What Does 28/30 Brix Mean in Tomato Paste?

What Does 28/30 Brix Mean in Tomato Paste?

When buying tomato paste for ketchup, sauces, soups, ready-to-eat foods, seasonings or other processed food products, one specification you will frequently see is 28/30 Brix.

But what exactly does 28/30 Brix mean?

For food manufacturers and ingredient buyers, Brix is more than just a number on a specification sheet. It helps indicate the concentration of soluble solids in tomato paste and plays an important role in formulation, consistency, processing and final product quality.

What Is Brix?

Brix (°Bx) is a measurement commonly used to indicate the concentration of soluble solids in a food product. In a simple sugar-water solution, 1° Brix approximately corresponds to 1 gram of sucrose per 100 grams of solution.

In tomato products, however, the soluble solids are not simply sugar. They include naturally occurring soluble components such as sugars, acids, minerals and other dissolved tomato solids.

Therefore, when we talk about the Brix of tomato paste, we are essentially discussing its soluble-solids concentration.

What Does 28/30 Brix Mean?

28/30 Brix tomato paste generally refers to tomato paste having a soluble-solids concentration within the 28 to 30° Brix range, according to the applicable product specification.

In practical terms, the tomato has been processed to remove a significant amount of water, resulting in a much more concentrated tomato ingredient than fresh tomatoes or standard tomato puree.

For example, a product specified at approximately 29° Brix is considerably more concentrated than a tomato ingredient with a much lower Brix value.

Why Is Tomato Paste Measured in Brix?

Fresh tomatoes contain a large amount of water. During tomato processing, part of this water is removed to increase the concentration of tomato solids.

Brix provides manufacturers and buyers with a convenient way to understand and compare the concentration of tomato ingredients.

This is particularly important when tomato paste is used as an industrial ingredient because the concentration affects:

• Formulation calculations
• Usage quantity
• Tomato flavour intensity
• Viscosity and body
• Processing requirements
• Finished-product consistency
• Storage and transportation efficiency

28 Brix vs 30 Brix Tomato Paste

Although both products fall within the 28/30 Brix specification, a 28 Brix paste and a 30 Brix paste are not exactly the same in concentration.

28 Brix Lower end of the range Slightly less concentrated 29 Brix Middle of the range Intermediate concentration 30 Brix Higher end of the range Slightly more concentrated

The exact formulation impact depends on the recipe, processing method, viscosity requirements and the other ingredients used in the final product.

Is 28/30 Brix the Same as Tomato Puree?

No. Tomato puree and tomato paste are different levels of tomato concentration.

If you want to understand the basic product and processing differences, read our detailed guide on what tomato puree is and how it is made.

Tomato puree generally has a lower concentration than tomato paste, while tomato paste is processed to achieve a much higher concentration of tomato soluble solids.

28/30 Brix vs Tomato Concentrate

The terms tomato paste and tomato concentrate can sometimes be used differently depending on the product specification and market. In industrial tomato processing, concentration refers to the removal of water to increase tomato solids.

For a detailed explanation, see our article on what tomato concentrate is and how it is made.

You can also read our comparison of tomato puree vs tomato concentrate to understand how these ingredients differ in concentration, applications and processing.

Why Does 28/30 Brix Matter to Food Manufacturers?

1. It Helps With Formulation

When developing ketchup, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, cooking sauces or other tomato-based products, manufacturers need to know the concentration of the tomato ingredient.

A higher-solids ingredient can deliver the required tomato solids using a different quantity compared with a lower-solids ingredient.

2. It Affects Product Consistency

Using tomato paste within a defined Brix specification helps manufacturers maintain greater consistency between production batches.

This is especially important for commercial food products where colour, flavour, texture and body need to remain consistent.

3. It Influences Usage Rates

The Brix level can affect how much tomato paste is required in a formulation. Buyers should therefore compare tomato ingredients based on both price and concentration rather than looking only at the price per kilogram.

A lower-priced ingredient may not necessarily provide the same amount of tomato solids per kilogram as a more concentrated ingredient.

4. It Matters for Industrial Procurement

For procurement teams, Brix is an important specification when comparing suppliers. Along with Brix, buyers may also evaluate viscosity, colour, pH, acidity, microbiological parameters, packaging, shelf life, processing method and other agreed specifications.

Does Higher Brix Always Mean Better Tomato Paste?

Not necessarily.

The appropriate Brix depends on the application and the manufacturer's formulation requirements.

A ketchup manufacturer, sauce producer or ready-to-eat food manufacturer may have a specific Brix requirement based on its recipe and production process.

Therefore, instead of assuming that a higher Brix is always better, buyers should select a tomato paste specification that fits the intended application.

What Should Buyers Check When Purchasing 28/30 Brix Tomato Paste?

Brix is only one part of a tomato paste specification. Before placing a bulk order, food manufacturers should also confirm:

• Brix: Confirm the required 28/30 specification.
• Processing method: Confirm whether the product meets the required processing specification.
• Viscosity: Important for applications where body and texture matter.
• Colour: Especially important for ketchup and tomato sauces.
• pH and acidity: Confirm against the agreed product specification.
• Microbiological parameters: Verify that the product meets applicable requirements.
• Packaging: Confirm the bulk packaging format and handling requirements.
• Shelf life: Check the manufacturer's stated shelf life and storage conditions.
• Certificate of Analysis: Request the relevant batch-specific or agreed quality documentation.

28/30 Brix and 36/38 Brix Tomato Paste

Industrial tomato paste is available in different concentration ranges depending on the application and specification. 28/30 Brix is one commonly encountered specification, while higher-Brix products such as 36/38 Brix provide a substantially more concentrated tomato ingredient.

The choice between different Brix levels should be based on the manufacturer's recipe, required tomato solids, processing conditions and finished-product specifications.

We will cover 36/38 Brix tomato paste in a dedicated article to explain how the higher concentration compares with 28/30 Brix and where each specification can be useful.

28/30 Brix: A Simple Explanation

In simple terms, when you see 28/30 Brix tomato paste on a product specification, it tells you that the tomato paste is a concentrated tomato ingredient with soluble solids in the specified 28 to 30° Brix range.

For food manufacturers, this number helps determine how the ingredient will fit into a formulation and how much tomato paste may be required to achieve the desired result.

Looking for Tomato Puree or Concentrate?

SNR Foods supplies tomato ingredients for food manufacturing and industrial applications. If you are looking for tomato puree or tomato concentrate for your production requirements, you can view our tomato products.

Whether you are developing ketchup, sauces, ready-to-eat foods, soups or other tomato-based products, selecting the appropriate concentration and specification is important for consistent production.

Conclusion

28/30 Brix is an important specification for buyers and food manufacturers purchasing tomato paste. It indicates the soluble-solids concentration of the product and helps manufacturers evaluate formulation, usage, consistency and processing requirements.

However, Brix should not be evaluated in isolation. A complete purchasing decision should consider the product's viscosity, colour, pH, acidity, microbiological quality, packaging, shelf life and other agreed specifications.

If you are looking to source tomato puree or concentrate for commercial food production, inquire now with SNR Foods to discuss your requirements.