Dried fruit is an easy way to explore a wide range of fruit flavours throughout the year. Some varieties are soft and succulent, others dense, pleasantly chewy or distinctly crisp. Two packs that look very similar can still differ significantly in ingredients, texture and processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soft mango can be a completely different experience from a thin, drier slice. Dates are naturally intensely sweet even when no sugar has been added. Chewy jackfruit is very different from jackfruit chips, while dried citrus slices work beautifully in tea, desserts and drinks as well as on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So how do you choose a product that genuinely matches what you are looking for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drying removes a significant proportion of the water naturally present in fresh fruit. This concentrates flavour and makes the product practical to store and use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not all dried fruit<\/strong><\/a> is the same. The final result depends on factors such as the fruit variety and ripeness, the drying method, residual moisture, thickness of the pieces and any additional ingredients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best choice depends on the flavour, texture and use you have in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dried mango can be soft, flexible and pleasantly chewy. It works well as a snack or as an addition to porridge, granola and desserts. To compare different options, browse the Mango<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A good example of a softer style is our Soft Dried Mango, Sulphur-Free<\/strong><\/a>. When comparing similar products, check the fruit percentage, whether sugar has been added and whether preservatives are used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dates<\/strong><\/a> naturally contain a high proportion of sugars. A label saying \u201cno added sugar\u201d therefore does not mean the fruit itself is sugar-free \u2014 an important distinction when reading nutrition information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, Seedless Sayer Dates, No Added Sugar<\/strong><\/a> offer a soft texture and natural sweetness, making them easy to enjoy straight from the pack or use in porridge, desserts and homemade snack bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dried apricots may be tender or firmer, delicately sweet or pleasantly tangy. This is a category where it is particularly useful to read the ingredient list and check whether sulphur dioxide has been used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jackfruit is a perfect example of how one fruit can produce very different textures. In our Jackfruit<\/strong><\/a> range you can find both chewy styles and crunchy chips. Chewy dried jackfruit is softer and more elastic, while chips are light and distinctly crisp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Orange and lime slices can do much more than serve as a snack. Dried Orange Slices<\/strong><\/a> are especially useful in tea, infusions, lemonades, desserts, baking and edible decoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the most common points of confusion when choosing dried fruit. Fruit naturally contains sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose. During drying, water is removed, so naturally occurring components become more concentrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, dried fruit can contain a considerable amount of naturally occurring sugars even when no sugar was added during production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo added sugar\u201d<\/strong><\/em> means that no additional sugar was added to the product. \u201cSugar-free\u201d<\/strong><\/em> is a different claim and the two should not be treated as interchangeable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the clearest picture, check both the ingredient list and the nutrition table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sulphur dioxide is used in some dried fruit for technological purposes, including helping to maintain a particular colour and supporting product stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not every dried fruit is treated this way. If you prefer products without SO\u2082, check the ingredient list and product description. At the same time, it is better not to reduce the decision to \u201csulphur-free is always better\u201d. Understanding the ingredients and choosing according to your own preferences is more useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texture can matter just as much as flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are looking for an especially light, crunchy texture, explore our freeze-dried fruit<\/strong><\/a>. Freeze-drying creates a very different eating experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Moisture is one of the main factors that can affect the quality of dried products after opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Resealable doypack packaging makes it easier to close the product securely between uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are two different ways of processing fruit. Traditionally dried fruit is generally softer, denser and more flexible. Freeze-dried fruit is extremely light, dry and crisp, and is particularly sensitive to moisture after opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhich dried fruit should you choose?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dried mango<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dried apricots<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dried jackfruit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dried citrus fruit<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
No added sugar does not mean sugar-free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sulphured and unsulphured dried fruit \u2013 what is the difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How to read a dried-fruit ingredient list<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Soft, chewy or crisp?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How should dried fruit be stored after opening?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Which dried fruit works best for different uses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Uses<\/th> Worth considering<\/th><\/tr> Everyday snack<\/td> mango, dates, jackfruit, apricots<\/td><\/tr> Porridge and granola<\/td> mango, dates, cranberries, apricots<\/td><\/tr> Desserts<\/td> mango, dates, figs<\/td><\/tr> Baking<\/td> dates, apricots, figs<\/td><\/tr> Tea and infusions<\/td> orange, lime<\/td><\/tr> Decoration<\/td> dried citrus slices<\/td><\/tr> Snack boards<\/td> dates, mango, figs, nuts<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Dried or freeze-dried fruit?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n