Anhydrous flavor delivery composition and method

The present invention relates to flavor delivery compositions and methods for making such compositions and for flavoring beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates to anhydrous flavor delivery compositions and methods for flavoring beverages.

Flavor delivery compositions are typically used in the beverage industry to incorporate water-insoluble flavor components into water-based beverages. Traditional flavor delivery compositions commonly used are emulsions, extracts and solutions.

Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and can separate as a result of long-term storage. In a finished beverage, the separation will result in creaming, ringing, sedimentation, flocculation, coalescence, or other undesirable characteristics. In addition, the droplet size of the oil component is too large to make optically clear beverages.

Unlike emulsions, extracts can be used to make optically clear beverages. However, the process of extraction is very slow usually requiring several days to complete the phase separation. In addition, only a small amount (about 5%) of the oil used is recovered for beverage applications while the rest is either discarded or used in low-profit products. Overall, extraction is a wasteful and expensive flavor delivery composition.

A need exists for flavor delivery compositions that are stable, optically clear, efficient, and cost effective.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an anhydrous flavor delivery composition is provided. The anhydrous flavor delivery composition comprises a water-insoluble component, a surfactant and an alcohol. The anhydrous flavor delivery composition of the present invention can be a stable and optically clear flavor delivery composition than can be readily incorporated into beverage concentrates, beverage syrups and finished beverages.

The water-insoluble component is typically composed of one or more edible oils and is present in an amount from about 1% to about 40%, preferably from about 13% to about 23% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. The edible oil can contain a carrier oil such as triacylglycerol fat/oil, an essential oil, a terpene-based oil, or a combination thereof. In addition, the water-insoluble component can include a non-aqueous organic solvent such as propylene glycol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, methanol, triacetin, limonene, citrus terpenes, other non-aqueous organic solvents as is known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof. The essential oils include flavoring aromatic compounds and/or oils, oleoresins and extracts derived from plants, leaves, flowers, vegetables, fruits and so forth, and combinations thereof. These flavoring oils may be used individually or in a mixture as is well known in the art. Artificial or synthetic forms of these flavoring oils can also be used.

The surfactant is typically present in an amount from about 10% to about 40%, and preferably from about 10% to about 20% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. Non-limiting examples of suitable surfactants include propylene glycol alginate, monoglyceride, diglyceride, dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium (DOSS), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (also known as polysorbate 20, available under the trade name Tween® 20 from ICI Americas, Inc. of Wilmington, Del.), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (also known as polysorbate 40, available under the trade name Tween® 40 from ICI Americas, Inc.), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate (also known as polysorbate 60, available under the trade name Tween® 60 from ICI Americas, Inc.), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate (also known as polysorbate 65, available under the trade name Tween® 65 from ICI Americas, Inc.), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate (also known as polysorbate 80, available under the trade name Tween® 80 from ICI Americas, Inc.), sorbitan monolaurate (available under the trade name Span® 20 from ICI Americas, Inc.), sorbitan monopalmitate (available under the trade name Span® 40 from ICI Americas, Inc.), betaine, sucrose esters of fatty acids, sucrose monomyristate, sucrose palmitate, sucrose stearate, mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, monoglyceride monooleate, monoglyceride monolaurate, monoglyceride monopalmitate, lecithin, diglyceride mixtures, citric acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, acetic acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, lactic acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, mono and diacetyl tartaric esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, cyclodextrins (α, β, or γ), propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, stearoyl lactylates, C 8-18 free fatty acids, other emulsifiers as is known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof.

The alcohol of the present invention is typically present in an amount from about 55% to about 85%, preferably from about 63% to about 73% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. The preferred alcohol is ethanol. In addition, other alcohols that can be used include, without limitation, isopropanol; benzyl alcohol; methanol; propylene glycol (as CH 2 OH—CH 2 —CH 2 OH and/or CH 3 —CHOH—CHOH); butylene glycol; hexylene glycol; glycerol; C 5 -C 12 mono- and di-saccharide sugars, such as, dextrose, sucrose, fructose, as such, or in other forms such as molasses, brown sugar, invert sugar, refinery syrup, corn syrup; and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the anhydrous flavor delivery composition can include an effective amount of a suitable preservative. Any suitable preservative can be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable preservative include benzoate salts, sorbate salts, as well as other preservatives known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the preservative can be combined with an acid such as citric acid to lower its pH improving the effectiveness of the preservative.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of making an anhydrous flavor delivery composition is provided. Preferably, the components and amounts in the resulting flavor delivery composition are as previously described. The method comprises adding a water-insoluble component to a surfactant to form a mixture. Then, an alcohol is added to the mixture to form an anhydrous flavor delivery composition. Preferably, the anhydrous flavor delivery composition is optically clear and stable.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of flavoring a beverage composition is provided. The method comprises combining a water-insoluble component, a surfactant, and an alcohol to form an anhydrous flavor delivery composition. Preferably, the components and amounts of the flavor delivery composition are as previously described.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resulting beverage composition is stable and optically clear.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an anhydrous flavor delivery composition is provided. The anhydrous flavor delivery composition comprises a water-insoluble component, a surfactant and an alcohol. The anhydrous flavor delivery composition of the present invention is preferably an optically clear and stable flavor delivery composition than can be readily incorporated into beverage concentrates, beverage syrups and finished beverages.

