Rebaudioside d-containing composition

Abstract

To provide a glucoside-containing liquid composition improved in water solubility of steviol glucoside.SOLUTION: An aspect of the disclosure provides a liquid composition including: a mixed solvent which includes 50-95 wt.% of one or more kinds of polyalcohol selected from a group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol and 5-50 wt.% of ethanol based on the total weight of the mixed solvent; and RebD, where the RebD content is 1.5-30 wt.% based on the total weight of the liquid composition.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid composition comprising a polyhydric alcohol, ethanol, and RebD and a method for producing the same, a beverage concentrate comprising a polyhydric alcohol, ethanol, and RebD and a method for producing the same, etc. The present invention also relates to a beverage comprising a polyhydric alcohol, ethanol, and RebD and a method for producing the same, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Stevia rebaudiana leaves contain a secondary metabolite called steviol, a type of diterpenoid. Steviol glycosides, which are formed by the addition of sugar to steviol, are used in the food industry as calorie-free sweeteners because they are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. Obesity has become a serious social problem worldwide, and the demand for calorie-free sweeteners is growing day by day from the perspective of promoting health and reducing medical costs. Currently, artificially synthesized amino acid derivatives such as aspartame and acesulfame potassium are used as artificial sweeteners, but naturally occurring calorie-free sweeteners such as steviol glycosides are expected to be safer and more likely to gain public acceptance.

[0003] Rebaudioside A (hereinafter also referred to as "RebA"), which has four sugars added to a diterpene skeleton, and its precursor, stevioside, a steviol trisaccharide glycoside, are well known as the main steviol glycosides contained in stevia, and these two are the main substances that cause the sweetness of stevia. In recent years, attempts have been made to use rebaudioside D (hereinafter also referred to as "RebD"), which has five sugars added to a diterpene skeleton, and rebaudioside M (hereinafter also referred to as "RebM"), which has six sugars added to a diterpene skeleton, as steviol glycosides with even better taste than RebA, as sweeteners.

[0004] On the other hand, it is known that some steviol glycosides, including rebaudioside D, generally have low solubility in water. Therefore, attempts have been made to increase the solubility of steviol glycosides in water. For example, International Publication No. 2019 / 108609 (Patent Document 1) discloses that a steviol glycoside composition is added to heated glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixed solvent thereof to obtain a concentrated solution. JP-A-2016-501555 (Patent Document 2) discloses that a liquid stevia composition containing a stevia component, a syrup component, ethanol, water, and glycerol is prepared to keep a high concentration of stevia components in solution for a long period of time. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 108609 [Patent Document 2] Special table number 2016-501555 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Under the above circumstances, the development of a new method for improving the solubility of steviol glycosides is awaited. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present inventors have studied and found that when a liquid composition containing RebD is prepared using a mixed solvent containing a specific polyhydric alcohol and ethanol, the solubility of RebD is improved, and a liquid composition containing RebD at a high concentration can be obtained. In addition, the inventors have found that a beverage concentrate or beverage, which is a precursor of a beverage, can be prepared using the mixture to provide a beverage containing RebD. The present invention is based on such findings.

[0008] The present invention includes, for example, the following aspects. [1] Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; A mixed solvent containing 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol; A liquid composition comprising RebD, A liquid composition, wherein the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition. [2] The liquid composition according to [1], wherein the ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is 15:1 to 1:1 by weight. [3] The liquid composition according to [1] or [2], wherein a total content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and the ethanol is 90 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the mixed solvent. [4] The liquid composition according to any one of [1] to [3], which consists essentially of the RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and the ethanol. [5] A beverage concentrate comprising the liquid composition according to any one of [1] to [4] and 50 to 99% by weight of water based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. [6] 1. A beverage concentrate comprising RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, ethanol, and water, the beverage concentrate comprising, based on a total weight of the beverage concentrate: 0.01 to 10% by weight of RebD; 0.4 to 50% by weight of the one or more polyhydric alcohols; A beverage concentrate comprising: 0.4 to 25% by weight ethanol. [7] The beverage concentrate according to [5] or [6], comprising one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin. [8] A beverage concentrate according to any one of [5] to [7], which contains γ-cyclodextrin. [9] A beverage comprising the beverage concentrate according to any one of [5] to [8].

[10] A method for producing a liquid composition containing 1.5 to 30% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition, Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; Preparing a mixed solvent containing 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol; Dissolving RebD in the mixed solvent to prepare a liquid composition containing RebD at 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition; A method comprising:

[11] The method according to

[10] , wherein the ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol in the mixed solvent is 15:1 to 1:1 by weight.

[12] 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, 5 ppm to 3,000 ppm of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; and 2ppm to 1,000ppm of ethanol Including beverages.

[13] The beverage according to

[12] , comprising 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, and a ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is 15:1 to 1:1 by weight.

[14] The beverage according to

[12] or

[13] , comprising one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin.

