GBA SMOOTHIES / JUICES 2021 - Autumn/Winter

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Back to production, why don't you use concentrates as other manufacturers do? That would be much easier... We only process fresh market quality. This is unusual in the juice sector, but here is a simple example: even with the best technology and the greatest expertise, a Michelin-star chef cannot create a first- class meal, if the raw ingredients are not of the right quality. Likewise, a chef cannot turn the best product into a Michelin-star menu, if he does not master the technology. So it requires high-quality technology AND high-quality materials to get the best out of it. That's why we focus on fresh market quality for our products – and, in the area of processing technology, we work together with universities to gain new insights. No wonder your juices are a bit more expensive... Yes, we have always used this type of production. At times, almost the entire market consisted only of juice concentrates. It is cheaper to produce and sell, but, of course, does not have anywhere near the quality of a direct juice. Though, there has also been a change in the quality-consciousness of consumers - we know that we have to spend somewhat more money on high- quality food. How do you ensure that the customer always gets the same product? In fact, we really cannot guarantee that. This is because with direct juices such as ours, you can't just remove something and you also can't just add something. In other words: I cannot standardise such a juice in the same way as concentrated juices do. If there is a rainy summer, then the juice is not as sweet as in other years. However, customers are willing to accept this, because they know that this product is closer to nature.

But Rabenhorst juices are not really suitable as summer thirst- quenchers, are they? No, that's also not our business. Some may say that fruit juice is nothing more than a cola, it also contains 10 sugar cubes! But there is a very recent study by Prof. Dr. Carle in Hohenheim, which outlines that a glass of orange juice consumed daily with a meal does not make you fat, but, on the contrary, it even reduces your body weight. However, juice is not a refreshment drink. Our juices are specifically made with health in mind, by replacing a portion of fruit or vegetables with a glass of fruit juice. We may not be medicines, but if we take cranberry juice, for example, it is almost as effective against urinary tract infections as medicines. What is your favourite berry juice? We have a juice called “Alles Gute” {All the best}. It’s an organic juice containing many different types of berries, on the basis of grape juice and raspberry puree – it tastes simply fantastic. It’s like you’re biting into a whole basket of fresh raspberries. That’s my favourite - highly recommended!

What else do you pay particular attention to in the production? ? We remove oxygen in as many places as possible. This is because the air that comes into contact with the fruit or juice leads to oxidation. This means a loss of aroma, colour and active ingredients. And, we only ever press our fruits once ... What's so unusual about that? Well, you have to realise that most manufacturers press their raw materials several times. You can repeatedly loosen the fruit up and press them again. This way you get even more colour from the skin, but also, at the same time, unwanted substances that make the juice taste bitter, especially with berries. We don't want that, so we only press once and print "from first pressing" on the bottled products. Is it somehow possible to use what is left over from the juice extraction in any way? ? Yes, it is almost completely further processed. As we don't squeeze the very last drop out of the fruit, it is a very high-quality substance and in great demand in the medicinal, pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries, for example. The remains of the black currant, for example, go to Finland. There they are dried, the seeds isolated and used to make a high-quality oil which is extremely rich in certain omega-3 fatty acids. Similarly, blueberry rests are used as extract for medicinal products, and so on ... Dr. Ruttkat has been pressing juices for more than 20 years an d is Production Plant Manager at Rabenhorst. Dr. Axel Ruttkat ORGINALIN TexT wiebke vortriede ; FoTos getty images; imago (2); istockphoto (6); picture alliance; pr; English translation for Rabenhorst: Louise Moeller

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(Translated from the original article "Wo kommen die Guten Beeren her, Dr. Ruttkat?" in German magazine "Good Health ")

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