatigue — using a spectrophotometer can ensure you get accurate, objective test results. Objectivity is also vital for health and safety reasons. The human eye cannot always pickup subtle differences in colour due to foreign bodies or a chemical anomaly in the liquid.

Understand How Quality Measurements in Citrus Juice Relate to Colour

Citrus juices, particularly orange juice, are measured against a colour score or an orange juice index. Your juice has to fulfill a specific score for the FDA to approve it as a quality product fit for selling. An accurate spectrophotometer is critical in measuring the colour of these juices to meet industry standards.

Quality and Efficacy in Colour Measurement: The HunterLab Difference

With compact spectrophotometers that are both easy to use and provide speedy results, HunterLab is the leading solution provider in the colour measurement industry. Our ColorFlex-EZ Citrus can help you produce appealing citrus juices that your customers will appreciate. Have a look at our ColorFlex EZCitrus model, or contact us by filling out the online form or giving us a call.