A highly efficient essence recovery process associated with a continuous process which utilizes mechanical vapor recompression for concentrating fruit juices. In one embodiment of this invention the essence is extracted from a juice by introducing feed juice to an evaporator and heating the feed juice within the evaporator sufficiently to boil off essence bearing vapor, by mechanically compressing the essence bearing vapor, the compression raising the condensing temperature of the essence bearing vapor, utilizing the compressed and heated essence bearing vapor to evaporates the feed juice within the evaporator, a substantial portion of the compressed and heated vapor condensing out as it evaporates the feed juice, and collecting the excess vapor as the essence with or without further concentration. By utilizing the method outlined above, it is possible to use the excess heat of the mechanical vapor recompression system to produce an outflow of essence enriched vapors.
