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Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone

Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone(NHDC), was discovered during the 1960s for minimizing the taste of bitter flavorants in citrus juices. Neohesperidin when treated with potassium hydroxide or another strong base, and then catalytically hydrogenated, it becomes NHDC, a compound roughly 1500-1800 times sweeter than sugar at threshold concentrations; around 340 times sweeter than sugar weight-for-weight.

Like other highly sweet glycosides, such as glycyrrhizin and those found in stevia, NHDC's sweet taste has a slower onset than sugar's and lingers in the mouth for some time. Unlike aspartame, NHDC is stable to elevated temperatures and to acidic or basic conditions, and so can be used in applications that require a long shelf life. NHDC itself can stay foodsafe for up to five years when stored in optimal conditions.

NHDC in pure form is found as a white substance not unlike powdered sugar. In food it is used as a flavour enhancer in concentrations of around 4-5 parts per million (ppm) and as an artificial sweetener at around 15-20 ppm.

Structural Formula

Molecular Formula

C28H36O15

 Molecular Weight
612.58

 CAS Number
20702-77-6

Characteristics
Off-white fine powder

Specifications
  98% HPLC

Benefits
1.As a flavour enhancer, NHDC is used in a wide range of products. It is noted particularly for enhancing sensory effects.An example of this is 'creaminess' in dairy foods such as yogurt and ice cream.

2.Use in naturally bitter products. Pharmaceutical companies are fond of the product as a means of reducing the bitterness of pharmacological drugs in tablet form.

3.Used for livestock feed as a means of reducing feeding time.

4.Other products NHDC can be found in may include a wide variety of alcoholic beverages (and non-alcoholic), savoury foods, toothpaste, mouthwash and condiments such as ketchup and mayonnaise.