Beverage containing saffron component

Abstract

The invention discloses a beverage containing a saffron component. The beverage is prepared from the following ingredients in percentage by volume: 2%-3% of a saffron extracting solution, 5%-10% of yellow peach concentrated juice, 3%-5% of Chinese wolfberry fruit concentrated juice, 2%-3% of apple concentrated juice, 2%-10% of red date concentrated juice and the balance of water. According to the beverage containing the saffron component provided by the invention, natural antioxidants such as vitamin E and tea polyphenol are added, and are combined with a light-proof package (such as a brown PET bottle and an aluminum foil bag), so that a set of effective protection system is constructed; the system can synergistically delay oxidative deterioration of flavonoids and flavor substances in the beverage caused by illumination and oxygen, and ensures that the product is stable in flavor and has the same quality within the shelf life of 12 months.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of food science and engineering technology, and in particular to a beverage containing saffron. Background Technology

[0002] With the fast pace of modern life and changes in dietary structure, consumers' demand for healthy beverages is increasing, especially those that combine functional ingredients with a pleasant taste. Saffron, a traditional plant used in both medicine and food, has active ingredients (such as crocin and crocinic acid) that possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and mood-regulating effects. However, there are currently few beverage products on the market with saffron as the core ingredient, and many of them suffer from the following problems:

[0003] Single ingredient: Most products only use saffron as a selling point, lacking the synergistic effect of other natural ingredients, making it difficult to meet consumers' needs for multiple health benefits.

[0004] Taste limitations: Saffron itself has a slightly bitter taste, and adding it directly can easily affect the flavor of the beverage. The taste needs to be balanced through formula optimization.

[0005] Insufficient health functions: Existing beverages mostly focus on flavor or basic nutrition, lacking functional designs that address modern health issues such as gut health and metabolic regulation.

[0006] Stability challenges: The active ingredients in saffron are easily affected by factors such as light and temperature, which can lead to a decrease in efficacy or a deterioration in flavor.

[0007] Furthermore, dietary fiber, as the seventh essential nutrient, plays a significant role in promoting intestinal peristalsis, regulating blood sugar and lipids, and enhancing satiety. However, its addition to beverages is often limited due to poor solubility and a rough texture. Therefore, this application proposes a beverage containing saffron, providing a new technical solution to address the aforementioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, it is necessary to address the aforementioned technical issues by providing a beverage containing saffron. By adding natural antioxidants such as vitamin E and tea polyphenols, and combining it with light-proof packaging (such as brown PET bottles and aluminum foil bags), an effective protective system is constructed. This system can synergistically delay the oxidative deterioration of flavonoids and flavor substances in the beverage caused by light and oxygen, ensuring that the product maintains stable flavor and consistent quality within a 12-month shelf life.

[0009] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] A beverage containing saffron, which is used in functional foods.

[0011] The beverage containing saffron is specifically made from the following ingredients by volume percentage: 2%-3% saffron extract, 5%-10% concentrated yellow peach juice, 3%-5% concentrated goji berry juice, 2%-3% concentrated apple juice, 2%-10% concentrated jujube juice, and the remainder is water.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the saffron-containing beverage provided by the present invention, it further includes a natural antioxidant; the natural antioxidant is vitamin E, added at an amount of 0.02%-0.05% based on the total weight of the beverage; or tea polyphenols, added at an amount of 0.01%-0.03%.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of the saffron-containing beverage provided by the present invention, the beverage is packaged in a container made of a light-proof material.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the beverage containing saffron provided by the present invention, the container made of light-proof material is a brown PET bottle or an aluminum foil bag.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the beverage containing saffron provided by the present invention, the saffron extract is obtained by extracting saffron from water and Yuping saffron from Guizhou Province, the yellow peach concentrate is prepared from Yuping yellow peaches, the wolfberry concentrate is prepared from wolfberries, the apple concentrate is prepared from apples, and the jujube concentrate is prepared from jujubes.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] The beverage containing saffron provided by this invention employs ultra-high temperature (UHT) sterilization (135-150℃, 2-5 seconds) combined with aseptic cold filling technology. This process, through extremely short-duration high-temperature treatment, can thoroughly kill pathogenic and spoilage bacteria while significantly reducing the damage to heat-sensitive active ingredients such as saffron glycosides, wolfberry polysaccharides, and vitamin C. Compared with traditional long-duration heat sterilization processes (such as 121℃, 20 minutes), the retention rate of active ingredients is higher, thus better maintaining the product's intended health benefits.

[0018] The beverage containing saffron provided by this invention constructs an effective protection system by adding natural antioxidants such as vitamin E and tea polyphenols and combining it with light-proof packaging (such as brown PET bottles and aluminum foil bags). This system can synergistically delay the oxidative deterioration of flavonoids and flavor substances in the beverage caused by light and oxygen, ensuring that the product maintains stable flavor and consistent quality within a 12-month shelf life. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the solutions in this invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 Stacked bar chart showing the ingredient ratio of the saffron-containing beverage provided by this invention;

[0021] Figure 2 The flowchart illustrates the preparation method of the beverage containing saffron provided by this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] Example 1:

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, a beverage containing saffron is made from ingredients comprising the following volume percentages: 2%-3% saffron extract, 5%-10% concentrated yellow peach juice, 3%-5% concentrated goji berry juice, 2%-3% concentrated apple juice, 2%-10% concentrated jujube juice, and the remainder being water.

