Patent Application
20070269568
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
TABLE 1 below depicts an exemplary composition for a reduced calorie sweetener with an improved aftertaste.
As depicted in Table 1, a preferred embodiment of the sweetener includes acesulfame K, erythritol, and at least a portion of a petal from a flower. The sweetener preferably takes the form of a powder with at least a crystal portion with a texture resembling that of sucrose, and a smooth portion with a texture that is more smooth than that of sucrose. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that acesulfame K is an artificial sweetener with a noticeable aftertaste. It will also be appreciated that glycine is an amino acid with a mildly sweet taste, and that erythritol is a sugar alcohol with a taste approximately seventy percent as sweet as sucrose.
As mentioned in the Background section above, various efforts have been made to reduce the aftertaste associated with acesulfame K through use of certain masking agents. However, the masking agents used with acesulfame K have generally produced less than ideal masking effects, and/or the masking agents have produced their own undesirable aftertastes.
In the preferred embodiment of Table 1, glycine is used in the sweetener at least in part to enhance the overall taste of the sweetener. Specifically, the glycine helps to reduce the acesulfame K aftertaste, and to add sweetness. In addition, the glycine helps to improve the texture of the sweetener, for example by contributing to the smooth portion of the blend of ingredients in powder form. USP grade glycine is used in the sweetener.
The erythritol is used in the sweetener at least in part to help mask the aftertaste of the acesulfame K in the sweetener, and to add sweetness. In addition, the erythritol improves the texture of the sweetener, for example by contributing to the crystal part of the blend of ingredients, providing a familiar sugar-like texture to the sweetener. However, when used in this manner, the erythritol may leave its own aftertaste, and/or may not completely mask the acesulfame K aftertaste.
The flower petal is used in the sweetener at least in part to alleviate the remaining aftertaste from the acesulfame K, glycine, and erythritol combination. The flower petal also adds to the essence of the sweetness. At least a portion of a flower petal is used, although it will be appreciated that an entire flower petal, multiple flower petals, or portions thereof, can be used, either from one flower or a plurality of flowers. Preferably the flower petal is dried and crushed prior to being combined with the acesulfame K, glycine, and erythritol. In a preferred embodiment the flower petal is from a violet, a rose, or a lavender. However, it will be appreciated that the flower petal can be from any of a number of different types of flowers, or combinations thereof.
In the preferred embodiment depicted in Table 1 above, the ratio of the amount of glycine to the amount of acesulfame K in the sweetener is approximately 12:1. The sweetener preferably includes approximately the same amount of erythritol as glycine. Accordingly, the ratio of the amount of erythritol to the amount of acesulfame K in the sweetener is also approximately 12:1 in this preferred embodiment. Finally, the ratio of the flower petal to the acesulfame K in this preferred embodiment is approximately 3:100. In certain embodiments the ratio of the flower petal to the acesulfame K can be reduced, for example to approximately 3:250 or to approximately 1:100, when less of the flower petal is desired. Alternatively, the ratio of the flower petal to the acesulfame K can be increased, for example to approximately 3:50 or 1:10 or higher, when more of the flower petal is desired, such as in a candied version of the sweetener. It will be appreciated that the above-referenced ingredients can be utilized in any one of a number of different ratios. However, the formulations referenced above, including the embodiment depicted in Table 1, yielded unexpected results in the form of exceptional taste, believed to be a product of synergistic qualities of the above ingredients.
In a preferred embodiment, the sweetener is prepared utilizing the steps described below. First, a base formula is created by combining the glycine and the erythritol together, preferably in approximately equal amounts. As mentioned above, USP grade glycine is used. Next, the acesulfame K is combined with the glycine and erythritol, preferably in an amount that is approximately one-twelfth the amount of the glycine, and approximately one-twelfth the amount of the erythritol.
In addition, at least a portion of a flower petal, or multiple flower petals, is collected. As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment the flower petal is from a violet, a rose, or a lavender; however, it will be appreciated that the flower petal can be from either one flower or a plurality of flowers, and can be from any of a number of different types of flowers, or combinations thereof. Preferably the flower petal is dried and then crushed. However, it will be appreciated that the flower petal can be prepared using any one of a number of different methods. It will also be appreciated that the preparation of the flower petal can occur before, after, or simultaneously with the mixing of the other ingredients, and that in certain embodiments the flower petal can come pre-prepared, with no additional drying, crushing, or other preparation required.
Regardless of the particular aspects of the flower petal and the preparation thereof, the flower petal is combined with the glycine, erythritol, and acesulfame K, for example in a mixing apparatus. As mentioned above, in a preferred embodiment depicted in Table 1, the amount of the flower petal used is approximately three one-hundredths of the amount of acesulfame K used in the mixture. Also as mentioned above, the amount of the flower petal can vary, for example decreasing to approximately three parts flower petal per 250 parts acesulfame K or to approximately one part flower petal per 100 parts acesulfame K when less flower petal is desired, or increasing to one part flower petal per 50 parts acesulfame K, or to one part flower petal per 10 parts acesulfame K, or higher, for a candied version of the sweetener.
After the glycine, erythritol, acesulfame K, and flower petal are combined together, the ingredients are mixed together in the mixing apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, these ingredients are blended together in a pneumatic shaker that performs approximately 700 cycles per minute. Preferably the glycine, erythritol, acesulfame K, and flower petal are blended for at least approximately three minutes in the pneumatic shaker, in order to ensure a thorough blend of these ingredients. However, it will be appreciated that any one of a number of different types of shakers, blenders, and/or other mixing apparatus, or combinations thereof, can be used, and for any of a number of different lengths of time. It will also be appreciated that the ingredients can be mixed together at the same time, or that certain ingredients can be mixed with one another separately from other ingredients. It will similarly be appreciated that the steps set forth above can be conducted in a different order (such as the order that the different ingredients are combined and mixed together), and that various steps (such as combining and/or mixing some or all of the ingredients) can also be conducted simultaneously.
As mentioned above, the combination of the glycine, erythritol, acesulfame K and flower petal exhibited synergistic qualities with unexpected results in the form of exceptional taste, which was not present until each of these ingredients were combined together. In addition to the exceptional taste, the sweetener has a pleasant texture, including a crystal portion resembling the texture of table sugar, and a complementary smooth portion of the sweetener. This provides a pleasing feel and taste when the sweetener is consumed. Moreover, each of the ingredients combined with the acesulfame K (namely the glycine, erythritol, and flower petal) are natural ingredients, and each of the ingredients are generally considered to be healthy for consumption. Accordingly, the sweetener maintains an exceptional taste and a pleasant texture, without using multiple artificial sweeteners, and without using certain artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame or saccharin, that have garnered substantial negative publicity.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
