Natural dried apricots — also called unsulphured or preservative-free dried apricots — are produced without sulphur dioxide or any other chemical treatment. The result is a dark amber fruit with a concentrated, caramel-like sweetness that appeals to health-conscious consumers and clean-label food brands. IFS Food is a leading supplier of natural dried apricots from Malatya, Turkey.
How Natural Dried Apricots Are Made
After harvest, ripe apricots are carefully halved, pitted, and laid on drying trays under the Malatya sun. Without SO2 treatment the fruit oxidises naturally, developing its characteristic brown colour and deeper flavour profile. At our facility, sun-dried raw material undergoes washing, inspection, optical sorting, and metal detection before packaging. The absence of preservatives means moisture control is critical — we target 20–24 % to ensure a pleasant chewy texture and a shelf life of 12 months under proper storage.
Market Demand & Applications
Demand for natural dried apricots has grown steadily as retailers expand clean-label and free-from product ranges. Natural apricots are widely used in trail mixes, energy bars, muesli, baking, and gourmet cooking. Their intense flavour makes them ideal for chefs and food manufacturers seeking a premium, additive-free ingredient. IFS Food supplies natural dried apricots in bulk, retail-ready, and private-label formats.
No Sulphur Dioxide
Zero SO2 treatment — ideal for sulphite-sensitive consumers and clean-label brands.
Sun-Dried
Traditionally dried under Malatya sunlight for a concentrated, caramel-like sweetness.
Preservative-Free
No artificial preservatives or additives — just pure, natural dried apricot.
Rich Dark Colour
Natural enzymatic browning produces a deep amber colour with richer flavour.
Clean Label Ready
Perfect for health-food retail channels and free-from product ranges.
Versatile Applications
Trail mixes, energy bars, muesli, baking, and gourmet cooking ingredient.
Our Dried Apricot Range
Frequently Asked Questions About Natural Dried Apricots
The dark brown colour results from natural enzymatic browning (oxidation) during drying. Without sulphur dioxide to inhibit this reaction, the fruit's natural sugars caramelise, producing a deeper colour and richer flavour. The darker colour has no bearing on quality — it is simply a result of chemical-free processing.
Both types are nutritionally similar. However, natural dried apricots contain no sulphite residues, which is important for consumers with sulphite sensitivity or those seeking a completely additive-free diet. They are also preferred in organic and health-food retail channels.
IFS Food offers flexible minimum order quantities. For bulk shipments, a full pallet (approximately 1 MT) is typical. For trial orders or mixed containers, smaller quantities can be accommodated. Contact our export team for a tailored quotation.
When stored in a cool, dry environment (below 15 °C) in sealed packaging, natural unsulphured dried apricots have a shelf life of 12–18 months from production date. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) or vacuum sealing can further extend this. Without preservatives, proper storage conditions are essential to maintain quality, colour, and flavour.
Absolutely. Natural dried apricots are inherently clean-label — the ingredient list is simply "dried apricots" with no additives, preservatives, or sulphur dioxide. This makes them ideal for health-conscious consumers, baby food manufacturers, organic brands, and retailers focused on transparency. IFS Food's natural range is also available in organic-certified variants.