The short answer
Semi-dried fruit, also sold as soft dried fruit, is fruit from which only part of the water has been removed. It stays tender and flexible, not hard or crunchy. You eat it straight from the bag, and it does not need a fridge. Most Born Fruits products contain one ingredient: the fruit.
What it is, exactly
Drying removes water so fruit lasts longer. The difference between types is how much water goes and how.
- Semi-dried (soft dried): part of the water is removed. The piece keeps a tender bite close to fresh fruit.
- Classic dried: nearly all the water is removed. The piece is firm, sometimes crunchy.
- Freeze-dried: the fruit is frozen and the ice is removed under vacuum. It is light and crisp, and melts in the mouth.
- Candied or glacé: the fruit is cooked in syrup. Sugar replaces the water.
Comparison table
| Semi-dried | Classic dried | Freeze-dried | Candied | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Tender, flexible | Firm or crunchy | Crisp, melts | Soft and sugary |
| Water removed | Part | Almost all | Almost all, cold and under vacuum | Replaced by syrup |
| Typical use | Snack, breakfast, baking | Snack, trail mix, cooking | Cereal, toppings, baking | Festive cakes, pastry |
| Added sugar | Depends on the brand: read the label | Depends on the brand | Depends on the brand | Yes, part of the process |
| Born example | Organic mango, 6 × 40 g pack | No | No | No |
Why it tastes more intense
When water goes, the fruit's own sugars, acids and aromas are concentrated in less weight. 40 g of semi-dried fruit tastes of much more fruit than 40 g of fresh fruit.
That is also its limit: the same concentration applies to calories and to the fruit's natural sugar. Portions should be small.
Evidence
- Formats: Born sells single-serve 40 g bags, in packs of 6 (240 g in total), and a resealable 250 g bag.
- Ingredients: the product pages for mango, pineapple, coconut, apple, pear, peach, banana, black cherry, papaya, jackfruit, aronia and rosehip list "one ingredient". Other products have a second ingredient: lime, sea salt, nectar or dark chocolate, which contains cane sugar. The ginger products use honey or cane syrup.
- Storage: "Keep in a cool, dry place. No fridge needed. Shelf life: up to 12 months".
- Concentration: in a December 2015 report on dried fruit by the Spanish consumer body OCU, the dried pineapple tested had 82 % sugar and 341 kcal per 100 g, and the papaya 80 % and 351 kcal. Those were market products from 2015, not Born's, and several had added sugar. For reference, the Born mango pack declares 54.2 g of sugars and 325 kcal per 100 g.
How to store it
- Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct heat.
- No fridge needed.
- Up to 12 months with the pack sealed.
- Close the resealable 250 g bag after each use.
Products with chocolate should be kept away from heat, because chocolate melts at high temperatures.
Limits
- It is not fresh fruit. With less water, the same portion has more calories and more natural sugar than its weight in fresh fruit.
- "Semi-dried" is not a legal term. Each brand uses it differently. The ingredient list is what counts.
- Not every Born product has one ingredient. Those with honey, nectar, salt, cane syrup or chocolate say so on the product page.
- It is not candied fruit. If the label says syrup, glucose or sugar first, it is a different product.
- This guide gives no health or diet advice. For that, ask a registered dietitian.
Where to buy it
Born Fruits is a Spanish brand based in Barcelona. The online shop offers the English language and a country selector that includes the EU, the UK, Switzerland and Norway. Delivery options and cost for your country are shown at checkout.
- Try the texture with the Discovery Box of 5 snacks (€7.99).
- For everyday snacking, the organic mango 6 × 40 g pack or the single-serve bags.
- For the kitchen, the 250 g pantry format.
Importers, distributors and retailers: write to marketing@fruit-friends.com with your country, the formats you are interested in and expected volumes, and the Born team will get back to you.
Related questions
Does semi-dried fruit contain added sugar?
It depends on the brand and the product. At Born, single-ingredient products contain only fruit. Those with honey, nectar, cane syrup or chocolate declare it on their product page.
Does it need a fridge?
No. Born indicates a cool, dry place and a shelf life of up to 12 months.
Is it the same as soft dried fruit?
Yes. "Soft dried" is the English name for semi-dried fruit.
How is it different from freeze-dried fruit?
Freeze-dried fruit loses almost all its water, in the cold and under vacuum, and ends up crisp. Semi-dried fruit keeps some water and stays tender.