CONTAINERS AND METHODS FOR DISPENSING MULTIPLE DOSES OF A CONCENTRATED LIQUID, AND SHELF STABLE CONCENTRATED LIQUIDS
Containers and methods are provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate utilizing one or more desirable properties including a generally consistent discharge across a range of squeeze forces, a generally consistent discharge with the same force without significant dependence on the amount of liquid concentrate in the container, a substantially dripless or leak proof outlet opening, a jet that minimizes splashing when the liquid concentrate impacts a target liquid, and a jet that maximizes mixing between the liquid concentrate and the target liquid to produce a generally homogenous mixture without the use of extraneous utensils or shaking. Also provided are liquid beverage concentrates that can be cold filled during packaging while maintaining shelf stability for at least about three months at ambient temperatures. Concentrates are provided having low pH, with or without alcohol, and with buffers to allow for increased acid content at a selected pH.
1 . A flavored beverage concentrate having a pH of about 1.9 to about 2.4, the flavored beverage concentrate comprising:
about 30 to about 65 percent water by weight;
about 15.0 to about 30.0 percent acid by weight;
up to about 10.0 percent buffer by weight selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and combination thereof; and
about 1.0 to about 30.0 percent flavoring by weight;
the acid and buffer included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, the ratio of the acid and buffer selected to provide the concentrate with at least about 5 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH, and the concentrate having a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate.
2 . The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the acid and buffer are included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 40:1.