[15] A 2 to 10 times concentrate of the beverage described in any one of

[12] to

[14] . Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid composition containing RebD at a high concentration can be provided. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, a liquid composition containing RebD at a high concentration and having excellent handleability can be provided. According to another aspect of the present invention, a liquid composition containing RebD at a high concentration can be produced in a shorter time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the amount of RebD dissolved using an aqueous ethanol solution in a reference example. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a graph showing the viscosity of a mixed solution of glycerin and ethanol in Example A. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a graph showing the change in turbidity (NTU) from the time of sample preparation until 5 hours in Example C. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 shows the dissolution time at different RebD contents and temperatures using solvent 4 (glycerin and ethanol volume ratio of 70:30) in Example D. [Diagram 5] This figure shows the monitoring results for the reprecipitation of RebD after the addition of a RebD-containing liquid composition to water in Example E. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 shows the inhibitory effect of adding cyclodextrin on the reprecipitation of RebD in Example F. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the results of a sensory evaluation in Example G. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The present invention will be described in detail below. The following embodiments are merely illustrative for explaining the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention to these embodiments. The present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. All documents cited in this specification, as well as published publications, patent publications and other patent documents, are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0012] In this specification, "ppm" means "ppm by mass" unless otherwise specified. Since the specific gravity of a normal beverage is 1, "ppm by mass" can be regarded as the same as "mg / L". In this specification, "% by weight" can be regarded as the same as "% by mass". In this specification, the word "about" means that the subject is within a range of ±25%, ±10%, ±5%, ±3%, ±2%, or ±1% of the numerical value following "about". For example, "about 10" means a range of 7.5 to 12.5.

[0013] 1.Liquid composition As one aspect, the present invention provides the following liquid composition (hereinafter also referred to as "the liquid composition of the present invention"). Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; A mixed solvent containing 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol; A liquid composition comprising RebD, A liquid composition, wherein the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0014] The liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention can contain RebD at a high concentration and has excellent handling properties. When the present inventors dissolved RebD using glycerin, it was found that it could be contained at a high concentration, but glycerin has a high viscosity and is therefore difficult to handle. The present inventors have discovered an unexpected effect that the viscosity can be reduced while maintaining the solubility of RebD at a high level by mixing a predetermined amount of ethanol with a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin to prepare a mixed solvent. As demonstrated in the Reference Examples of this specification, the solubility of RebD was not necessarily improved in an aqueous ethanol solution, so it was unexpected that RebD could be dissolved at a high concentration by mixing a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin and ethanol in a predetermined ratio. The liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention can contain RebD at a high concentration, and is therefore useful for maintaining a high RebD concentration when preparing a beverage concentrate.

[0015] A liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention is a liquid composition containing RebD and a mixed solvent containing a predetermined amount of a specific polyhydric alcohol and a predetermined amount of ethanol, and the content of RebD is within a predetermined range. By using a mixed solvent containing a predetermined amount of a specific polyhydric alcohol and a predetermined amount of ethanol, RebD can be dissolved at a high concentration of 1.5 to 30% by weight.

[0016] The liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin (also called glycerol), ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol. The polyhydric alcohol is preferably one or more selected from glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, more preferably one or more selected from glycerin and ethylene glycol, and even more preferably glycerin.

[0017] The content of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol is 50 to 95% by weight, preferably 52 to 93% by weight, more preferably 60 to 87% by weight, and even more preferably 62 to 80% by weight, based on the total weight of the mixed solvent. By setting the content in such a range, the viscosity of the mixed solvent can be suppressed while the solubility of RebD can be improved, which is preferable. Alternatively, the content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols is 50 to 93% by weight, 50 to 90% by weight, 50 to 87% by weight, 50 to 85% by weight, 50 to 80% by weight, 50 to 75% by weight, 50 to 70% by weight, 50 to 65% by weight, 50 to 60% by weight, 50 to 55% by weight, 52 to 93% by weight, 52 to 90% by weight, 52 to 87% by weight, 52 to 85% by weight, 52 to 80% by weight, 52 to 75% by weight, 52 to 70% by weight, 52 to 65 ... The total weight of the mixed solvent may be 2 to 60% by weight, 52 to 55% by weight, 55 to 95% by weight, 55 to 93% by weight, 55 to 90% by weight, 55 to 87% by weight, 55 to 85% by weight, 55 to 80% by weight, 55 to 75% by weight, 55 to 70% by weight, 55 to 65% by weight, 55 to 60% by weight, 60 to 95% by weight, 60 to 93% by weight, 60 to 87% by weight, 60 to 85% by weight, 60 to 80% by weight, 60 to 75% by weight, 60 to 70% by weight, or 60 to 65% by weight. Here, the total weight of the mixed solvent is the total weight of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and the ethanol and any other solvent described below. When two or more polyhydric alcohols are contained, the content of the polyhydric alcohol is the total content of the polyhydric alcohols contained. The content of the polyhydric alcohol can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of polyhydric alcohol added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added (and its specific gravity).

[0018] The liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention contains ethanol. The origin of the ethanol is not particularly limited, and ethanol obtained by fermentation or chemical synthesis can be used.

[0019] The content of ethanol is 5 to 50% by weight, preferably 7 to 48% by weight, more preferably 13 to 40% by weight, and even more preferably 20 to 38% by weight, based on the total weight of the mixed solvent. By setting it in such a range, the solubility of RebD can be improved while suppressing the viscosity of the mixed solvent, which is preferable. Alternatively, the content of ethanol is 7 to 50% by weight, 7 to 48% by weight, 7 to 45% by weight, 7 to 40% by weight, 10 to 50% by weight, 10 to 48% by weight, 10 to 45% by weight, 10 to 40% by weight, 13 to 50% by weight, 13 to 48% by weight, 13 to 45% by weight, 13 to 40% by weight, 15 to 50% by weight, 15 to 48% by weight, 15 to 45% by weight, 15 to 40% by weight, or the like. %, 20-50% by weight, 20-48% by weight, 20-45% by weight, 20-40% by weight, 25-50% by weight, 25-48% by weight, 25-45% by weight, 25-40% by weight, 30-50% by weight, 30-48% by weight, 30-45% by weight, 30-40% by weight, 35-50% by weight, 35-48% by weight, 35-45% by weight, or 35-40% by weight. The ethanol content can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of ethanol added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added (and its specific gravity).

