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.

1 . A stevia composition made by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a stevia sweetener;   providing an alkaline aqueous solution;   dispersing the stevia sweetener in the alkaline solution and incubating for about 12 to 48 hours at about 55-75° C. to form a mixture;   cooling the mixture to about 10-30° C. and adjusting the pH with acid to about pH 3.0-4.0;   incubating the mixture at low temperature to obtain a precipitate;   separating the precipitate and washing it with water; and   drying the washed precipitate to obtain the stevia composition;   
       wherein the stevia composition comprises rebaudioside B. 
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The stevia composition of  claim 1 ,
 the composition comprising a mixture of rebaudioside A and rebaudioside B at a ratio of about 5%:95% to about 95%:5% (w/w).   
     
     
         6 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A sweetener composition comprising the stevia composition of  claim 1  and an additional sweetening agent selected from the group consisting of: stevia extract, steviol glycosides, stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, steviolbioside, rubusoside, other steviol glycosides found in  Stevia rebaudiana  Bertoni plant and mixtures thereof, Luo Han Guo extract, mogrosides, high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, invert sugar, fructooligosaccharides, inulin, inulooligosaccharides, coupling sugar, maltooligosaccharides, maltodextins, corn syrup solids, glucose, maltose, sucrose, lactose, aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, sugar alcohols, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A flavor composition comprising the stevia composition of  claim 1  and an additional flavoring agent selected from the group consisting of: lemon, orange, fruit, banana, grape, pear, pineapple, mango, bitter almond, cola, cinnamon, sugar, cotton candy, vanilla, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A food ingredient comprising the stevia composition of  claim 1  and an additional food ingredient selected from the group consisting of: acidulants, organic and amino acids, coloring agents, bulking agents, modified starches, gums, texturizers, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilisers, thickeners, gelling agents, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A food, beverage, cosmetic or pharmaceutical product comprising the stevia composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A stevia composition comprising a mixture of rebaudioside A and rebaudioside B at a ratio of about 5%:95% to about 95%:5% (w/w). 
     
     
         13 . A food, beverage, cosmetic or pharmaceutical product comprising the stevia composition of  claim 12 .