Beverage Products

Abstract

Natural beverage products and methods for making the same are disclosed. The natural beverage products comprise a non-nutritive sweetener comprising rebaudioside A, a sweetening amount of rebaudioside D, and at least one of tagatose and erythritol, and an acidulant comprising lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid and no phosphoric acid.

1 . A natural beverage product comprising:
 a non-nutritive sweetener comprising rebaudioside A, a sweetening amount of rebaudioside D, and at least one of tagatose and erythritol; and   an acidulant comprising lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid and no phosphoric acid.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the acidulant further comprises at least one of malic, ascorbic, cinnamic, glutaric, fumaric, gluconic, succinic, maleic and adipic acids. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the acidulant comprises from about 0.01%- to about 1.0% by weight of the beverage 
     
     
         4 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the acidulant comprises from about 0.05% to about 0.25% by weight of the beverage. 
     
     
         5 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , having a pH of from about 2.0 to about 5.0. 
     
     
         6 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , further comprising carbonated water. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the sweetener further comprises at least one of Lo Han Guo powder of mogroside V content from 2 to 99%, Lo Han Guo juice concentrate,  Stevia rebaudiana  extract, stevioside, other steviol glycosides, glycyrrhizin, monatin, thaumatin, monellin, and brazzein. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , further comprising a natural flavoring. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage product of  claim 8 , wherein the natural flavoring comprises at least one of natural fruit flavors, natural botanical flavors, and natural spice flavors. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage product of  claim 9 , wherein the natural fruit flavor comprises at least one of citrus, berry, apple, grape, cherry, and pineapple flavors. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage product of  claim 10 , wherein the citrus flavor comprises at least one of orange, lemon, lime, tangerine, mandarin orange, tangelo, pomelo, and grapefruit flavors. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage product of  claim 9 , wherein the natural botanical flavor comprises at least one of cola flavor, tea flavor, and coffee flavor. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage product of  claim 9 , wherein the natural spice flavor comprises at least one of cassia, clove, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, vanilla, cardamom, coriander, root beer, sassafras, and ginseng. 
     
     
         14 . The beverage product of  claim 9 , wherein the natural fruit flavor comprises a fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate. 
     
     
         15 . The beverage product of  claim 14 , wherein the fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate is from at least one of plum, prune, date, currant, fig, grape, raisin, cranberry, pineapple, peach, banana, apple, pear, guava, apricot, Saskatoon berry, blueberry, plains berry, prairie berry, mulberry, elderberry, Barbados cherry (acerola cherry), choke cherry, coconut, olive, raspberry, strawberry, huckleberry, loganberry, currant, dewberry, boysenberry, kiwi, cherry, blackberry, quince, buckthorn, passion fruit, sloe, rowan, gooseberry, pomegranate, persimmon, mango, rhubarb, papaya, litchi, lemon, orange, lime, tangerine, mandarin orange, tangelo, pomelo, and grapefruit. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage product of  claim 14 , wherein the fruit juice comprises from about 0.2% to about 40% by weight of the beverage. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage product of  claim 14 , wherein the fruit juice comprises from about 1% to about 20% by weight of the beverage. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of caffeine, caramel and other colorants, preservatives, antifoaming agents, gums, emulsifiers, tea solids, cloud components, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the natural beverage product is a natural cola beverage further comprising natural cola flavoring and a colorant comprising caramel class I and concentrated apple extract. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , wherein the beverage is clear. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage product of  claim 1 , further comprising one or both of rebaudioside B and rebaudioside C. 
     
     
         22 . A method of preparing a natural beverage product comprising including in the beverage:
 a non-nutritive sweetener comprising rebaudioside A, a sweetening amount of rebaudioside D, and at least one of tagatose and erythritol; and   an acidulant comprising lactic acid, tartaric acid and citric acid and no phosphoric acid.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising the step of subjecting the beverage product to tunnel pasteurization. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the natural beverage product further includes one or both of rebaudioside B and rebaudioside C.