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the mixed solvent of ethanol and one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol may be obtained by mixing the polyhydric alcohol and ethanol in a volume ratio of 90:10 to 40:60. A preferred volume ratio is 80:20 to 50:50, and more preferably 75:25 to 55:45. When two or more polyhydric alcohols are contained, the volume of the polyhydric alcohols is the total volume of the polyhydric alcohols to be mixed.

[0021] The mixed solvent may contain one or more of the polyhydric alcohols and a solvent other than ethanol. Such optional other solvents include, for example, one or more solvents selected from polyhydric alcohols other than glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, monohydric alcohols other than ethanol, and water. Such polyhydric alcohols include, for example, dihydric or trihydric alcohols other than those mentioned above. In addition, monohydric alcohols include, for example, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, 2-butanol, and 2-methyl-2-propanol. Water is not particularly limited, and tap water, ion-exchanged water, purified water, pure water, etc. can be used.

[0022] The mixed solvent contained in the liquid composition in one embodiment of the present invention is essentially composed of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and ethanol. In this specification, "consisting essentially of" means that the mixed solvent used in the present invention may contain a small amount of a solvent other than the one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol. For example, when the mixed solvent is essentially composed of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol, the total content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol is preferably 85 to 100 wt%, more preferably 90 to 100 wt%, and even more preferably 95 to 100 wt% based on the total weight of the mixed solvent. The total content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol being 100 wt% based on the total weight of the mixed solvent means that the mixed solvent is composed of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol, and the content of any other solvent is an impurity amount (less than 1 wt%).

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is 15:1 to 1:1, preferably 10:1 to 1.5:1, and more preferably 7:1 to 2:1. A ratio within this range is preferable in that RebD can be dissolved at a higher concentration.

[0024] The origin of rebaudioside D (RebD) contained in the liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited, and rebaudioside D isolated and purified from plants, or RebD obtained by biosynthesis or chemical synthesis can be used.

[0025] The liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention may contain a steviol glycoside other than RebD, and may further contain, for example, one or more steviol glycosides selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside I, rebaudioside J, rebaudioside K, rebaudioside M, rebaudioside N, rebaudioside O, rebaudioside Q, rebaudioside R, dulcoside A, dulcoside C, rubusoside, steviol, steviol monoside, steviolbioside, and stevioside.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition. In this specification, the total weight of the liquid composition is the total weight of the mixed solvent, RebD, and optional components. The optional components include the amount of steviol glycosides other than RebD and preservatives added. The content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, and more preferably 8 to 19% by weight. Alternatively, it may be 1.5 to 25% by weight, 1.5 to 20% by weight, 1.5 to 19% by weight, 1.5 to 18% by weight, 1.5 to 16% by weight, 1.5 to 14% by weight, 1.5 to 12% by weight, 3 to 20% by weight, 3 to 19% by weight, 3 to 18% by weight, 3 to 16% by weight, 3 to 14% by weight, 3 to 12% by weight, 5 to 20% by weight, 5 to 19% by weight, 5 to 18% by weight, 5 to 16% by weight, 5 to 14% by weight, 5 to 12% by weight, 8 to 20% by weight, 8 to 19% by weight, 8 to 18% by weight, 8 to 16% by weight, 8 to 14% by weight, or 8 to 12% by weight. The content of RebD can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of RebD added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added.

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30 w / v% relative to the volume of the liquid composition. That is, when the content of RebD is 1.5 w / v% relative to the volume of the liquid composition, it means that 1.5 g of RebD is contained in 100 ml of the liquid composition. The content of RebD is 1.5 to 30 w / v%, preferably 5 to 25 w / v%, more preferably 8 to 20 w / v%, relative to the volume of the liquid composition. Alternatively, it may be 1.5 to 25 w / v%, 1.5 to 20 w / v%, 1.5 to 19 w / v%, 1.5 to 18 w / v%, 1.5 to 16 w / v%, 1.5 to 14 w / v%, 1.5 to 12 w / v%, 3 to 20 w / v%, 3 to 18 w / v%, 3 to 16 w / v%, 3 to 14 w / v%, 3 to 12 w / v%, 5 to 25 w / v%, 5 to 20 w / v%, 5 to 18 w / v%, 5 to 16 w / v%, 5 to 14 w / v%, 5 to 12 w / v%, 8 to 20 w / v%, 8 to 18 w / v%, 8 to 16 w / v%, 8 to 14 w / v%, or 8 to 12 w / v%. The content of RebD can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of RebD added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added.

[0028] A liquid composition in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is substantially composed of RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and ethanol. This means that the liquid composition in a preferred embodiment of the present invention may contain a small amount of components other than RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol. For example, the mixed solvent may contain any other solvent, or may contain any component other than RebD. When the liquid composition is substantially composed of RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol, this means that the total content of RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol is preferably 85 to 100% by weight, more preferably 90 to 100% by weight, and even more preferably 95 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition. The total content of RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol being 100% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition means that the liquid composition is composed of RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol, and the content of any other solvents and / or solutes is an impurity amount (less than 1% by weight).

