Tartrate

The salt or ester of tartaric acid, a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid found in many fruits (particularly grapes). Tartrate appears in the YNP catalogue primarily as L-Carnitine L-Tartrate (Section 60), where tartaric acid provides the counter-ion that stabilises the salt form of L-Carnitine — reducing hygroscopicity and improving handling and shelf-life characteristics compared to the free base. Tartaric acid itself (Codex INS 334) and potassium hydrogen tartrate (cream of tartar) are used as food acidulants in baking.