Osmanthus fragrans Lour. (sweet osmanthus) is a precious aromatic and medicinal plant, valued for its unique fragrance, bioactive components (e.g., flavonoids, phenolics), and ornamental value. Vacuum microwave drying (VMD) for sweet osmanthus integrates the advantages of microwave heating and vacuum technology, effectively solving the problems of fragrance loss, color fading, and nutrient destruction in traditional drying methods (e.g., hot air drying, sun drying). Sweet osmanthus is highly sensitive to temperature and oxygen (its aromatic oils are volatile, and pigments are prone to oxidation). VMD addresses these pain points perfectly, with advantages that traditional methods cannot match.
Dried sweet osmanthus processed by VMD has high added value and is widely used in:
Food Industry: Making osmanthus cakes, osmanthus wine, osmanthus honey, osmanthus tea, and pastries (retains fragrance and avoids bitter taste caused by overheating);
Healthcare Products: Extracting flavonoids and phenolics for anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, or lipid-lowering health products;
Cosmetics: Using recovered aromatic oils in perfumes, lotions, and facial masks (natural fragrance, no chemical additives);
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): As a TCM ingredient for soothing the liver, regulating qi, and relieving cough (retains medicinal components better than traditional drying).
In summary, vacuum microwave drying is a high-efficiency, high-quality drying technology for sweet osmanthus. By precisely controlling process parameters and selecting suitable equipment, it can maximize the retention of the flower’s fragrance, color, and nutrients, providing strong support for the deep processing and value enhancement of sweet osmanthus products.