[0029] The viscosity of the liquid composition is not particularly limited, but is, for example, about 1 to about 600 mPa·s, preferably about 1 to about 400 mPa·s, and more preferably about 1 to about 300 mPa·s, when measured at 20 to 25° C. The viscosity can be measured using a viscometer (such as the one used in the examples). In general, the lower the viscosity, the better the handling properties, and therefore the more preferable.

[0030] 2. Method for producing liquid composition As one aspect, the present invention provides the following method for producing a liquid composition (hereinafter, also referred to as "a method for producing the liquid composition of the present invention"). A method for producing a liquid composition containing 1.5 to 30% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition, Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol; Preparing a mixed solvent containing 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol; Dissolving RebD in the mixed solvent to prepare a liquid composition containing RebD at 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition; A method comprising:

[0031] The mixed solvent may contain one or more of the polyhydric alcohols and ethanol, and may contain any other solvent if desired. The order of mixing these solvents is not particularly limited. In addition, these solvents may be mixed in their entirety at once, or may be mixed in small amounts stepwise. As the optional other solvent, those described in the section on the liquid composition above can be used.

[0032] The mixed solvent used in the method for producing a liquid composition in one embodiment of the present invention essentially consists of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and ethanol. The one or more polyhydric alcohols and ethanol can be mixed in the amounts described in the section "1. Liquid composition."

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is 15:1 to 1:1, preferably 10:1 to 1.5:1, and more preferably 7:1 to 2:1. A ratio within this range is preferable in that RebD can be dissolved at a higher concentration.

[0034] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the one or more polyhydric alcohols and the ethanol may be mixed in a volume ratio of 90:10 to 40:60, preferably 80:20 to 50:50, and more preferably 75:25 to 55:45. A ratio within this range is preferable in that RebD can be dissolved at a higher concentration.

[0035] According to the method for producing a liquid composition of one embodiment of the present invention, the rate at which RebD dissolves in a solvent is faster than when a single solvent of glycerin is used, which is preferable in that a liquid composition containing RebD at a high concentration can be produced in a shorter time, thereby improving production efficiency.

[0036] In one embodiment of the present invention, the content of RebD in the obtained liquid composition is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition. RebD can be added and dissolved so that the content is 1.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, more preferably 8 to 19% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition. Alternatively, RebD may be added to and dissolved in a mixed solvent so as to give a concentration of 1.5 to 25% by weight, 1.5 to 20% by weight, 1.5 to 19% by weight, 1.5 to 18% by weight, 1.5 to 16% by weight, 1.5 to 14% by weight, 1.5 to 12% by weight, 3 to 20% by weight, 3 to 19% by weight, 3 to 18% by weight, 3 to 16% by weight, 3 to 14% by weight, 3 to 12% by weight, 5 to 20% by weight, 5 to 19% by weight, 5 to 18% by weight, 5 to 16% by weight, 5 to 14% by weight, 5 to 12% by weight, 8 to 20% by weight, 8 to 19% by weight, 8 to 18% by weight, 8 to 16% by weight, 8 to 14% by weight, or 8 to 12% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0037] In the method for producing a liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention, the temperature at which RebD is dissolved is not particularly limited, and RebD can be dissolved in the mixed solvent at a temperature of less than 55° C., less than 50° C., less than 45° C., less than 40° C., or less than 35° C., for example. In the method for producing a liquid composition according to another embodiment of the present invention, RebD is dissolved in the mixed solvent without substantially heating. In this specification, "without substantially heating" means that the method does not include a step of intentionally supplying heat from the outside using a heating device such as a heater, and does not exclude production methods in which heating occurs due to heat of dissolution, heat generated when the production device is operating, or heat due to the influence of the outside air temperature.

[0038] In the manufacturing method of the present invention, with regard to "RebD," "one or more polyhydric alcohols," "ethanol," "steviol glycoside other than RebD," and "optional components other than RebD," those described in the section "1. Liquid composition" can be used.

[0039] 3. Beverage concentrate In one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage concentrate (hereinafter also referred to as "the beverage concentrate of the present invention") comprising RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, ethanol and water. The beverage concentrate is intended to be diluted with water or carbonated water to prepare a beverage, and is also called syrup.

[0040] A beverage concentrate according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention and 50 to 99 wt % water, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate.

[0041] A beverage concentrate according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, ethanol, and water, the beverage concentrate comprising 0.01 to 10% by weight of RebD, 0.4 to 50% by weight of the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and 0.4 to 25% by weight of ethanol, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. This beverage concentrate may be obtained by mixing the liquid composition according to one embodiment of the present invention with 50 to 99% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate.

[0042] A beverage concentrate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is one that, when diluted with water or carbonated water, becomes the beverage described in the section "5. Beverages" below. Usually, dilution with water or carbonated water merely increases the amount of water in the beverage concentrate, so that the RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol in the beverage concentrate are maintained. Thus, for example, a beverage concentrate having the composition of the beverage described below when prepared by diluting twice with water is a beverage concentrate containing RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol at approximately twice the concentration of the beverage described below. According to a preferred embodiment, a 1.5-20 times concentrate, a 2-15 times concentrate, a 2-10 times concentrate, or a 4-8 times concentrate of the beverage described below is provided.

