Gilaburu (Viburnum opulus) — Bulk Supply for Functional Beverages

Gilaburu — Viburnum opulus, known in English as guelder rose and across Slavic markets as kalina — has carved out a niche but durable position in functional beverage formulation. Anatolian, Caucasian and Eastern European consumer markets recognise the bitter-tart fruit for traditional kidney-and-circulatory positioning, and Western functional-drink developers are increasingly working it into super-fruit blends that need a distinctive sensory hook.

The commercial nuance is harvest timing. Viburnum opulus berries are aggressively bitter at autumn maturity; the first frost converts the iridoid glycosides and softens the profile into the characteristic sweet-bitter signature buyers expect. TANDOR brokers post-frost harvested gilaburu from collectors working the Carpathian and sub-Carpathian belts of Romania, with material available as whole IQF frozen berry, single-strength juice (NFC), 65-Brix clarified concentrate, and dried whole berry for tea and tincture applications. Each lot ships with Certificate of Analysis covering Brix, titratable acidity, microbiology, pesticide residues and heavy metals against EU 2023/915. The active fraction — iridoids and viburnin — can be quantified on request where your label or technical file requires it.

Packaging is 20 kg food-grade polylined cartons for IQF, 200 or 1000 kg aseptic bags-in-drum for juice and concentrate, and 10-20 kg fibre drums for dried whole berry. Lead time on inventory is 14-21 days; harvest-season fresh-pack lots are scheduled November through January and reserved in advance. If you are formulating a functional shot, herbal tonic, or super-fruit blend, send us your format (IQF, juice, concentrate, dried), volume and Brix or moisture target — we will return a firm offer within 24 hours and arrange a representative sample.