Beverage Concentrates

Abstract

The present invention provides a cartridge for a beverage preparation system, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, an outlet downstream of the inlet for the discharge of a beverage from the cartridge and a flow path connecting the inlet to the outlet, wherein the flow path includes within it a non-gelled beverage liquid concentrate containing about 0.01 to about 5 weight % in total of one or more thickeners. The cartridge may comprise an aperture having a cross-sectional area of 2 mm 2 or less downstream of a chamber in which the beverage liquid concentrate is loaded. The beverage concentrate may comprise methyl cellulose and at least one alginate in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1 to provide improved the organoleptic properties such as mouthfeel.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of dispensing a beverage from a cartridge containing a beverage liquid concentrate comprising an alginate and/or a thermally reversible gelling thickener dissolved in the concentrate, the method comprising the steps of:
 passing an aqueous medium through the cartridge to form a beverage by dilution of said beverage concentrate, and   dispensing the beverage into a receptacle,   wherein the overall weight ratio of the beverage concentrate to the aqueous medium is from about 10:1 to about 1:10.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the aqueous medium is introduced into the cartridge at a temperature of from about 50° C. to about 100° C. 
     
     
         11 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a cartridge containing a concentrate chamber comprising beverage concentrate,   an outlet downstream of the concentrate chamber for the discharge of a beverage,   a flow path connecting the concentrate chamber and the outlet, the flow path containing a means for mixing the beverage concentrate with an aqueous medium,   wherein the flow path comprises an aperture downstream of the concentrate chamber having a cross-sectional area of 2 mm 2  or less and wherein the beverage concentrate is a non-gelled beverage liquid concentrate containing about 0.01 to about 5 weight % in total of one or more thickeners or a solid concentrate containing about 0.01 to about 5 weight % in total of an alginate and/or a thermally reversible gelling thickener.   
     
     
         12 . A beverage dispensing system comprising:
 a cartridge containing a concentrate chamber comprising beverage concentrate,   an outlet downstream of the concentrate chamber for the discharge of a beverage,   a flow path connecting the concentrate chamber and the outlet, the flow path containing a means for mixing the beverage concentrate with an aqueous medium,   wherein the flow path has a maximum cross-section area of X and a minimum cross-section area of Y, wherein the ratio of X to Y is about 20 or greater, and wherein the beverage concentrate is a non-gelled beverage liquid concentrate or a solid beverage concentrate comprising an alginate and/or a thermally reversible gelling thickener.   
     
     
         13 . A beverage concentrate comprising a thickener, wherein the thickener comprises methyl cellulose and at least one alginate in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1, wherein the methyl cellulose and the at least one alginate are present in a combined amount of about 0.01 to about 5 weight %. 
     
     
         14 . The use of a sodium alginate and methyl cellulose to improve the organoleptic properties, preferably the mouthfeel, of a beverage prepared from a beverage concentrate, wherein the methyl cellulose and at least one alginate in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1.