[0043] The amount of water contained in the beverage concentrate in some embodiments of the present invention is 50-99% by weight based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. In preferred embodiments, the amount of water may be 60-99%, 70-97%, 75-95% or 80-90% by weight based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. The water content can be calculated from the amount of added ingredients (and their specific gravity) if the amount of added water is known.

[0044] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of the one or more polyhydric alcohols contained in the beverage concentrate is 0.4 to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. In preferred embodiments, the amount of the one or more polyhydric alcohols may be 1 to 40% by weight, 2 to 30% by weight, 5 to 25% by weight, 8 to 20% by weight, or 10 to 15% by weight based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. When two or more polyhydric alcohols are contained, the content of the polyhydric alcohol is the total content of the polyhydric alcohols contained. The content of the polyhydric alcohol can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, when the amount of the polyhydric alcohol added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added (and its specific gravity).

[0045] In some embodiments of the present invention, the amount of ethanol contained in the beverage concentrate is 0.4-25% by weight, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. In preferred embodiments, the amount of ethanol may be 0.6-20%, 0.8-15%, 1-15%, 1.5-10% or 2-6% by weight, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. The ethanol content can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of ethanol added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of added raw material (and its specific gravity).

[0046] In some embodiments of the present invention, the beverage concentrate contains RebD in an amount of 0.01-10% by weight, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. In preferred embodiments, the amount of RebD may be 0.1-8%, 0.2-5%, 0.5-4%, 1-3%, or 0.05-0.5% by weight, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. The content of RebD can be measured, for example, by HPLC. Alternatively, if the amount of RebD added is known, it may be calculated from the amount of the raw material added.

[0047] The beverage concentrate according to some embodiments of the present invention contains one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin, and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin. The beverage concentrate according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention contains γ-cyclodextrin. The inclusion of one or more cyclodextrins is preferable in terms of suppressing recrystallization (reprecipitation) of RebD. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is presumed that the cyclodextrin stabilizes the dissolved state of RebD in the solution.

[0048] The content of the one or more types of cyclodextrin is not particularly limited, but the weight ratio to the amount of RebD contained in the beverage concentrate (RebD:cyclodextrin) is preferably 1:0.05 to 1:5, more preferably 1:0.1 to 1:3, even more preferably 1:0.2 to 1:3, and particularly preferably 1:0.4 to 1:1.5, 1:0.5 to 1:1.4, or 1:0.6 to 1:1.3.

[0049] The beverage concentrate according to some embodiments of the present invention may further contain other sweeteners. Examples of such other sweeteners include natural sweeteners such as sucrose, high fructose liquid sugar, mogroside V, xylitol, corn syrup, fructose, sugar, glucose, maltose, high fructose liquid sugar, sugar alcohols (such as xylitol and erythritol), oligosaccharides, honey, sugarcane juice (brown sugar syrup), starch syrup, Monk fruit powder, Monk fruit extract, licorice powder, licorice extract, Thaumatococcus daniellii seed powder, and Thaumatococcus daniellii seed extract, and artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium, sucralose, neotame, aspartame, and saccharin. Among them, it is preferable to use natural sweeteners from the viewpoints of refreshingness, ease of drinking, natural taste, and imparting a moderate richness, and in particular, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose, and sugar are preferably used. These sweetening ingredients may be used alone or in combination.

[0050] The beverage concentrate according to some embodiments of the present invention can be diluted at any dilution ratio for use in beverages. In this case, it can be used by diluting it 2-fold, 3-fold, 4-fold, 5-fold, 6-fold, 7-fold, 8-fold, 9-fold, or 10-fold with water or carbonated water. In addition, the beverage concentrate is preferred in terms of storage and transportability because it is concentrated. The liquid concentrate according to some embodiments of the present invention is preferred because it contains RebD at a high concentration and can be diluted at a higher dilution ratio when preparing a beverage. The beverage concentrate is preferably in liquid form.

[0051] The amount of soluble solids contained in the beverage concentrate according to some embodiments of the present invention may be greater than 15% and less than or equal to 50%, 20-50%, 25-50%, 30-50%, 35-50%, 40-50%, 20-40%, 25-40%, 30-40%, 20-35%, or 20-30%. The amount of soluble solids contained in the concentrate can be measured using a saccharometer (refractometer).

[0052] In the beverage concentrate of the present invention, with regard to "RebD," "one or more polyhydric alcohols," "ethanol," "steviol glycosides other than RebD," and "optional components other than RebD," those described in the section "1. Liquid composition" can be used.

[0053] 4. Method for producing beverage concentrate As one aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a beverage concentrate comprising RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, ethanol and water (hereinafter also referred to as the "method for producing the beverage concentrate of the present invention").

[0054] A method for producing a beverage concentrate in one aspect of the present invention includes adding water to the liquid composition of the present invention. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method includes adding water to the liquid composition of the present invention to obtain a beverage concentrate containing 0.01 to 10 wt % of RebD, 0.4 to 50 wt % of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and 0.4 to 2 wt % of ethanol, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate. A method for producing a beverage concentrate in another aspect of the present invention includes adding RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and ethanol to water to obtain a beverage concentrate containing 0.01 to 10 wt % of RebD, 0.4 to 50 wt % of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and 0.4 to 25 wt % of ethanol, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate.

