Producers in the food and drink industry are faced with many important decisions when crafting a new product. Achieving the desired flavor, appearance, and nutritional breakdown within food safety guidelines, budgetary constraints, and time limits requires plenty of research and support. Northwest Naturals is here to help make this process easy for you. One way is to offer knowledge of the flavoring process so producers can make the best decisions for their clientele. In this blog post, we will explore juice blend categories.
The Three Juice Blend Categories
There are three categories of juice blends: JC WOJC, JC WONF, and Organic JC WOOF. What do they mean, and which one is for you?
- JC WOJC – Juice Concentrate With Other Juice Concentrates. The named juice is the predominant ingredient. To reduce cost or add flavor complexity, we add other juice concentrates. An example would be our Pomegranate Juice Concentrate WOJC.
- JC WONF – Juice Concentrate With Other Natural Flavors. It may be a particular juice or an ambiguous blend. Examples are our Lime JC WONF and Red Tropical JC WONF.
- JC WONFs will contain:
- Juice concentrate(s)
- Natural Flavor(s)
- JC WONFs may contain:
- Natural Color(s)
- Functional ingredients (most typically just some acid such as citric acid or malic acid)
- Organic JC WOOF – Juice Concentrate With Other Organic Flavors. Same idea as JC WONF, but organic. All ingredients are either organic-certified or organic-compliant.
The main difference to note is WOJC blends do not contain Natural Flavors, while WONF and WOOF blends do. WONF and WOOF blends usually have higher flavor intensity and may be used in lower amounts than a WOJC.
When Would One Type of Blend Be Used Over Another?
We typically use WOJC blends to achieve lighter flavor and allow producers to declare that their product contains juice. Their subtle flavor works deliciously in seltzers and low-calorie beverages.
As opposed to WONF and WOOF blends, it takes a higher amount of WOJC blends to produce a more intense flavor. The Natural Flavors in WONF and WOOF blends intensify flavor, making them typically more cost-effective and versatile. We suggest using WONF and WOOF blends for a wider range of applications, from beverages to bakery products, to desserts, to savory applications, etc.
Appearance is not dependent on whether you use a WOJC, WONF, or WOOF. It is more dependent on the types of juices used.
Let’s Get Started! We know the process of creating new products is laborious, but our flavor experts at Northwest Naturals are here to support you! Contact us today whether it be for guidance, to request a free sample, or to get started creating your next bestseller!