The history of freeze-drying
Freeze-drying was developed in the 1890s, when it was discovered that organic materials could be processed and stored for long periods of time. During the Second World War, biological goods were freeze-dried to ensure freshness and stability. Once the space age began in the late 1960s, NASA conducted extensive research into this technology. They discovered that freeze-drying is an exciting solution for astronaut nutrition. Even today, freeze-dried products are still an irreplaceable food source for space exploration.
We use this process as an effective way of preserving the botanicals we use. We want to maintain the delicate chemical composition, synergy and balance, and freeze-drying is the best way to achieve that. Indeed, we favor fresh freeze-dried ingredients for their high nutritional density, The result is food supplements that are very effective, giving you a lot of added value.
The fresh freeze-drying process
When you freeze-dry, only the water evaporates off. This means that all the plant goodness is intact in the dried material. To keep the freshness locked in, the drying is completed in two stages, resulting in a matter that is extremely low in water content but rich in phytonutrients. We believe that fresh freeze-drying is the gentlest method of preserving the great qualities of the botanicals we use. The result is a nutritionally rich material that is also very stable.
- Our botanicals are carefully harvested.
- Fresh plants are quickly frozen using liquid nitrogen at -200 C. The process is repeated twice.
- Frozen water changes directly to a gas, a process called sublimation. It keeps all the botanical goodness within the plant.
- The botanical material is finely ground using a gentle cryo (cold) grinding technique.
- We carefully blend the freshly freeze-dried botanicals with bioactive vitamins, minerals, and co-factors. Now the product is finished and ready to be packed.
- Our products are packaged to maintain the nutrients intact and to protect against light, moisture, and air oxidation.