Tartaric Acid
The Natural Fruit-Derived Acidulant Powering Balanced Flavor and Formulation Stability
Product Specifications
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Item
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Specification
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Product Name
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Tartaric Acid
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Abbreviation
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Dihydroxysuccinic Acid
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CAS Number
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133-37-9
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Molecular Formula
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C₄H₆O₆
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Molecular Weight
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150.09
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Appearance
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White to Off-White Crystalline Powder or Granule
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Assay
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≥99.5%
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Test Method
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HPLC
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Shelf Life
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24 Months
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Storage Condition
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Store in a Cool, Dry Place, Sealed Away from Direct Strong Light and Excess Moisture
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Why Is Tartaric Acid So Popular?
The widespread global popularity of Tartaric Acid is closely linked to its natural origin from fruits like grapes, decades of verified food safety records, and unmatched performance as a high-efficiency natural acidulant in the food, supplement and beverage industries. As a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid widely found in berries, grapes and citrus fruits, Tartaric Acid plays irreplaceable essential roles across multiple critical formulation functions:
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Food flavor regulation and bright sour taste adjustment
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pH value stabilization across various formulation systems
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Antioxidant synergy to extend product shelf life
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Effervescent reaction trigger in effervescent tablet formulations
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Metal ion chelation to prevent ingredient discoloration and deterioration
Research shows that regular citric acid, the most common traditional acidulant, often brings a dull, lingering sour aftertaste. As a natural fruit-derived acid with a strong, bright, clean sour profile that hits the taste buds instantly without prolonged aftertaste, Tartaric Acid has become a staple ingredient in premium wine, confectionery, effervescent supplement and functional beverage formulations worldwide.
Key Benefits of Tartaric Acid
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1. Delivers Superior Clean, Bright Sour Flavor Profile
Tartaric Acid provides a unique sharp, refreshing sour taste that hits the palate instantly, unlike citric acid which has a slow, lingering sour aftertaste. It perfectly enhances and brightens the natural fruit flavor of beverages, candies and confectionery products, creating a more authentic, natural fruit taste experience that other common acidulants cannot replicate.
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2. Maintains Excellent Formulation PH Stability
Tartaric Acid features a highly suitable acid dissociation constant that supports precise, stable pH regulation across food and supplement formulation systems, effectively maintaining the optimal pH environment for active ingredients, protecting the potency of sensitive nutritional components and extending finished product shelf life dramatically.
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3. Acts as Core Reactant for Effervescent Tablet Formulations
Tartaric Acid is the most ideal acid source for effervescent supplement formulations. It reacts completely with sodium bicarbonate to produce a smooth, pleasant carbonation effect, no residual bitter taste, and creates a highly stable effervescent system that does not easily absorb moisture prematurely, making it the preferred acidulant for premium effervescent vitamin and mineral products.
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4. Delivers Powerful Metal Ion Chelation and Antioxidant Synergy
Tartaric Acid can effectively chelate trace heavy metal ions in the formulation system, prevent catalytic oxidation of active ingredients caused by metal ions, avoid product discoloration and flavor deterioration, and work synergistically with other antioxidant ingredients to greatly improve the overall antioxidant performance of finished products.
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5. Features High Natural Origin Credibility and Safety Profile
Tartaric Acid is naturally present in common edible fruits, and it is completely metabolized safely in the human body, with global regulatory authorities widely approving it as a safe natural food acidulant. It perfectly meets modern clean label consumer demand for natural, recognizable formulation ingredients.