[0055] After the above step or simultaneously with the above step, one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin may be added.

[0056] Furthermore, other sweeteners may be added after or simultaneously with the above steps. As such other sweeteners, those described in the section "3. Beverage Concentrates" can be used.

[0057] Once the beverage concentrate is obtained, the beverage may be prepared immediately in a subsequent process or may be shipped in the form of a beverage concentrate.

[0058] 5. Beverage As one aspect, the present invention provides a beverage comprising RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, ethanol and water (hereinafter also referred to as the "beverage of the present invention").

[0059] A beverage according to one aspect of the present invention is a beverage comprising a beverage concentrate according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0060] A beverage according to another embodiment of the present invention is a beverage comprising 1 to 700 ppm of RebD, 5 to 3,000 ppm of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and 2 to 1,000 ppm of ethanol. This beverage may be obtained by diluting the beverage concentrate according to one embodiment of the present invention with water.

[0061] A beverage according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has a taste closer to sugar in one or more sensory evaluation items selected from the group consisting of "sweetness onset," "sweetness intensity," "sweetness aftertaste," "bitterness intensity," and "bitterness aftertaste" than a RebD-containing beverage that does not contain ethanol and one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.

[0062] The amount of RebD contained in the beverage in some embodiments of the present invention may be, for example, 10 to 50 ppm, 50 to 600 ppm, 50 to 200 ppm, 100 to 300 ppm, or 200 to 500 ppm.

[0063] The amount of the one or more polyhydric alcohols contained in the beverage in some embodiments of the present invention may be, for example, 10 to 3,000 ppm, 50 to 2,800 ppm, 100 to 2,700 ppm, 500 to 2,500 ppm, or 800 to 2,000 ppm.

[0064] The amount of ethanol contained in the beverage in some embodiments of the present invention may be, for example, 10 to 1,000 ppm, 50 to 900 ppm, 100 to 800 ppm, 150 to 700 ppm, or 200 to 600 ppm.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present invention, the beverage may further contain one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin, and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin. Preferably, γ-cyclodextrin is included. The amount of cyclodextrin contained in the beverage may be, for example, 1 to 700 ppm, 10 to 50 ppm, 50 to 600 ppm, 50 to 200 ppm, 100 to 300 ppm, or 200 to 500 ppm.

[0066] Beverages according to some embodiments of the present invention further comprise one or more selected from the group consisting of RebA, RebB, RebC, RebE, RebF, RebG, RebI, RebJ, RebK, RebM, RebN, RebO, RebQ, RebR, RebV, RebW, RebKA, dulcoside A, rubusoside, steviol, steviolmonoside, steviolbioside, stevioside, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, erythritol, mogroside V, corn syrup, aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, and xylitol.

[0067] Examples of beverages of the present invention include, but are not limited to, carbonated beverages, non-carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, coffee beverages, tea beverages, cocoa beverages, nutritional beverages, functional beverages, fruit / vegetable beverages, dairy beverages, etc.

[0068] The beverage according to some embodiments of the present invention may be a non-alcoholic beverage or an alcoholic beverage. In this specification, a non-alcoholic beverage means a beverage with an alcohol content of less than 1 v / v% based on Article 2 of the Liquor Tax Law of Japan. In this specification, an alcoholic beverage means a beverage with an alcohol content of 1 v / v% or more, and alcohol here means ethyl alcohol (ethanol) unless otherwise specified. The alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited. The alcoholic beverage according to one embodiment of the present invention has an alcohol content of 1 to 60 v / v%. In this specification, the alcohol content is expressed as a percentage based on volume / volume (v / v%). The alcohol content of the beverage can be measured by a method specified by the Japan Regional Taxation Bureau. For example, it can be measured by a vibration type density meter. Specifically, a sample is prepared by removing the carbon dioxide gas from the beverage using filtration or ultrasonic waves, the sample is then distilled, the density of the resulting distillate is measured at 15°C, and the density is calculated using the "Table 2: Alcohol content, density (15°C) and specific gravity (15 / 15°C) conversion table" in the appendix to the National Tax Agency Specified Analysis Method (National Tax Agency Ordinance No. 6 of 2007, revised June 22, 2007). Alternatively, if the alcohol content of the alcoholic beverage used is known, it can be calculated from the alcohol content and the amount added.

[0069] The alcoholic component used in the alcoholic beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited. Any drinkable alcoholic component may be used, such as sake, shochu, beer, fruit liquor (red wine or white wine made from grapes, or brewed liquor made from fruits other than grapes (pineapple, apple, pear, peach, loquat, strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, quince, plum, currant)), sweet fruit liquor, whiskey, brandy, raw alcohol, spirits, liqueur (plum wine, etc.), or brewed liquor made from blackstrap molasses. The alcoholic beverage in one embodiment of the present invention includes distilled liquor, brewed liquor, infused liquor, or a combination thereof. Examples of brewed liquor include sake, beer, and various fruit liquors, such as red wine or white wine made from grapes, brewed liquor made from fruits other than grapes (pineapple, apple, pear, peach, loquat, strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, quince, plum, currant), and brewed liquor made from blackstrap molasses. Examples of distilled alcoholic beverages include shochu, whiskey, brandy, raw alcohol, spirits, vodka, gin, tequila, and rum. Examples of infused alcoholic beverages include plum wine and infused alcoholic beverages made from fruits other than plums (citrus fruits such as oranges, pome fruits such as apples, stone fruits such as peaches, tropical and subtropical fruits such as mangoes, etc.).

