Beverage emulsion
Novel beverage emulsions using pectin as an emulsifier are disclosed, along with finished beverages and processes for their preparation.
1 . A cola-type beverage emulsion comprising:
an oil phase;
an aqueous phase; and
pectin, wherein the emulsion comprises between 0.05% and 0.50% w/w pectin based on the total weight of the emulsion.
2 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 having a density of between 0.84 and 1.00 gcm −3 at 20° C.
3 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 having a density of between 0.87 and 0.89 gcm −3 at 20° C.
4 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising citrus oil.
5 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising flavour oil.
6 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising triglyceride.
7 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising of between 0.3 and 2.0% w/w of oil phase based on the total weight of the emulsion.
8 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising between 98 and 99.7% w/w of aqueous phase based on the total weight of the emulsion.
9 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising between 0.05% and 0.30% w/w pectin based on the total weight of the emulsion.
10 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising between 0.05% and 0.10% w/w pectin based on the total weight of the emulsion.
11 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 comprising one or more of the following: sweeteners, flavourings, colourings, caffeine, acids, preservatives, and emulsifiers.
12 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 wherein said pectin comprises at least sugar beet pectin.
13 . A cola-type beverage emulsion according to claim 1 wherein the emulsion comprises particles of oil phase having an average particle size less than 1 μm.
14 . A finished cola-type beverage comprising a cola-type beverage emulsion as claimed in claim 1 .
15 . A finished cola-type beverage according to claim 14 wherein the beverage emulsion is present in an amount of from 0.10 to 0.40% w/w based on the total weight of the beverage.
16 . A process for the preparation of a cola-type beverage emulsion as claimed in claim 1 comprising the steps of:
(i) bringing into association the constituents of the oil phase and an aqueous phase comprising a mucilage component to form a mixture;
(ii) homogenising the said mixture;
(iii) bringing into association the homogenised mixture and caramel;
(iv) homogenising to form the beverage emulsion.
17 . A process according to claim 16 comprising the steps of
forming the oil phase;
forming the aqueous phase comprising a mucilage component;
bringing the oil phase and the aqueous phase comprising a mucilage component into association; and
homogenising the resultant mixture.
18 . A process according to claim 16 wherein homogenising comprises steps of:
preliminary homogenisation to give an average oil phase particle size of between 0.5 and 1.2 μm; and
final homogenisation to give an average oil phase particle size of between 0.3 and 1.0 μm.
19 . A process according to claim 18 wherein final homogenisation is accomplished by passing through a homogeniser at a pressure of between 150 and 300 bar.
20 . A process according to claim 19 wherein the mixture is passed through the homogeniser more than once.
21 . The use of sugar beet pectin as an emulsifier in a cola-type beverage emulsion as claimed in claim 1 .
22 . A cola-type beverage comprising sugar beet pectin.
23 . A cola-type beverage according to claim 22 comprising sugar beet pectin as an emulsifier and/or stabiliser.
24 . A cola-type beverage according to claim 22 comprising sugar beet pectin as the sole emulsifier.
25 . A cola-type beverage as claimed in claim 22 which comprises sugar beet pectin in an amount of between 0.005 and 0.200% w/w based on the total weight of the beverage.
26 . A cola type beverage as claimed in claim 22 which comprises sugar beet pectin in an amount of between 0.005 and 0.100% w/w based on the total weight of the beverage.
27 . The use of sugar beet pectin as an emulsifier and/or stabiliser in a cola-type beverage.
28 . A beverage emulsion comprising:
an oil phase;
an aqueous phase; and
pectin, wherein the emulsion comprises between 0.05% and 0.50% w/w pectin based on the total weight of the emulsion.