Applications
Tartaric Acid is an extremely versatile ingredient widely adopted across multiple fast-growing product categories:
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Premium Wine and Grape Beverage Flavor Adjustment
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Effervescent Vitamin and Mineral Supplement Formulations
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Fruit Flavored Confectionery, Sour Candy and Chewing Gum
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Functional Beverages and Fermented Drink Products
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pH Regulator for Jam and Preserve Products
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Antioxidant Stabilizer for Plant Extract and Natural Pigment Formulations
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Acidulant for Baked Pastry and Leavening Systems
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Metal Ion Chelating Agent for Oral Liquid Nutritional Products
Common dosage forms include:
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Crystalline Granules
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Fine Powder Blends
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Effervescent Tablet Formulations
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Beverage Syrup Additives
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Confectionery Acid Blends
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Leavening Agent Components
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Nutritional Supplement PH Regulators
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Natural Flavor Enhancer Blends
Tartaric Acid vs Other Common Acidulant Ingredients
While the food acidulant category continues to develop, Tartaric Acid remains the gold standard natural fruit-derived acid with unmatched bright flavor and effervescent performance.
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Ingredient
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Primary Function
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Tartaric Acid
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Natural Fruit-Derived Acidulant, Bright Instant Sour Taste, Ideal for Effervescent Formulations
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Citric Acid
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Most Common General-Purpose Acidulant, Citrus Origin, Mild Lingering Sour Taste
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Malic Acid
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Apple-Derived Acidulant, Long Lasting Sour Profile, Ideal for Long Aftertaste Fruit Products
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Lactic Acid
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Fermented Acidulant, Mild Sour Taste, Widely Used in Fermented Food
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Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
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Acidulant + Nutritional Antioxidant, Dual Functional Ingredient
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Fumaric Acid
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Low Cost Food Grade Acid, High Thermal Stability for Baked Goods
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Leading food and supplement brands very often combine Tartaric Acid with complementary acidulants to create customized perfectly balanced sour flavor profiles that match different product positioning and consumer taste preferences.
Market Opportunity
The global premium functional food and supplement market continues to maintain strong steady growth, as consumers increasingly demand more natural origin ingredients, more authentic flavor experience and higher quality finished product performance. Several key trends are continuously driving rising market demand for high-purity food grade Tartaric Acid:
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Global booming premium wine and craft beverage market
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Fast expansion of the effervescent supplement consumer market across all age groups
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Rising consumer preference for natural, fruit-derived clean label ingredients
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Growing demand for high-quality sour candy and novel confectionery products
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Widely recognized safety profile with decades of global consumption verification
As a result, Tartaric Acid remains one of the most commercially attractive, irreplaceable formulation ingredients for brands developing next-generation premium flavor and high-performance effervescent wellness products.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is Tartaric Acid?
Tartaric Acid is a natural dicarboxylic acid originally extracted from grape wine sediment, widely used as a high-quality natural acidulant, flavor regulator and effervescent formulation core raw material in the food and supplement industry.
2.Is Tartaric Acid naturally found in food?
Yes. Large amounts of natural Tartaric Acid exist in grapes, and it is also present in small quantities in various fruits including bananas, tamarinds and citrus fruits. It is one of the oldest known natural food acids used by humans.
3.What is the difference between Tartaric Acid and Citric Acid?
Tartaric Acid delivers a much brighter, sharper instant sour taste with no lingering aftertaste, making it ideal for premium grape flavor products and effervescent tablet formulations, while citric acid has a milder, longer lasting sour profile and higher cost performance for general mass market products.
4.What formulations can Tartaric Acid be used in?
Tartaric Acid features excellent water solubility, stable chemical properties, wide compatibility with almost all food and supplement ingredients, suitable for effervescent tablets, beverages, confectionery, jams, baked goods and nearly all common food and nutritional product dosage forms.
5.What purity level is typically available?
Premium food grade Tartaric Acid is commonly produced at purity levels of 99.5% or higher, fully meeting global food safety and supplement manufacturing regulatory standards.
Looking for a Reliable Tartaric Acid Supplier?
As demand for high-quality natural flavor and premium effervescent supplement products continues to grow, ingredient purity, heavy metal residue compliance, taste consistency and supply reliability have become increasingly critical for food, beverage and supplement brands and manufacturers.
Nutrient Trail supplies high-purity food grade Tartaric Acid designed for dietary supplement, functional food, beverage and wine processing applications. Comprehensive technical documentation, including specifications, COA, and full quality assurance information, is available to support your product development and commercialization.