[0070] The sweetness intensity of the beverage of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is preferably 3 to 15, more preferably 5 to 13, and even more preferably 7 to 11. In the present specification, "sweetness intensity" means the intensity of sweetness exhibited by a substance. In the present specification, sweetness intensity can be expressed in terms of sucrose equivalent value (SEV). For example, in the present specification, when the sweetness intensity exhibited by sucrose per unit concentration Brix 1 is defined as 1, the sweetness of sucrose is 1, RebA has a sweetness of about 200 to about 450, RebD has a sweetness of about 200 to about 300, and RebM has a sweetness of about 200 to about 300. The numerical value obtained by multiplying these sweetness indices by the concentration of the sweetener in the beverage of the present invention (w / v% (which can be regarded as w / w% in the case of beverages)) is the sweetness intensity of the beverage of the present invention. In the present invention, when calculating the sweetness intensity, the center value of a high-intensity sweetener having a range of sweetness is used unless otherwise specified. In addition, the sweetness intensity of the beverage of the present invention does not have to be derived only from steviol glycosides, and when any other sweetener is contained, it is the total value including the sweetness intensity derived from these sweeteners. For example, the sweetness of Monk fruit extract is about 110 to about 150 (median value about 130), the sweetness of mogroside V is about 240 to about 300 (median value about 270), and the sweetness of thaumatin is about 2,000. For example, the sweetness of glucose (glucose) is about 0.6 to about 0.7 (median value about 0.65), and the numerical value obtained by multiplying the sweetness by the concentration Brix value of glucose is the sweetness intensity of the glucose solution. Therefore, when the concentration of glucose is Brix 1.5, the sweetness intensity of the glucose solution is 0.65×1.5=0.975.

[0071] The relative ratio of the sweetness of other sweeteners to the sweetness of sucrose, which is 1, can be obtained from a known sugar sweetness conversion table, etc. For example, assuming that the sweetness of sucrose is 1, the sweetness of glucose is about 0.6 to about 0.7, that of fructose is about 1.3 to about 1.7, that of maltose is about 0.4, that of fructooligosaccharide is about 0.6, that of maltooligosaccharide is about 0.3, that of isomaltooligosaccharide is about 0.4 to about 0.5, that of galactooligosaccharide is about 0.7, that of lactose is about 0.2 to 0.3, that of psicose is about 0.7, that of allose is about 0.8, that of tagatose is about 0.9, and that of fructose glucose liquid sugar is about 0.75. For sweeteners whose relative ratio of sweetness to the sweetness of sucrose, which is 1, is unknown or whose values ​​vary depending on the literature, the relative ratio of sweetness to the sweetness of sucrose, which is 1, may be determined by a sensory test. One example of such a sensory test is to prepare samples by adding sugar to pure water so that the sweetness intensity varies from 3.0 to 5.0 in increments of 0.5, and then select from these samples a sugar-added sample that has a sweetness intensity equivalent to that of an aqueous solution of a sweetener at a specified concentration.

[0072] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sweetness intensity of the beverage may be 10 or less, 9 or less, 8 or less, 7 or less, 6 or less, or 5 or less, for example, 4 to 10, 4 to 9, 4 to 8, 4 to 7, 4 to 6, 4 to 5, 5 to 10, 5 to 9, 5 to 8, 5 to 7, 5 to 6, 6 to 10, 6 to 9, 6 to 8, or 6 to 7. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the sweetness intensity of the beverage may be 10 to 15, 11 to 15, 12 to 15, 13 to 15, 14 to 15, 10 to 14, 10 to 13, 10 to 12, or 10 to 11.

[0073] The energy (total energy content) of beverages according to some embodiments of the present invention is not particularly limited, and may be about 5 to about 100 kcal / 100 ml, about 20 to about 80 kcal / 100 ml, or about 25 to about 70 kcal / 100 ml. The energy of sweet substances and alcohol is known, or can be determined by measuring the content by HPLC or the like and multiplying by an energy conversion factor, or by measuring the physical heat of combustion using a calorimeter (e.g., a bomb calorimeter) and correcting the result with the digestive absorption rate or excreted heat amount.

[0074] The beverage of the present invention may be prepared as a packaged beverage that has been heat sterilized and packed in a container. The container is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include PET bottles, aluminum cans, steel cans, paper packs, chilled cups, bottles, and the like. When heat sterilization is performed, the type is not particularly limited, and it can be performed using a conventional method such as UHT sterilization and retort sterilization. The temperature of the heat sterilization step is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 65 to 130°C, preferably 85 to 120°C, for 10 to 40 minutes. However, as long as a sterilization value equivalent to the above conditions is obtained, sterilization at an appropriate temperature for a few seconds, for example, 5 to 30 seconds, is not a problem.

[0075] In the beverage of the present invention, with regard to "RebD," "one or more polyhydric alcohols," "ethanol," "steviol glycosides other than RebD," and "optional components other than RebD," those described in the section "1. Liquid composition" can be used.

[0076] 6. Beverage manufacturing method As one aspect, the present invention provides a method for producing a beverage comprising RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, ethanol, and water (hereinafter also referred to as the "method for producing the beverage of the present invention").

