Mixtures having a salty taste

1. A composition comprising:

(a) 1 to 50 wt % of at least three different inorganic salts, wherein the inorganic salts are selected from the group consisting of anhydrous calcium chloride, calcium chloride dihydrate, calcium chloride hexahydrate, anhydrous magnesium chloride, magnesium chloride dihydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and dipotassium hydrogen phosphate;

(b) 10 to 90 wt % of one or more mono- or polyvalent salts of polybasic food acids, wherein the mono- or polyvalent salts of polybasic food acids are chosen from the group consisting of potassium succinate, dipotassium succinate, potassium malate, dipotassium malate and mixtures thereof;

(c) 0.1 to 30 wt % of at least three different amino acids, or salts thereof, which are suitable for nutrition; and

(d) 0 to 20 wt % of sodium chloride.

2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein in component (c) the amino acids, or salts, which are suitable for nutrition are proteinogenic L-amino acids or amino acids which are formed by primary or secondary metabolic pathways, or salts thereof.

3. The composition according to claim 2 , wherein the amino acids or salts are selected from the group consisting of glycine, L-alanine, L-valine, L-leucine, L-isoleucine, L-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-serine, L-threonine, L-cysteine, L-methionine, L-proline, L-lysine, L-arginine, L-tryptophan, L-histidine, L-pyrolysine, L-pyroglutamine, L-4-trans-hydroxyproline, L-3-cis-hydroxyproline, L-homoserine, L-homocysteine, L-cystine, L-ornithine and L-citrulline, and are preferably chosen from the group consisting of L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-valine, L-arginine, and L-lysine, and salts thereof.

4. The composition according to claim 1 , comprising:

(a) 10 to 40 wt % of the at least three different inorganic salts;

(b) 30 to 80 wt % of the one or more mono- or polyvalent salts of polybasic food acids;

(c) 2 to 25 wt % of at least three different proteinogenic L-amino acids or amino acids formed by primary or secondary metabolic pathways, or salts thereof, which are suitable for nutrition; and

(d) 0 to 15 wt % of sodium chloride, in each case based on the dry mass of the mixture.

5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein

component (b) comprises potassium succinate, dipotassium succinate, potassium malate and/or dipotassium malate, and

component (c) comprises at least three different amino acids selected from the group consisting of L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, L-asparagine, L-aspartic acid, L-valine, L-arginine, and L-lysine, and salts thereof.

6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the content of components (a), (b) and (c) is in the range of from 50 to 100 wt %, based on the dry mass of the mixture.

7. The composition according to claim 1 , the mixture further comprising 0 to 3 wt % of a sweet-tasting mono- or disaccharide.

8. A powder which can be prepared by dissolving the composition according to claim 1 in water and drying the solution.

9. A composition which is suitable for consumption, comprising the composition according to claim 1 and one or more further constituents which are suitable for consumption.

10. A composition according to claim 9 , wherein one or more further constituents are selected from the group consisting of:

solid carrier substances,

solid carrier substances and aroma compositions,

water,

an oily phase,

one or more W/O emulsifiers,

one or more antioxidants, and

one or more substances for intensifying an antioxidative action.

11. A composition according to claim 9 , further comprising a sweet-tasting mono- or disaccharide, a substance for masking or reducing an unpleasant taste impression and/or a substance for enhancing a pleasant taste impression.

12. A (i) ready-to-use or -eat formulation or (ii) semi-finished product which serves for nutrition or consumption for pleasure, comprising the composition according to claim 1 .

13. A process for the preparation of a powder according to claim 8 , comprising: dissolving of a composition comprising a mixture according to claim 1 in water and drying of the solution.

14. A process for generating or enhancing the common salt taste in a (i) ready-to-eat formulation or (ii) semi-finished product which serves for nutrition or consumption for pleasure, comprising:

(a) mixing an amount which is active in terms of taste of a composition comprising a mixture according to claim 1 with further constituents of the (i) ready-to-eat formulation or the (ii) semi-finished product;

(b) applying an amount which is active in terms of taste of a composition comprising a mixture according to claim 1 to one or more further constituents of the (i) ready-to-eat formulation or the (ii) semi-finished product: or

(c) embedding an amount which is active in terms of taste of a composition comprising a mixture according to claim 1 in a covering or matrix material.