What Is Citrus Pectin and How Does It Occur

 

Citrus Pectin is a naturally occurring polysaccharide obtained from apples, berries, and other fruits. It’s however, mainly extracted from citrus fruits. When the polysaccharide is heated together with sugar, it forms a thick substance that looks like jelly or jam. Pectin is an extract from apples with small amounts of dextrose and citric acid as the binders. The binders don’t change the flavor. They only help in thickening, thus utilizing less sugar while cooking.

Pectin is produced and sold commercially as a white or light brown powder. The powder is often used as a gelling agent in foods such as jellies and jams. Further applications include medicine, sweets, dessert fillings and stabilizers in milk and fruit juices.

Pectin occurs as a complex set of polysaccharides, which are present in primary plant cells. The cells are mainly abundant in non-woody parts of terrestrial plants. It is a major component found in the middle lamella, whose main function is to bind cells together.

Types of Pectin

At times, we might wonder “What is pectin made of?” This, however, varies from one type of pectin to another. Pectin comes in different types. Most people prefer no sugar variety, but all varieties have similar nutritive values.