A process for the extraction of soluble materials from whole citrus fruit including the skin, said process comprising the steps of: severing the whole fruit to form fruit slices including the skin; extracting said fruit slices with water in a counter current extractor to form an extracted juice containing insoluble particulate material, said extraction being conducted such that bitter principles are preferentially retained and/or absorbed by the insoluble material and the introduction of bitter principles into said extracted juice is thus reduced; subjecting said extracted juice obtained from said counter current extractor to the activity of a pectinase enzyme in an amount and for a time sufficient to reduce the viscosity of said extracted juice to enable removal of at least some of said insoluble particulate material from said extracted juice; and removing at least some of said insoluble particulate material present in said extracted juice together with bitter principles, to give citrus juice of reduced bitterness.
