Pembuatan Minuman Instan Sari Kurma (Phoenix dactylifera)

Abstract

Palm dates are the fruit that is rich in calories and nutrition. It contains simple sugars, minerals and vitamins, and has potentially function as healthy food. Nowdays dates usually consumed directly as fresh or dried forms, or processed into ready to drink dates extract or concentrate. This research explored the process of making dry instant dates by using spray dryer, formulation of instant drink and examined it’s the characteristics as instant beverages and it’s consumer acceptance. Dried palm dates were used in the research, therefore for preparation of dates extract should be extracted and diluted in hot water. About 50-60% of dextrin and maltodextrin were added as bulking agent for spray drying. Fifty percents of cane sugar powder was added in the formulation of dates instant drink, to increase the sweetness of product. The results shows that sugars (94.31%) is main component in dried dates. Sixty percents of maltodextrin gave the best result in the preparation of spray dried instant dates. The product has high solubility (97.49%) and low viscosity (18.49 cP) with clear or transparant performance. Base on organoleptic test, this product is preffered in terms of taste, color, aroma and solubility.