HIGHLY SOLUBLE STEVIA SWEETENER
A method for making highly soluble Stevia sweetener compositions is described. The resulting sweetener compositions readily provide high concentration solutions, and also possess superior taste qualities. The compositions can be used as sweeteners, sweetness enhancers, and flavor enhancers in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
1 . A method for producing a high solubility Stevia sweetener comprising the steps of:
A) providing a first Stevia sweetener;
B) providing a second Stevia sweetener that is different from the first Stevia sweetener;
C) providing water;
D) mixing the water and first and second Stevia sweeteners to make a mixture;
E) increasing the temperature of the mixture by a gradient method to make a solution;
F) holding the solution at an elevated temperature;
G) decreasing the temperature of the solution by a gradient method to obtain a high stability and high concentration Stevia sweetener solution; and
H) spray drying the high stability and high concentration Stevia sweetener solution, to provide the high solubility Stevia sweetener.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first Stevia sweetener is selected from the group consisting of Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside F, Steviolbioside, Dulcoside A, Rubusoside, or other glycoside of steviol, and a mixture thereof.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener is selected from the group consisting of: Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside B, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside F, Steviolbioside, Dulcoside A, Rubusoside, or other glycoside of steviol, and a mixture thereof.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the first and second Stevia sweeteners is about 99:1 to 1:99, preferably about 50:50 to 95:5, more preferably about 70:30 to 90:10 (w/w).
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first Stevia sweetener is rebaudioside D.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener is rebaudioside B.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener is rebaudioside A.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener is steviolbioside.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener comprises a mixture of rebaudioside A and rebaudioside B.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener comprises a mixture of rebaudioside A and steviolbioside.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener comprises a mixture of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and steviolbioside.
12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second Stevia sweetener comprises a mixture of rebaudioside B and steviolbioside.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein a ratio of water to the combined first and second Stevia sweeteners is about 1:1 to 10:1, preferably about 3:1 to 6:1 (v/w).
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the water and Stevia sweetener mixture is heated at a gradient of about 1° C. per minute to a temperature of about 118-125° C.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the water and Stevia sweetener mixture is held at a temperature of about 118-125° C. for a period of about 50-70 minutes.
16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the solution is cooled down to a temperature of about 80° C. at gradient of about 1° C. per minute to obtain the high stability and high concentration Stevia sweetener solution.
17 . The method of claim 1 wherein high stability and high concentration Stevia sweetener solution is spray dried on a spray drying apparatus operating at about 175° C. inlet and about 100° C. outlet temperatures.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a pH of high stability and high concentration Stevia sweetener solution is adjusted by alkaline solution to about pH 4.5 to 7.0, preferably about pH 5.5 to 6.5.
19 . A high solubility Stevia sweetener powder made by the process of claim 1 .
20 . The high solubility Stevia sweetener powder of claim 19 , having a solubility of at least about 0.5 grams per 100 grams of water.
21 . The high solubility Stevia sweetener powder of claim 19 , having a solubility of at least about 1.0 gram per 100 grams of water.
22 . The high solubility Stevia sweetener powder of claim 19 , having a solubility of at least about 5.0 grams per 100 grams of water.
23 . The high solubility Stevia sweetener powder of claim 19 , having a solubility of at least about 10.0 grams per 100 grams of water.
24 . A high solubility Stevia sweetener made by the process of claim 1 , comprising a mixture of rebaudioside D and rebaudioside B, wherein rebaudioside B, is partially or fully converted to a caboxylate salt.
25 . A sweetener composition comprising a high solubility Stevia sweetener made by the process of claim 1 and an additional sweetening agent selected from the group consisting of: stevia extract, steviol glycosides, stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, steviolbioside, rubusoside, other steviol glycosides found in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant and mixtures thereof, Luo Han Guo extract, mogrosides, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, invert sugar, fructooligosaccharides, inulin, inulooligosaccharides, coupling sugar, maltooligosaccharides, maltodextrins, corn syrup solids, glucose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, sugar alcohols, and a combination thereof.
26 . A flavor composition comprising a high solubility Stevia sweetener made by the process of claim 1 and an additional flavoring agent selected from the group consisting of: lemon, orange, fruit, banana, grape, pear, pineapple, mango, bitter almond, cola, cinnamon, sugar, cotton candy, vanilla, and a combination thereof.
27 . A food ingredient comprising a high solubility Stevia sweetener made by the process of claim 1 and an additional food ingredient selected from the group consisting of: acidulants, organic and amino acids, coloring agents, bulking agents, modified starches, gums, texturizers, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizers, thickeners, gelling agents, and a combination thereof.
28 . A food, beverage, cosmetic or pharmaceutical product comprising high solubility Stevia sweetener made by the process of claim 1 .
29 . A highly soluble stevia composition comprising a mixture of rebaudioside D and rebaudioside B, at a ratio of about 50%:50% to about 80%:20% (w/w).
30 . A food, beverage, cosmetic or pharmaceutical product comprising the stevia composition of claim 29 .