Quality Evaluation of Rhododendron arboreum Flowers of Different Regions of Himachal Pradesh for Standardization of Juice Extraction Technique

The present study was carried out in the department of Food Science, Nutrition and Technology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University Palampur with the objective to explore the nutritional quality of Rhododendron flowers of different regions of Himachal Pradesh and to standardize juice extraction technique. The samples of flowers used in the present investigation were obtained from district Kangra, Kullu and Shimla. Rhododendron flower were assessed for chemical and functional parameters and juice/pulp extraction technique was standardized. Results of the study showed that the flowers were found to contain valuable nutrients. The chemical analysis revealed mean values of total soluble solids as 4.47±0.41 ºB, pH as 3.69±0.47 and acidity 2.10±0.39%. The total, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and ascorbic acid were in the range of 5.70 to 6.17, 2.90 to 3.33, 2.64 to 2.91 % and 243.55 to 249.11 mg/100g, respectively. The highest anthocyanin content in flower was recorded as 212.27 mg/100g. Blanching method was standardized as the best for juice extraction from with the maximum per cent juice recovery of i.e. 70 % with attractive red colour.