Organic sea buckthorn powder

Sea buckthorn is also called the “lemon of the North” because the small berries are packed with vitamin C. They also contain other vitamins, minerals, and secondary plant compounds with antioxidant properties. This has earned the sea buckthorn berry a reputation as a local superfood. It was allegedly used as early as the time of Genghis Khan as a remedy for wounds and as a fortifying agent. The fruit is not very palatable raw because it has an extremely distinctive, tart, spicy flavor and is highly acidic. That is why the bright red-orange, highly decorative berries are processed into a variety of products: juice, jelly and jam, tea, dried fruit, candies and other sweets, oil, purée, and liqueur. The berry is also used in cosmetic products because its ingredients are very gentle on the skin. And, of course, the berries are ground into sea buckthorn powder, which we use for our BERTRAND drinkable meals.

How is sea buckthorn powder made?

“Hippophae rhamnoides” is the botanically correct name for the sea buckthorn shrub, which belongs to the oil-bearing plants. Other names include dune thorn, lagoon thorn, thorny buckthorn, coralberry thorn, sandberry, and willow thorn. Although it puts on a spectacular display in autumn, it is not easy to handle. After all, it is covered in sharp thorns, as its name suggests. So getting from berry to powder involves a relatively difficult step: harvesting. But let’s start with cultivation.

1. CULTIVATION

   The sea buckthorn shrub thrives in sandy, nitrogen-poor soils. Its extensively spreading root system provides excellent soil stabilization, which is why it is highly valued in coastal areas. This robust shrub can grow up to 5 meters tall and spreads without regard for neighboring plants, both underground and above ground. It owes its name, on the one hand, to its favorite habitat, sandy soil, and on the other, to the fact that it is covered in sharp thorns. In April, the shrub bears rather inconspicuous yellow flowers, which develop into spectacularly bright orange berries between August and October.

   ITS PREFERRED LOCATION: SANDY SOILS

2. HARVESTING

   Mechanical harvesting of the fruit, which grows on the branches like beads, is not possible. Since picking the individual berries is also impractical due to the thorny spines, another manual method has become established: entire branches, including the berries, are cut from the shrubs. The precise harvesting time is very important, as unripe berries are extremely sour and have a slightly astringent taste. Overripe fruit is no longer suitable for consumption. After being cut, the branches move on to the next processing step.

   THE BERRIES ARE CUT FROM THE SHRUBS

3. FLASH-FREEZING

   The entire branches, including the fruit, are deep-frozen at minus 110 degrees Celsius using liquid nitrogen. The rapid flash-freezing preserves the berries’ valuable nutrients almost completely. The frozen berries can then be easily shaken off the branches using a machine.

   DEEP-FROZEN AT MINUS 110 DEGREES CELSIUS

4. CRYOGENIC GRINDING

   Cryogenic grinding refers to the ultra-fine grinding of substances at extremely low temperatures (from the Greek “kryos” = frost, ice). Cryogenic grinding is primarily used when grinding at room temperature would cause problems. This is the case with sea buckthorn berries due to their relatively high oil content. Since the berries are already flash-frozen during harvesting, this cold-grinding process is particularly suitable for producing sea buckthorn powder.

   THE COLD-GRINDING PROCESS

5. VACUUM PACKAGING

   After the berries are milled and the sea buckthorn powder is dried, the intensely orange-colored, strongly aromatic powder is vacuum-packed. The air is drawn out of the outer packaging. Since oxidation caused by the supply of oxygen can no longer occur, the product keeps longer and its vital nutrients are preserved. This is how the organic sea buckthorn powder reaches our homes packed full of valuable nutrients.

   AIR IS REMOVED FROM THE OUTER PACKAGING

Why sea buckthorn?

Sea buckthorn berries are best known for their immense vitamin C content. Just 100 grams of berries contain six times the recommended daily dose of vitamin C. However, it would do this small fruit an injustice to limit its importance to vitamin C alone. It also contains many other important nutrients and is, in fact, a true powerhouse of vital nutrients. Let’s take a look at the most important ingredients.

Vitamin C
The fruit’s high nutritional value is largely due to its high vitamin C content, which is far higher than that of lemons, oranges, bell peppers, blackcurrants, or kiwis. The DGE (German Nutrition Society) recommends around 100 mg per day. Orthomolecular medicine, founded by Linus Pauling (1901–1994, chemist and two-time Nobel Prize winner), advocates several times this amount. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, supports the immune system, neutralizes free radicals as an antioxidant, promotes iron absorption, aids wound healing, and is involved in many metabolic processes.

Vitamin B complex
Sea buckthorn fruit contains the B vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and B6 (pyridoxine). The B vitamins are important for strengthening and maintaining the function of our nerve and muscle tissue. They are involved in protein, hormone, and fat metabolism and support the immune system. They also promote the production of neurotransmitters for our nervous system. They are therefore often referred to as “nerve vitamins.”

Vitamin E
Vitamin E (tocopherols) is known as a powerful antioxidant. It helps inhibit inflammatory processes and supports the immune system. This fat-soluble vitamin protects plant-based fats from becoming rancid.

Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A (retinol). The body can produce vitamin A from plant-based carotenoids. A little fat in the meal supports this process. Vitamin A is important for vision, growth, reproduction, skin and hair, and the immune system.

Vitamin K
Although human gut bacteria can also produce vitamin K (phylloquinone), it has not yet been sufficiently researched to what extent this contributes to meeting requirements. Therefore, a daily intake of around 70 mg is recommended (estimated value). Vitamin K plays a role in blood clotting and bone strength.

Potassium
Just as vitamin C stands out among the vitamins, potassium is the leading mineral, with 133 mg per 100 grams of fruit. Potassium regulates the body’s water balance and is involved in the transmission of nerve signals.

Additional minerals and trace elements
Iron for oxygen supply, magnesium for muscles and the hormonal system, manganese for enzyme activation, and several other minerals and trace elements round out the fruit into a nutrient-rich powerhouse.

Secondary plant compounds
Secondary plant compounds are the pigments, fragrances, and aromatic substances of a plant. In nature, they generally serve to ward off predators and protect the plant from environmental damage. We now know that they also benefit the human body. Many secondary plant compounds are considered to have antioxidant effects.
Sea buckthorn berries contain plenty of quercetin, for example, a yellow natural pigment. It contributes to the fruit’s bright color. The pigment is said to have gut-friendly and antiallergic effects. The carotenoid zeaxanthin, which is also present, is associated with eye health. However, sea buckthorn berries provide many more of these compounds.

Fatty acids
The tiny seeds and the skins of the berries contain valuable fatty acids, especially linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. The seeds contain 20 percent oil, while the fruit pulp still contains 5 percent. The fat content ensures that the fat-soluble vitamins E and K can be readily absorbed by the body.

We use organic sea buckthorn powder in our BERTRAND drinkable meals because its diverse range of ingredients (vitamins, secondary plant compounds, and antioxidants) makes it particularly suitable for aligning the nutrient content of our products with the Nutrient Reference Values (NRV).