Brix: a measure of fruit sweetness


Degrees Brix, usually shortened to "Brix", refers to a scale of measurement for soluble solids in a liquid. In the juices of fruits and vegetables, soluble solids are mostly sugars, and the Brix measurement approximates the sugar content of a sample; 20 Brix means approximately 20% sugar, for example. Brix measurements, routinely employed in various food industries, are easily determined in the orchard or backyard by a handheld refractometer.

Descriptions of fruit cultivars sometimes include Brix values typical of the cultivar. The development of fruit sugars, it should be noted, depends greatly on factors other than genetics: seasonal sunlight and temperatures, cultural practices, growing conditions at the planting site, and when the fruit is harvested. Fruit allowed to fully tree-ripen will have higher Brix than fruit picked firm for packing and shipping.

As an indicator of fruit quality, Brix is useful, but with limitations. Many fresh-fruit lovers prefer fruits that are sweet, but with balanced acid and sugar, rather than excessively sugary. Others prefer low-acid fruits, with a relatively slight sweetness being very acceptable. Some people do not like the texture of fully ripe (soft ripe) stone fruits. Overripe fruit can have high Brix, but with diminished flavor and appeal.

In any case, Brix alone is not a measurement or scale of fruit desirability. Brix measurements are perhaps most appropriate for monitoring a food product or process, or for measuring the degree of maturity of a particular crop, rather than to compare cultivars, which may differ greatly in components other than percentage of soluble solids.

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