What Is Malic Acid?

Malic acid is an organic compound that is used in food products to create sour or tart flavors. It is also used for different purposes and is commonly found as a naturally occurring compound. It is harvested typically from fruit sources, making it a healthy and natural additive that will not harm you like some synthetic compounds that are used for the same reason.

Chemical Makeup

Malic acid is a type of carboxylic acid. These types of acids are characterized by having strings of base compounds that include carbon atoms attached with double-bonded oxygen atoms and hydroxide compounds.

Sources

Fruits are the main source of malic acid. It is found in highest quantities when the fruit is unripe.

Discovery

Carl Wilhelm Scheele first discovered malic acid in in 1785, when he extracted it from apple juice. In 1789, its name was proposed for the first time.

Food Additive

Malic acid is added in certain foods to give it a super sour taste, sometimes in lieu of the taste provided by citric acids. Super sour candies, such as Warheads, use malic acids to give them a strong, tart taste.

Plants

Malic acid is produced in the guard cells of plants. This causes water to flow into the guard cells, thus opening the stoma of a plant.