Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone
Neo-DHC
What it is:
Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (Neo-DHC) is synthesized by chemical treatment of neohesperidin, a bitter component of bitter orange, grapefruit, and other citrus fruit peel and pulp.
Taste
Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone is up to 1000 times as sweet as sucrose, but it has a number of other properties that limit its use as a sweetener. First, it has an intense cooling effect on the tongue. Second, it has licorice-like and bitter off-tastes. Third, it is slow in onset and has a lingering taste that make it decidedly not sucrose-like.
Properties
Neohesperidin dihydrochalcone has very limited solubility in water. It is quite stable to heat.
Safety
Neo-DHC has been approved as a sweetener by the European Union, but not by the FDA. In the United States, neo-DHC is approved only for use as a flavor enhancer.
Other information
Because of its off tastes, neo-DHC is not very suitable for use as a sole sweetener, but it can be useful when combined with one or more other sweeteners.