High-purity rebaudioside D and low-calorie carbonated lemon-flavored beverage containing the same

1. A carbonated lemon-flavored beverage, comprising:

a natural sweetener composition comprising Rebaudioside D in the range of 81-96 wt%, Rebaudioside A in the range of 3-16 wt%, Stevioside in the range of 0.1-0.8 wt%, Rebaudioside C in the range of 0.1-0.7 wt%, Rebaudioside E in the range of 0.2-0.5 wt%, Rebaudioside F in the range of 0.1-0.2 wt%; wherein the natural sweetener composition is obtained from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant by a method comprising the following steps:

a. providing an extract of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant;

b. dissolving the extract in a first aqueous solution of organic solvent to result in a first mixture of steviol glycosides, wherein the Organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, and a mixture thereof, and the organic solvent is 75-99 vol.%;

c. inducing crystallization in the first mixture;

d. filtering the mixture from step (c) to obtain a first precipitate and a first filtrate;

e. dissolving the first precipitate in a second aqueous solution of organic solvent to result in a second mixture, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, and a mixture thereof, and the organic solvent is 70-80 vol.%;

f. inducing crystallization in the second mixture;

g. filtering the mixture from step (f) to obtain a second precipitate and a second filtrate;

h. dissolving the second precipitate in a third aqueous solution of organic solvent to result in a third mixture, wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, isopropanol, and a mixture thereof, and the organic solvent is 10-80 vol.%;

i. inducing crystallization in the third mixture; and

j. filtering the mixture from step (i) to obtain a third precipitate and a third filtrateo;

whereby the third precipitate is dried to yield the natural sweetener composition;

citric acid;

lemon tincture;

carbonated water; and

one or more beverage ingredients;

whereby all components are admixed so as to produce the carbonated lemon-flavored beverage.

2. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the beverage ingredients include sugar, green tea extract, salt, juniper tincture, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, orange red color or fruit flavor.

3. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein

the natural sweetener composition in the range of 0.002-0.1% (w/v);

the citric acid in the range or 1-5% (w/v);

the lemon tincture in the range of 0.5-2% (v/v);

the carbonated water in the range of 90-99% (v/v); and

the beverage ingredients in the range of 0.1-1%(w/v).

4. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the first filtrate is concentrated into a steviol glycoside mixture.

5. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the second filtrate is added with Rebaudioside A to promote crystallization of Rebaudioside A; thereby the crystallized Rebaudioside A is recovered to yield Rebaudioside A with a purity of 97-99% by weight on a dry basis.

6. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the step of (i) inducing crystallization in the third mixture comprises adding Rebaudioside D to promote crystallization.

7. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises:

k. dissolving the third precipitate in a methanol-water solution with 10-80% methanol to result in a fourth mixture;

l. inducing crystallization in the fourth mixture; and

m. filtering the mixture from step (l) to obtain a fourth precipitate;

whereby drying the fourth precipitate yields Rebaudioside D with purity greater than 95%.

8. The carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 , wherein the Rebaudioside D is with purity greater than 95% by weight on a dry basis.

9. A process for producing the carbonated lemon-flavored beverage of claim 1 said process comprising:

admixing the natural sweetener composition, citric acid, lemon tincture, carbonated water, and one or more beverage ingredients;

whereby all components are admixed so as to produce the low-calorie carbonated lemon-flavored beverage.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the beverage ingredients include sugar, green tea extract, salt, juniper tincture, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, orange red color or fruit flavor.

11. The process of claim 9 , wherein

the natural sweetener composition in the range of 0.002-0.1% (w/v);

the citric acid in the range of 1-5% (w/v);

the lemon tincture in the range of 0.5-2% (v/v);

the carbonated water in the range of 90-99% (v/v); and

the beverage ingredients in the range of 0.1-1% (w/v).