NON-DAIRY, COCONUT-BASED BEVERAGE
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, a method comprises mixing an aqueous medium, a coconut base, and an emulsifier to yield an emulsion. The emulsion is blended with one or more other ingredients to yield a coconut-based beverage. The coconut-based beverage is substantially free of dairy-derived ingredients.
1 . A method, comprising:
mixing an aqueous medium, a coconut base, and an emulsifier to yield an emulsion;
adding one or more other ingredients to the emulsion;
blending the emulsion and the one or more other ingredients to yield a coconut-based beverage, wherein the coconut-based beverage is substantially free of dairy-derived ingredients.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beverage is substantially free of soy-derived ingredients.
3 . The method of claim 1 , the one or more other ingredients including a flavoring.
4 . The method of claim 1 , the one or more other ingredients including a stevia extract.
5 . The method of claim 1 , the one or more ingredients including a health supplement.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises an oil-in-water emulsion.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the coconut base comprises at most ten percent of the net weight of the beverage; and
the coconut base comprises coconut cream;
the emulsifier comprises gellan gum, guar gum, carrageenan gum, locust bean gum, gum acacia, or xanthan gum; and
the one or more other ingredients comprises:
a sunflower-based lecithin;
a sugar;
one or more health supplements comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
preheating the beverage to a temperature within the range of approximately 150 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit;
exposing the beverage to steam injection; and
homogenizing the beverage using a maximum homogenization pressure of at least 2,000 pounds per square inch.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beverage is substantially free of lecithin and substantially free of salts.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the aqueous medium comprises water, the water present in an amount in the range of 80 to 95% of net beverage weight;
the coconut base comprises coconut cream, the coconut cream present in an amount less than 20% of the net beverage weight;
the emulsifier comprises carrageenan gum, the carrageenan gum present in an amount less than 1.2% of the net beverage weight;
the one or more other ingredients comprises vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and sugar; and
the beverage is substantially free of lecithin and substantially free of salts.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing the beverage to indirect heating to yield a product temperature within the range of 250 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
12 . A beverage, comprising:
a coconut base;
an emulsifier selected to yield an oil-in-water emulsion when combined with the coconut base; and
a sweetener;
wherein the beverage is substantially free of dairy-derived ingredients.
13 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the beverage is substantially free of soy-derived ingredients.
14 . The beverage of claim 12 , further comprising a flavoring.
15 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the sweetener includes rebaudioside A.
16 . The beverage of claim 12 , further comprising a health supplement.
17 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein:
the coconut base comprises at most ten percent of the net weight of the beverage; and
the coconut base comprises coconut cream;
the sweetener comprises sugar;
the emulsifier comprises gellan gum, guar gum, carrageenan gum, locust bean gum, gum acacia, or xanthan gum; and
the beverage further comprises:
a sunflower-based lecithin; and
one or more health supplements comprising vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and calcium.
18 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the beverage is substantially free of salts.
19 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the coconut base comprises medium chain fatty acids; and
the emulsifier selected to retain the medium chain fatty acids in solution over the shelf life of the beverage.
20 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the beverage is substantially free of lecithin and substantially free of salts.
21 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein:
the coconut base comprises coconut cream, the coconut cream present in an amount less than 20% of the net beverage weight;
the emulsifier comprises carrageenan gum, the carrageenan gum present in an amount less than 1.2% of the net beverage weight;
the beverage further comprising:
water present in an amount in the range of 80 to 95% of net beverage weight;
a plurality of health supplements comprising vitamin A, vitamin B 12, vitamin D, and calcium; and
wherein the beverage is substantially free of lecithin and substantially free of salts.
22 . The beverage of claim 12 , wherein the sweetener includes an artificial sweetener.