Freeze-Dried Lotus Root Powder
Freeze-dried lotus root powder is whole lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera), peeled, sliced, blanched, freeze-dried and milled to 80–100 mesh, with nothing added. It keeps the root’s ivory-cream colour, mild earthy-sweet flavour and its fibre: about 22 g per 100 g. FruitBuys mills it from the same Dong Thap lotus root as its freeze-dried lotus root slices, for soup, noodle, bakery and drink-powder makers who want real lotus root on the label. It sits in the freeze-dried powder range.
It is not lotus root starch. Starch (ou fen) is extracted from the root and washed free of fibre, so it cooks clear and sets like a gel. This powder is the whole root, so it thickens and turns opaque, and it carries the taste and the fibre panel that a starch cannot. If you are still deciding which of the two your product needs, read lotus root powder vs lotus root starch first.
Product specification
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Ingredient | 100% freeze-dried lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera); no carrier, anti-caking agent, salt, sugar or preservatives; processed without sulfites |
| Fineness | 80–100 mesh |
| Colour / taste | Natural ivory to light cream; mild lotus root, no off-odour |
| Behaviour in use | Thickens and turns opaque when cooked; disperses in liquid, does not dissolve clear |
| Moisture | 3–5% (contract limit 5.0%) |
| Water activity | <0.30 |
| Total plate count | ≤10⁴ CFU/g |
| Yeasts & moulds | ≤10² CFU/g |
| Coliforms | ≤10² CFU/g |
| E. coli | <10 CFU/g |
| Salmonella | Not detected / 25 g |
| Foreign matter | Root washing and channel inspection before slicing; metal detection after packing |
| Fresh-to-dry | About 7–8 kg of whole roots as harvested, or 6.0–6.5 kg once peeled and trimmed, per 1 kg of powder |
| Shelf life | 12 months at ≤25 °C, RH ≤60%; 18–24 months in cool storage at ≤18 °C, RH ≤50% |
| HS code | 1106.20: flour and powder of roots and tubers of heading 07.14; your broker confirms the national line |
Pure means hygroscopic, and that is a packing question, not a defect. With no anti-caking agent, the powder pulls moisture from humid air like any pure root or fruit powder, and an open bag in a wet room forms soft lumps. That is why it is packed in batch-sized foil bags with desiccant: your line opens one bag, empties it into the mix and the rest stay sealed and free of hard caking until their turn. Keep dosing and filling rooms dry and the powder runs the way it left the packing room.
Fineness decides texture in the bowl. At 80–100 mesh the powder disperses evenly into a soup cream or a dough without a gritty feel. For a smooth drink, run the sample at your target dose and check mouthfeel before you lock the formula; note any fineness requirement in your RFQ.
Nutrition (per 100 g)
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories (US basis) | 340–390 kcal | |
| Energy (EU basis) | ≈1,360 kJ / 325 kcal | |
| Total fat | 0.5 g | 1% |
| Saturated fat | 0.1 g | 1% |
| Sodium | 185 mg | 8% |
| Potassium | 2,550 mg | 54% |
| Total carbohydrate | 79 g | 29% |
| Dietary fibre | 22 g | 79% |
| Total sugars | 6–10 g (0 g added) | |
| Protein | 12 g |
Typical values calculated from reference dry-matter data for 100% freeze-dried lotus root; natural variation by season and root maturity applies. Lot nutrition panel available for label artwork.
This is where the powder earns its place over a starch: 22 g of fibre and 2,550 mg of potassium per 100 g, at the EU levels for “high fibre” and “high in potassium”. In a blend, the lotus root share brings fibre onto your panel in proportion to the dose. What the figures mean on a pack, and why the US and EU calorie lines differ, is explained in what 100 g of freeze-dried lotus root puts on your label.
Applications
| Application | What the powder does | Working note |
|---|---|---|
| Soup creams and instant soup bases | Body, opacity and a mild lotus root flavour | Dose by weight into the dry mix; cook through to develop thickness |
| Noodle and dumpling dough | Colour, flavour and fibre in the sheet | Add with the flour and adjust water on the first trial |
| Bakery | Fibre and a light, earthy-sweet note | Works in breads, crackers and cookies; test bake for colour |
| Beverage and smoothie powders | Body and a lotus root story on the front of pack | Disperse in a little liquid first; the drink stays opaque |
| Congee and grain mixes | Thickening and flavour for ready-to-cook bowls | Blend into the dry base |
Validate dispersion, viscosity and colour in your own recipe with a sample before the bulk order. If the product only needs a clear set, as in an instant lotus root drink, lotus root starch is the right ingredient, and the buyer’s guide to lotus root powder vs starch walks through the choice. For pieces you can see in the bowl, use freeze-dried lotus root slices, dice or granules.
