Rebaudioside c and its stereoisomers as natural product sweetness enhancers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to the use of rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof, for enhancing the sweet taste of carbohydrate sweeteners, such as sucrose and fructose. The present invention is also directed to consumables comprising a combination of a carbohydrate sweetener and rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A consumable, comprising
 (a) a carbohydrate sweetener and   (b) rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof, at a concentration of from about 310 ppm to about 600 ppm or about 320 μM to about 600 μM.   
     
     
         2 . The consumable of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable has a sweetness intensity equivalent to about 5-12% (w/v-%) sucrose solution. 
     
     
         3 . The consumable of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate sweetener is present at a concentration of from about 20000 ppm to about 100000 ppm. 
     
     
         4 . The consumable of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate sweetener is sucrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, or inositol. 
     
     
         5 . The consumable of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable is a food product, a pharmaceutical composition, a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, a dental hygienic composition, a cosmetic product or a tabletop sweetener. 
     
     
         6 . The consumable of  claim 5 , wherein said consumable is a tabletop sweetener that further comprises one or more of a bulking agent, an anti-caking or a flow agent. 
     
     
         7 . A method of decreasing the amount of a carbohydrate sweetener in a consumable, comprising adding rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof, to a consumable, wherein the rebaudioside C, or a stereoisomer thereof, is present at a concentration of from about 310 ppm to about 600 ppm or about 320 μM to about 600 μM, thereby reducing the amount of the carbohydrate sweetener needed to exhibit a given level of sweetness. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the carbohydrate sweetener is sucrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, or inositol. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the consumable is a food product, a pharmaceutical composition, a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, a dental hygienic composition, or a cosmetic product. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the consumable has a sweetness intensity equivalent to about 5-12% (w/v-%) sucrose solution.