June’s Fruit of the Month is raspberry! The sweet, tart and floral notes allow raspberries to stand alone as the primary flavor as well as compliment others in a wide array of applications. From sweets like pies or chocolate bars to drinks like milkshakes or spiked kombuchas, utilizing raspberries has endless potential.
Let’s dive into its dynamic flavor profile, pairing recommendations, and available products to help you best utilize this rich, delicious fruit for your products!
Northwest Naturals Products Available
We have a wide range of raspberry products available, including raspberry juice blends. If you seek a juice blend not yet listed, we are ready to help you create it! Visit our blog post on creating custom blends for more details. Contact us to find out which option works best for your applications.
- Raspberry Juice Concentrate
- Raspberry Essence
- Several Juice Concentrate Blends
- Red Raspberry JC WONF (Juice Concentrate with other Natural Flavors)
- Black Raspberry JC WONF
- Blueberry Raspberry JC WONF
- Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate Blend
- Organic Raspberry JC
- Organic Red Raspberry JC WOOF (Juice Concentrate with other Organic Flavors)
Season
Raspberries are harvested from May to September, though June to August is peak season.
Raspberry yield has been down due to scorching spring/summer weather in Washington, Oregon, and California – raspberry’s primary growing regions. The extreme heatwave in June 2021 was particularly harmful to last year’s yield, affecting price. We suggest using the WONF blends for full flavor at a more manageable cost.
Flavor Profiles
Raspberries have a sweetness and tartness that varies depending on their ripeness when picked. When picked riper, the sweeter they will taste. Additionally, they are aromatic and floral, with notes of rose and cherry. They can be seedy and sour or have a rich, jam-like sweetness.
Pairing Suggestions
Raspberries’ floral yet fruity notes make it a delicious blend with many flavors. Use it with other berries, citrus, apricot, peach, plum, rhubarb, chili peppers, ginger, mint, thyme, almond, hazelnut, and vanilla. It also pairs exceptionally well with chocolate. Apply these pairings and blends to your foods and beverage applications to create a unique, sophisticated, dynamic flavor experience!
Applications for Raspberries
Raspberries can expand your line of already quality products and broaden your business’ clientele. Whether you use raspberries alone or blended with another flavor, they can create memorable juices, cocktails, beer, smoothies, kombucha, milkshakes, and other beverages.
You can elevate the average brunch with raspberry syrups, pancakes, waffles, crepes, oatmeal, cereal, yogurt, and jam. Desserts are an easy way to utilize raspberry’s sweet tartness. Use it in muffins, scones, cheesecakes, pies, cakes, tarts, chocolate bars, and ice cream.
For businesses that specialize in more savory products, raspberries perform well in salad dressings, especially vinaigrettes. BBQ sauce, gastriques, meat glazes, and even ketchup can be made uniquely memorable with the added raspberry punch.
For additional application ideas for raspberries and more, visit our website.
Request a Juice Sample Today!
Ready to craft your next bestseller? Request free juice samples and order products by creating a free Northwest Naturals account. It is a quick and easy way to gain a team of specialists ready to support all your flavor needs. Get started on your blueberry crowd-pleaser, and request a free sample today!