Natural and Unsulphured Dried Apricots

Understanding The Types of Dried Apricots

The differences between Natural Dried Apricots ,Organic Dried Apricots , and Sulphured-Dried Apricots are examined from the angle of their processing methods and characteristics.

Natural Dried Apricots (Unsulphured Dried Apricots): These are apricots that are dried under the sun without the application of sulfur or preservatives. Moreover, they are unsulfured, as they do not contain the sulfur dioxide that is commonly used to decolorize and prolong shelf life. As a result of no sulfur treatment, these apricots have a darker, more natural brownish color, and a richer, more intense flavor than their sulphured counterparts.

Organic Dried Apricots: Organic Sun-Dried Apricots are a unique kind of apricot with the same taste as Normal Dried Apricots but with an extra advantage of being certified organic, which means that they are produced naturally, without the use of any synthetic pesticides and chemicals. Even though they are nearly identical to Unsulfured Dried Apricots, Organic Dried Apricots need to comply with strict organic farming and processing standards to receive their certification. No sulfur is added during the processing; therefore, the color is usually brown like Natural Dried Apricots.

Sulfured Dried Apricots (Conventional Dried Apricots): Sulfured Dried Apricots or Conventional Dried Apricots are the bright orange ones you see all over the store. These are the ones that are taken care of with sulfur, the result of which is that their color is so bright and they can be kept for longer. Nevertheless, sulfur dioxide may modify the flavor, which can lead to some consumers being sensitive to it. Even if they are manufactured to be more alluring and stay longer, their chemical processing makes them inferior to the unprocessed and natural qualities of Natural Dried Apricots.