Gummies: The perfect medium for nutraceuticals

One of the challenges for the nutraceutical market is finding the right medium. Gummies can often be the perfect solution, offering highly accurate dosing, excellent shelf-life stability and ease in combining multiple active ingredients.​

Gummies also come in appealing flavours, unpleasant tastes can be masked out and they are potentially low in sugar or even sugar-free. The use of vitamins and other supplements in a sweet gummy form has risen significantly over recent years. Examples of these actives include calcium, omega-3, melatonin, multivitamins, cranberry, or vitamins for hair, skin or nails. Adding supplements to candy makes it possible to take daily recommended vitamins and nutrition in a more straightforward way.

In addition, consumer demand for botanical sleep and relaxation supplements, such as valerian, chamomile, lavender, ashwagandha and lemon balm, is high and retailers are therefore happy to give them plenty of shelf space. And now, traditional products such as teas, tablets and capsules are increasingly joined by gummies, which provide a convenient and appealing alternative. These natural supplements are perfectly suited for dosing via gummies. However, each has specific properties which call for alterations in the production process.

Challenges and considerations

Sleep and relaxation botanical supplements often come in powder form, which can cause the candy mass to become more viscous. This presents problems when depositing. Tanis experts can help you optimize formulas to ensure the best viscosity.

Another consideration is heat sensitivity. Some botanicals can degrade with heat, either losing efficacy or taking on an unpleasant flavour. Tanis experts can provide specific advice to prevent this from happening.

Formulators also need to take into account the appearance of the final product.Valerian and Ashwagandha are both brown-coloured powders. This means the candy base will also be dark brown. This means that considerations need to be made as to how to colour these gummies, and flavour them in a way that best suits the colour.

Botanical sleep and relaxation supplements

Valerian is the root of the valerian plant. It can help people fall asleep faster, improve sleep quality, and spend more time in a deep sleep stage.

Chamomile flowers are used to treat a wide range of health issues such as coughs, bronchitis, fevers, colds, inflammation, infection, wounds and burns. They are also believed by some to have sedative and anticonvulsant effects.

Ashwagandha, also known as Indian ginseng and winter cherry, is a herbal medicine used for reducing stress and anxiety, improving brain function, and may help improve sleep. Meanwhile, lavender is a popular choice for sleep and relaxation due to its calming effect.

Research has indicated that lemon balm combined with other calming herbs (such as valerian and chamomile) helps reduce anxiety and promotes sleep. Creating gummies and jellies requires a harmonious combination of ingredients, specialist equipment, and expertise. Every jewel of taste, texture and nutritional preference is the result of precise chemistry and processing. And it requires a very specific balance that maintains active ingredient efficacy, ensures accurate dosing, masks unpleasant flavours and avoids cross-contamination. With the right equipment and recipes, successfully producing high quality nutraceutical gummies can be achieved.

Rooted in expertise and experience​

The expertise of food technologists is key to develop the right recipe. But further knowledge about the entire process, from compiling an optimal production line to learning how best to operate it is also key. Be it an experienced manufacturer looking to refresh, upscale or re-invent, or a newcomer to the wonderful world of gummies and jellies, gathering knowledge through a course or workshop is always a good idea.

A manufacturer that offers an all-in-one solution is Tanis, based in The Netherlands. With over 25 years of experience in the confectionery industry, Tanis is familiar with the challenges manufacturers face and the opportunities they strive for. With this in mind, Tanis has developed a three-part course for candy manufacturers and their employees, suitable for any business or individual wishing to engage in the gums and jellies business in any shape or form. The ‘Introduction to gums and jellies’ is the most convenient way to learn more about the business of candy production.

This is underpinned by the Tanis Innovation Center which offers comprehensive training for key supervisors and operators, so you can master the science of manufacturing sweets and candies. Companies are invited to reserve exclusive use of the Tanis Innovation Center for up to two weeks, during which time food technologists and process engineers will be on hand to delve into candy production-related questions, and manufacturers can experiment with recipes and test them on a real production line.

With the right equipment and recipes, making high quality nutraceutical gummies isn’t difficult. But there is, of course, still plenty you’ll want to know before you commit. Tanis is used to that. In fact, they have a webinar course designed specifically to get newcomers up to speed.

The better educated your people are, the bigger contribution they can all make to your company’s success. Tanis’ Introduction to Gummies and Jellies course​ is perfect for bringing everyone up-to-speed on the basics of ingredients, manufacturing processes and understanding the market. Knowledge that could inspire your next great idea with active gummies.