As used herein, the term “clear” refers to optical clarity, i.e., a liquid composition that has no turbidity as viewed by eye or by instrumental measurement of haze or opacity. In addition, a resulting beverage concentrate, beverage syrup and/or the finished beverage are clear as evidenced by a reading by a HACH Turbidimeter (available from Hack Company of Loveland, Colo.) of around 1 NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units) and not more than 3 NTU. When such a reading is as high as around 5 to 10 NTU, a sample is not clear, but rather slightly hazy or very slightly hazy.

As used herein, the term “stable” refers to liquid compositions in which no phase separation occurs, i.e., no creaming, ringing, sedimentation, flocculation, coalescence, crystallization, haziness, or oil-off at 40° F., 70° F., 90° F., and 110° F. over a period of 4 weeks and, more preferably, over a period of more than 6 months, i.e., within the typical shelf-life of a finished beverage.

The water-insoluble component is typically composed of one or more edible oils and is present in an amount from about 1% to about 40%, preferably from about 13% to about 23% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. The edible oil can contain a carrier oil such as triacylglycerol fat/oil, an essential oil, a terpene-based oil, or a combination thereof. In addition, the water-insoluble component can include a non-aqueous organic solvent such as propylene glycol, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, methanol, triacetin, limonene, citrus terpenes, other non-aqueous organic solvents as is known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof. The essential oils include flavoring aromatic compounds and/or oils, oleoresins and extracts derived from plants, leaves, flowers, vegetables, fruits and so forth, and combinations thereof.

Table 1 below provides a non-limiting list of sources of essential oils that can used in the present invention. In addition to those essential oils listed below in Table 1, other flavoring oils such as coffee, tea, cherry, apple, pineapple and vanilla oils can be used. These flavoring oils may be used individually or in a mixture as is well known in the art. Artificial or synthetic forms of these flavoring oils can also be used.

The surfactant is typically present in an amount from about 10% to about 40%, and preferably from about 10% to about 20% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. Non-limiting examples of suitable surfactants include propylene glycol alginate, monoglyceride, diglyceride, dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium (DOSS), polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monostearate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan tristearate, polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, betaine, sucrose esters of fatty acids, sucrose monomyristate, sucrose palmitate, sucrose stearate, mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, monoglyceride monooleate, monoglyceride monolaurate, monoglyceride monopalmitate, lecithin, diglyceride mixtures, citric acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, acetic acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, lactic acid esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, mono and diacetyl tartaric esters of mono and diglycerides of fatty acids, polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, cyclodextrins (α, β, or γ), propylene glycol esters of fatty acids, stearoyl lactylates, C 8-18 free fatty acids, other emulsifiers as is known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof.

The alcohol of the present invention is typically present in an amount from about 55% to about 85%, preferably from about 63% to about 73% by total weight of the anhydrous flavor delivery composition. The preferred alcohol is ethanol. In addition, other alcohols that can be used include, without limitation, isopropanol; methanol, benzyl alcohol; propylene glycol (as CH 2 OH—CH 2 —CH 2 OH and/or CH 3 —CHOH—CHOH); butylene glycol; hexylene glycol; glycerol; C 5 -C 12 mono- and di-saccharide sugars, such as, dextrose, sucrose, fructose, as such, or in other forms such as molasses, brown sugar, invert sugar, refinery syrup, corn syrup; and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol and mannitol.

Unexpectedly, it was discovered that the water-insoluble component dissolves more readily in ethanol than in propylene glycol. Additionally, the resulting anhydrous flavor delivery composition is typically clear even when the ratio of ethanol to the surfactant exceeds 1:1. Unlike ethanol, other alcohols such as propylene glycol will typically result in a cloudy anhydrous flavor delivery composition if the ratio of the alcohol to the surfactant exceeds 1:1.

The weight ratio of the surfactant to the water-insoluble component is typically from about 0.025:1 to about 4:1 and a more typical ratio is from about 0.5:1 to about 2:1. The weight ratio of the alcohol to the surfactant is typically from about 1.375:1 to about 8.5:1 and a more typical ratio is from about 2:1 to about 4:1.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the anhydrous flavor delivery composition can include an effective amount of a suitable preservative. Any suitable preservative can be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable preservative include benzoate salts, sorbate salts, as well as other preservatives known to those skilled in the art, and combinations thereof. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the preservative can be combined with an acid such as citric acid to lower its pH improving the effectiveness of the preservative.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of making an anhydrous flavor delivery composition is provided. Preferably, the components and amounts in the resulting flavor delivery composition are as previously described. The method comprises combining a water-insoluble component, a surfactant, and an alcohol to form an anhydrous flavor delivery composition. Preferably, the anhydrous flavor delivery composition is optically clear and stable. It was discovered that the sequence of adding a water-insoluble component to a surfactant to form a mixture, and then adding an alcohol to the mixture to form an anhydrous flavor delivery composition provides the most stable microemulsion. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this method can be done in a batch, a semi-continuous, or a continuous process.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the water-insoluble component can be added to the surfactant under continuous stirring or other mixing techniques known to those skilled in the art. Likewise, the alcohol is preferably added to the mixture of the water-insoluble component and the surfactant under continuous stirring or other mixing techniques known to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of flavoring a beverage composition is provided. The method comprises adding an effective amount of a flavor delivery composition to a beverage composition. Preferably, the components and amounts of the flavor delivery composition are as previously described.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the resulting beverage composition is stable and optically clear.

The anhydrous flavor delivery composition of Example 1 was prepared by mixing lemon-lime oil and polysorbate 60 under continuous stirring to form a mixture. Then, ethanol was added to the resulting mixture under continuous stirring.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.