Packaging
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bulk | 1–5 kg sealed aluminium-foil PE bags with food-grade silica gel, no nitrogen flush, in 5-ply cartons |
| Carton | 58 × 28 × 34 cm, 10 kg per carton. Standard export packout; custom carton packing available on request |
| Retail (OEM) | Foil stand-up pouches to your specification |
| Shelf life | 12 months at ≤25 °C, RH ≤60%; 18–24 months in cool storage at ≤18 °C, RH ≤50%; unopened foil bag with desiccant |
Commercial terms and container planning
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Production capacity | 100 MT/year, shared with freeze-dried lotus root slices and dice |
| 20ft, floor-loaded | About 550 cartons, about 5.5 t net |
| 40ft HC, floor-loaded | About 1,100 cartons, about 11 t net |
| Palletised | On request |
| Container type | Standard dry container; no reefer |
| Supply | Staggered planting in Dong Thap brings fresh roots every month; powder runs on scheduled call-offs |
| Production lead time | 20–30 days per 20ft after deposit |
| Samples | Prepared in 3–5 working days, then express courier |
| OEM / ODM / private label | MOQ 500 kg per SKU |
| Payment | T/T 40% deposit, 60% before shipment or against copy B/L; L/C at sight |
| Incoterms | FOB, CIF, DDP (sea and air) |
| Port of loading | Cat Lai Port or Tan Son Nhat Airport |
Powder is the densest way to ship lotus root. A 20ft container that carries under 4 t of whole wheel slices carries about 5.5 t of powder, so freight per kilo is the lowest of any lotus root format. If your product uses lotus root only as a milled ingredient, buying powder rather than slices to mill yourself saves both the milling step and the freight on air.
Quality and documents
- Every full-container lot: COA from an independent ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory for moisture, water activity, total plate count, yeasts & moulds, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella, plus sensory. Particle size on request.
- Routine surveillance: lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury are covered by routine third-party surveillance at an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory. Lot-specific heavy-metal testing is available on request.
- Optional and destination panels: Listeria monocytogenes, multi-residue pesticide screen, a sulfite result below 10 mg/kg, and a gluten test if you print a gluten-free claim; matched to your market and completed before stuffing.
- Trial and LCL orders: in-house release QC log (moisture, water activity, sensory) plus the surveillance report. Independent third-party testing is arranged at net lab cost and credited in full against your first container order.
- Retained sample: kept from every container lot for its full shelf life.
- Facility control: one qualified processing facility is locked per contract. Any change needs prior written notice and re-approval of the pre-shipment sample. You have audit access.
- Facility compliance & certifications: HACCP, ISO 22000, BRC (qualified processing facility) and US FDA Facility Registration. Halal certification available on request.
- Shipment documents: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, COA, Certificate of Origin Form EUR.1 for EU and UK preferential duty or Form CEPA for the UAE, and a phytosanitary certificate with every shipment as part of FruitBuys’ standard export dossier.
- Private-label ingredient line: “Lotus root powder”.
Import and labeling
Lotus root powder is classified under 1106.20, flour and powder of the roots and tubers of heading 07.14, the heading where EU tariff guidance places lotus root itself; the note is in the EU Access2Markets guide to edible roots. It is a separate line from the slices, so quote it on its own code. A Form EUR.1 under the EU–Vietnam trade agreement claims the preferential rate on entry into the EU and UK, and a Form CEPA travels with every shipment to the UAE. In the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule the powder falls under 1106.20.90, which carries no general duty; additional US tariffs in force on the entry date still apply, and your customs broker confirms the line on entry.
Every shipment carries the same dossier: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, COA, certificate of origin and a phytosanitary certificate, so your broker clears it without chasing paper. The label is one ingredient, “Lotus root powder”. Duty by market and the residue and metal panels are covered in what HS code dried lotus root ships under.
Verify the sample in four steps
- Open and inspect. Check bag integrity, desiccant and net weight. The powder should be ivory to light cream with no dark specks; soft lumps that crumble between your fingers are normal for a pure powder, hard caking is not.
- Check fineness. Pass a weighed portion through an 80-mesh sieve, or your own target sieve, and weigh what stays on top.
- Read the water activity within a minute. Seal the sample in the meter chamber within 60 seconds of opening the bag; at or below 0.30 the lot was dried and sealed right. Keep the second sealed pouch for your own lab.
- Test in your recipe. Cook a batch of your soup, dough or drink and check viscosity, colour and flavour. Approve the pre-shipment sample in writing; it becomes the reference for your container.
FAQ
Is lotus root powder the same as lotus root starch or ou fen?
No. Starch is extracted from the root and sets clear; this powder is the whole root, milled, with its fibre and flavour. The full comparison is in lotus root powder vs lotus root starch.
Is lotus root powder gluten-free?
Lotus root contains no gluten. If you print a gluten-free claim, a gluten test can be added to the lot panel so the claim rests on your lot.
Does it dissolve in water?
It disperses and thickens rather than dissolving clear. For drinks, mix it into a little liquid first.
Is anything added to prevent caking?
No. It is 100% lotus root. Batch-sized bags with desiccant keep it free of hard caking until you open them.
What is the HS code for lotus root powder?
1106.20, flour and powder of roots and tubers of heading 07.14. Your broker confirms the national line.
How long does it keep?
12 months at ≤25 °C and RH ≤60% in the unopened bag; 18–24 months in cool storage at ≤18 °C and RH ≤50%.
What is the minimum order for private label?
500 kg per SKU for OEM, ODM and private-label packing.
Request a sample and quote
Send these 10 details and we return a specification, sample and terms in one reply:
- Destination country and port
- Application: soup, noodle or dumpling dough, bakery, drink powder or other
- Fineness: 80–100 mesh or your target
- Moisture / Aw target, if tighter than standard
- First-order volume: trial, LCL, 20ft or 40ft HC
- Annual volume and call-off rhythm
- Packaging: bulk bag size or retail pouch
- Private label: artwork status and labelling market
- Extra tests required by your market or customer (gluten, Listeria, residues)
- Preferred Incoterm, payment term and target delivery date
