Stevia composition

Abstract

Stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni. The compositions are able to provide a superior taste profile and can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sweet ingestible composition comprising Reb B and at least one sweetener, selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, stevia extracts, natural sweeteners, glycosylated terpenoid sweeteners, synthetic high intensity sweeteners, oligosaccharides, caloric sweeteners, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising one or more steviol glycosides selected from the group consisting of stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Rebaudioside C, Rebaudioside D, Rebaudioside E, Rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, steviolbioside, rubusoside, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising one or more natural sweeteners selected from the group consisting of Luo Han Guo extract, Mogrosides, Mogroside V, Glycyrrhizin, Thaumatin, Brazzein, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising one or more glycosylated terpenoid sweeteners selected from the group consisting of a glucosylated steviol glycoside, a glucosylated mogroside and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The A sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one synthetic high intensity sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, Acesulfame-K, neotame and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one sugar alcohol selected from the group consisting of erythritol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one oligosachharide selected from the group consisting of fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, inulooligosaccharides, polydextrose, and malto-oligosaccharides and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , comprising at least one caloric sweetener selected from the group consisting of sugar, invert-sugar, fructose, dextrose, maltose, lactose, corn syrup, HFCS, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         9 . A food or beverage product having sweetness, enhanced sweetness, enhanced flavor, or a combination thereof, comprising the sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A drug, pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation comprising the sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A sweetener comprising the sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a flavoring agent. 
     
     
         13 . The sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a 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 combinations thereof 
     
     
         14 . A product comprising the sweet ingestible composition of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one sweetener is present in the product at a concentration above about 2% sucrose equivalent sweetness, and Reb B is present at a concentration from about 10 to 300 ppm.