[0025] The saffron extract is obtained by extracting saffron from Yuping County, Guizhou Province, with water. The unique geographical environment and climate of Yuping County produce high-quality saffron rich in various active ingredients, such as crocin, which has effects such as relieving stress and promoting blood circulation. The yellow peach concentrate is made from Yuping yellow peaches. Yuping yellow peaches are plump, golden in color, and have a rich aroma. They are rich in vitamin C, carotene, and other nutrients, adding a sweet flavor and abundant nutrition to the beverage. The goji berry concentrate is made from goji berries. Goji berries are rich in goji polysaccharides, carotenoids, and other bioactive substances, which have the effects of replenishing qi and blood, and boosting vitality, while also providing a natural sweetness to the beverage. The apple concentrate is made from apples. Apples are rich in pectin and vitamins, giving the beverage a unique jujube aroma (the "jujube aroma" here is likely intended to refer to the apple aroma, but this can be corrected if incorrect) and vitamin C. The jujube concentrate is made from jujubes. Jujubes are a traditional tonic, with effects such as replenishing qi and blood, and calming the mind.

[0026] In addition, the beverage contains natural antioxidants; by total weight of the beverage, the natural antioxidants are vitamin E, added at an amount of 0.02%-0.05%; or tea polyphenols, added at an amount of 0.01%-0.03%. Both vitamin E and tea polyphenols have strong antioxidant capabilities, which can effectively delay the deterioration of flavor substances in the beverage and ensure that the flavor of the product does not change significantly within a certain shelf life.

[0027] Regarding packaging, the beverage is packaged in a container made of light-blocking material. This is because some components in the beverage, such as flavonoids, are prone to oxidation under light exposure, which can affect the beverage's quality and efficacy. The container made of light-blocking material is either a brown PET bottle or an aluminum foil bag. Brown PET bottles offer excellent light-blocking, barrier properties, and mechanical strength, effectively protecting the beverage from external environmental influences; aluminum foil bags offer good sealing, strong light protection, and portability, making them suitable for various drinking scenarios.

[0028] Example 2:

[0029] Based on the above embodiment one, as follows Figure 2 As shown, its preparation method is disclosed:

[0030] First, accurately weigh the saffron extract, concentrated yellow peach juice, concentrated goji berry juice, concentrated apple juice, and concentrated jujube juice prepared as described above, along with water, and add them to a mixing tank. Use a stirring device to thoroughly mix the ingredients, ensuring even dispersion and obtaining a mixed liquid. During the mixing process, strictly control the stirring speed and time to ensure effective mixing while avoiding excessive foaming.

[0031] Next, the mixture is subjected to ultra-high temperature (UHT) sterilization. The mixture is passed through a high-temperature heat exchanger and held at 135-150°C for 2-5 seconds. This UHT sterilization method can kill pathogenic and spoilage bacteria in the mixture in a short time, effectively ensuring the hygiene and safety of the beverage. At the same time, due to the extremely short sterilization time, the active ingredients in the beverage, such as crocin in saffron and goji berry polysaccharides in goji berries, are preserved to the maximum extent, minimizing nutrient loss.

[0032] Then, the sterilized mixture is filled using aseptic cold filling technology. Aseptic cold filling involves rapidly filling the sterilized mixture, cooled to a suitable temperature, into sterilized packaging containers under sterile conditions and immediately sealing them. This filling method avoids secondary contamination during the filling process, further ensuring the quality and safety of the beverage, while also helping to preserve its taste and flavor.

[0033] Example 3:

[0034] The saffron-containing beverage provided in Example 1 was further optimized by adding an appropriate amount of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is a type of carbohydrate beneficial to human health, which promotes intestinal peristalsis, increases satiety, and lowers blood sugar and blood lipids. Adding dietary fiber to this beverage not only further enhances its health benefits but also improves its taste and texture, making it thicker and smoother.

[0035] Through the aforementioned structural design, the optimized saffron-containing beverage retains its original effects of relieving stress, promoting blood circulation, and replenishing qi and blood, while adding new health benefits such as promoting intestinal health and assisting in the regulation of blood sugar and lipids. Simultaneously, the addition of dietary fiber enriches the beverage's flavor, meeting consumers' demand for drinks that combine health and deliciousness, further enhancing the product's market competitiveness. For example, in actual drinking experience, consumers can perceive a richer, smoother taste and smoother intestinal peristalsis after consumption, bringing more health and convenience to daily life.

Claims

1. A beverage containing saffron, characterized in that, It is made from ingredients comprising the following volume percentages: 2%-3% saffron extract, 5%-10% yellow peach concentrate, 3%-5% goji berry concentrate, 2%-3% apple concentrate, 2%-10% jujube concentrate, and the remainder being water.

2. The beverage containing saffron as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also contains natural antioxidants; the natural antioxidants are vitamin E, added at 0.02%-0.05% by weight of the beverage; or tea polyphenols, added at 0.01%-0.03%.

3. The beverage containing saffron as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that... The beverage is packaged in a container made of light-proof material.

4. The beverage containing saffron according to claim 3, characterized in that, The container made of light-proof material is a brown PET bottle or an aluminum foil bag.

5. The beverage containing saffron as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The saffron extract was obtained by extracting saffron from Yuping, Guizhou with water; the yellow peach concentrate was prepared from Yuping yellow peaches; the wolfberry concentrate was prepared from wolfberries; the apple concentrate was prepared from apples; and the jujube concentrate was prepared from jujubes.

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