Definition:

◣

◢

PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder is a made from processed sweetcorn kernels. It is also known as vegetable corn flour or fruit corn flour and is a type of value-added corn product. Compared to ordinary maize flour, it has a higher soluble sugar content (10-20% compared to 3-5%), a lower starch content (40-50%), and a sweet taste and rich flavour. It offers both nutritional and functional benefits.

Particularities of PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder:

Product Specifications:

○

○

Product quality standards:

● Food grade, In-house

PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder Applications:

■ Source

Sweetcorn is a specific variety of maize belonging to the Zea genus within the Poaceae family. Originally from the Americas, it is now widely cultivated in the temperate and subtropical regions of China, including Northeast China, Shaanxi, Xinjiang and Zhejiang. Its unique genetic characteristics result in the abnormal activity of enzymes that metabolise sugar in the endosperm. This prevents sugars from being effectively converted into starch, leading to the accumulation of high levels of soluble sugars, such as sucrose and fructose.

​​​​​​​Richtek selects raw material varieties that are of high quality, with a soluble sugar content of ≥15%. Harvesting generally takes place during the milk stage, when the sweetcorn is at its sweetest and the moisture content is moderate (70-75%). Quality requirements include plump kernels and a bright yellow colour, as well as an absence of pests, diseases and mould.

PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder is available in the following specification and contents:

☑  PulpJuica®Banana powder (Freeze drying/Spray drying), organic available

The food industry is the main sector that uses PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder. The key benefits of using it in baked goods include providing a natural sweetener as an alternative to sucrose, enhancing flavour and colour, and improving dough workability. It is typically added at a rate of 10-30% to bread, muffins, biscuits, and cakes. Freeze-dried sweetcorn flour is used as a bread coating and, when rehydrated, retains its fresh flavour while enhancing texture. In beverages and dairy products, its advantages include instant solubility, pure flavour and complete nutritional value. In powdered drinks, it dissolves instantly in cold water at an addition rate of 20-50%. In liquid beverages, using it improves stability and prevents separation. Freeze-dried powder is used in infant formula and premium yoghurt to preserve vitamins and active ingredients. The main advantages of using it in infant complementary foods and formulae are ease of dissolution, digestibility, comprehensive nutrition and the absence of additive risks. In snack foods and puffed products, freeze-dried sweet corn flour delivers a rich flavour and crisp texture while keeping costs under control. In condiments and sauces, it acts as a natural thickener, enhancing flavour complexity.

The key advantages of using PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder in dietary supplements are its high nutrient retention and preservation of active ingredients. Corn dietary fibre powder, vitamin complex tablets and freeze-dried powders all retain active ingredients such as glutathione and lutein. Corn meal replacement powders and antioxidant capsules utilise its antioxidant and dietary fibre properties.

In the feed industry, the key advantages of PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder lie in its high energy content, digestibility, and ability to improve feed utilisation. When added to pig, chicken and duck feed, it provides energy and dietary fibre, thereby improving gut health. In fish and shrimp feed, dry-processed flour enhances pellet stability and reduces loss in water. Freeze-dried sweet corn flour is used in premium dry dog and cat food to preserve nutrients and improve palatability.

■ Active ingredients

PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder is highly nutrient-dense and rich in various natural bioactive compounds. The combined effect of these factors gives it significant nutritional and functional value. Its key characteristic component is soluble sugars, which account for 10% to 20% of its composition-significantly higher than in ordinary maize. These consist mainly of sucrose, glucose, fructose and maltose, which provide a naturally sweet taste and rapidly supply energy to the body whilst promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and regulating the gut microbiome balance.

Dietary fibre is another key nutritional component of sweetcorn flour, with a total dietary fibre content of 6-10%. This includes soluble fibres such as arabinogalactan and insoluble fibres, as well as 3.2% RS2-type resistant starch. Soluble fibre helps to lower blood cholesterol and regulate postprandial blood glucose levels, while insoluble fibre promotes intestinal peristalsis and increases stool bulk. Resistant starch, which is not easily digested or absorbed by the human body, serves as a substrate for beneficial gut bacteria. These multiple actions work together to maintain gut health. PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder also contains several antioxidant components, including glutathione, vitamins C and E, and carotenoids such as β-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. These components effectively scavenge free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative damage and helping to delay ageing and protect cardiovascular health. Furthermore, lutein and zeaxanthin act directly on the eyes, protecting the retina and helping to prevent eye problems. PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder is also rich in B vitamins and contains vitamin K, as well as minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, zinc and iron.

■ Production technology characteristics

There are various processing methods for PulpJuica®Sweet corn powder. Richtek can produce products using the three most common methods on the market.

The dry milling process is a purely physical method that preserves the integrity of dietary fibre and natural flavour, making it ideal for large-scale industrial production. The process involves inspecting, cleaning and removing impurities from the raw material (using a vibrating screen and magnetic separation), conditioning, dehusking and degerming, multi-stage milling, magnetic separation and packaging the finished product (using vacuum or nitrogen flushing). The grinding temperature is ≤45°C to protect the active ingredients. This process retains all dietary fibre and has a vitamin C retention rate of 70-80%, with minimal loss of heat-sensitive components. Products prepared using this process are ideal for general bakery products, feed premixes, basic seasonings, and industrial base powders, and are suitable for cost-sensitive applications where high solubility is not required.

In the wet spray-drying process, a liquid is dried instantly to produce a fine, uniform powder that is highly soluble and balances flavour and stability. While this method achieves a vitamin C retention rate of 60-70%, some heat-sensitive components and dietary fibre are lost. Products prepared using this method are suitable for instant beverages, dairy products, infant formula, meal replacement powders and confectionery. They are ideal for the mid-range market, where solubility and flavour stability are required. While products prepared using this method offer excellent solubility, rich flavour, good stability and a long shelf life, the process is energy-intensive and complex, and involves some loss of nutrients.

The freeze-drying process uses low-temperature vacuum sublimation drying to ensure maximum nutrient retention, leaving the product almost identical to its fresh state upon rehydration. The process involves inspecting the raw materials, washing them, rapidly freezing them, vacuum freeze-drying them, grinding them at a low temperature, sieving them and packaging them. The grinding temperature is ≤30°C to protect the active ingredients and ensure a vitamin C retention rate of ≥90%. Products prepared using this method retain at least 95% of their active ingredients (including glutathione, lutein and vitamins) whilst maintaining intact dietary fibre. These products are ideal for high-value-added, premium markets with extremely high standards for nutrition and flavour, and are suitable for high-end bakery products, health supplements, infant formula, cosmetics and pet food. This method offers the highest nutrient retention, the flavour closest to fresh produce, excellent rehydration properties, and an exceptionally long shelf life.