Here at Cook Flavoring Company, we sell our citrus extracts as terpeneless. This is a superior way of manufacturing citrus extracts, but the name can be confusing.
If you've ever eaten an orange or any other citrus fruit, you know that the peel is bitter and not delicious. The oil in the peel gives a citrus extract its flavor profile, but it also contains the natural bitter compounds, called terpenes. Terpenes have another undesirable quality: they are highly prone to a chemical process called oxidation. Oxidation occurs when molecules rearrange to add an oxygen atom to their structure. The more molecules are exposed to open air, the more prone they are to undergo this chemical process. When terpene molecules are exposed to open air and are oxidized, the result is that the oil becomes rancid. So, pure citrus extracts containing terpenes taste bitter and do not have a very long shelf life.
But how are the terpenes removed? The process is a gentle series of washes with distilled water. Terpenes, while they exist happily in oil, are more hydrophilic, especially after they are oxidized. So, washing the oil with water will remove the terpenes. This is done by introducing distilled water to the citrus oil, shaking the mixture, and allowing it to separate. Then the water is decanted and repeated until all the terpenes have been removed.
What is the best way to use citrus extracts? Although citrus extracts impart a delicious flavor on their own, I always recommend pairing the citrus extract with the citrus juice for a true-to-fruit flavor. I would recommend one teaspoon of pure citrus extract and one tablespoon of citrus juice for a typical single-batch recipe. There is no need to add grated citrus peel to the recipe, as the extract provides the same flavor strength as the peel. However, adding the peel to the recipe can be visually appealing, especially if the mixture is light in color and the peel is visible in the final product.
Here are links to our excellent citrus extracts:
Cook's Pure Orange Extract
Cook's Pure Lemon Extract
Cook's Pure Lime Extract
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