[0077] A method for producing a beverage in one aspect of the present invention includes adding water to the beverage concentrate of the present invention. According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method includes adding water to the beverage concentrate of the present invention to obtain a beverage containing 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, 5 ppm to 3,000 ppm of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and 2 ppm to 1,000 ppm of ethanol. A method for producing a beverage in another aspect of the present invention includes adding RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and ethanol to water to obtain a beverage containing 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, 5 ppm to 3,000 ppm of the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and 2 ppm to 1,000 ppm of ethanol.

[0078] In some embodiments of the present invention, the method for producing a beverage further includes blending a low-intensity sweetener or a high-intensity sweetener other than RebD. By blending various low-intensity sweeteners or high-intensity sweeteners other than RebD, it is possible to adjust the taste quality and the calories. As for low-intensity sweeteners or high-intensity sweeteners other than RebD that can be blended, those described in the section "5. Beverages" can be used as appropriate.

[0079] The production method according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a packaging step and a subsequent sterilization step. The packaging step may be carried out by any known method. When heat sterilization is carried out after packaging, the type of heat sterilization is not particularly limited, and may be carried out by using a conventional method such as UHT sterilization and retort sterilization. The temperature of the heat sterilization step is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, 50 to 130°C, preferably 50 to 120°C, for 10 to 40 minutes. However, as long as a sterilization value equivalent to that under the above conditions is obtained, sterilization at an appropriate temperature for a few seconds, for example, 5 to 30 seconds, may be carried out without any problem.

[0080] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described below, but the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. According to one aspect of the present invention, based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 60 to 87% by weight of glycerin; A mixed solvent containing 13 to 40% by weight of ethanol; A liquid composition comprising RebD, There is provided a liquid composition, in which the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, and more preferably 8 to 19% by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

[0081] According to one aspect of the present invention, based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 60 to 87% by weight of glycerin; A mixed solvent containing 13 to 40% by weight of ethanol; A liquid composition comprising RebD, There is provided a liquid composition, in which the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30 w / v %, preferably 5 to 25 w / v %, and more preferably 8 to 20 w / v %, relative to the volume of the liquid composition.

[0082] According to one aspect of the present invention, based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 60 to 87% by weight of glycerin; A mixed solvent containing 13 to 40% by weight of ethanol; A liquid composition comprising RebD, The content of the RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, and more preferably 8 to 19% by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid composition; The liquid composition is provided, in which the total content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and the ethanol is 90 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the mixed solvent.

[0083] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a liquid composition containing 1.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, and more preferably 8 to 19% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition, comprising: Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 60 to 87% by weight of glycerin; Preparing a mixed solvent containing 13 to 40% by weight of ethanol; Dissolving RebD in the mixed solvent to prepare a liquid composition containing RebD in an amount of 1.5 to 30% by weight, preferably 5 to 20% by weight, more preferably 8 to 19% by weight, based on the total weight of the liquid composition; A method is provided, comprising:

[0084] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a liquid composition containing 5 to 20% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition, comprising the steps of: Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 60 to 87% by weight of glycerin; Preparing a mixed solvent containing 13 to 40% by weight of ethanol; Dissolving RebD in the mixed solvent to prepare a liquid composition containing RebD in an amount of 5 to 20% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition; Including, Methods are provided in which RebD is dissolved in the mixed solvent at a temperature below 55°C, below 50°C, below 45°C, below 40°C, or below 35°C.

[0085] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage concentrate comprising RebD, glycerin, ethanol and water, the beverage concentrate comprising, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate: 0.2 to 5 wt.% RebD; 5 to 25% by weight of glycerin; and 0.4 to 25% by weight, preferably 0.6 to 20% by weight, more preferably 1 to 15% by weight of ethanol.

[0086] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage concentrate comprising RebD, glycerin, ethanol, γ-cyclodextrin and water, the beverage concentrate comprising, based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate: 0.2 to 5 wt.% RebD; 5 to 25% by weight of glycerin; 0.4 to 25% by weight, preferably 0.6 to 20% by weight, more preferably 1 to 15% by weight of ethanol; A beverage concentrate is provided in which the weight ratio of RebD contained in the beverage concentrate (RebD:γ-cyclodextrin) is 1:0.05 to 1:5.

[0087] According to one aspect of the present invention, 50-600 ppm RebD, 100-2,700 ppm glycerin, and 100-800ppm ethanol A beverage is provided, including

[0088] According to one aspect of the present invention, 50-600 ppm RebD, 100-2,700 ppm glycerin, 100-800 ppm ethanol, and 50-600 ppm gamma-cyclodextrin A beverage is provided, including EXAMPLES

[0089] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[0090] [Reference Example] Solubility of RebD in ethanol aqueous solution For reference, the degree to which RebD dissolves in an aqueous ethanol solution was evaluated. First, ethanol (purity: 99%) and water were mixed to prepare aqueous ethanol solutions with ethanol contents of 50%, 80%, and 90% by volume. In addition, water without ethanol (ethanol content: 0%) was prepared as a control. RebD (purity 95%) was added to each solvent at 10°C, 20°C, 30°C, and 40°C while stirring until it became cloudy. After 24 hours from the start of dissolution, the permeate was obtained through a 0.45 μm membrane filter, and the amount of RebD contained in the permeate was quantified by LCMS. The results are shown in Figure 1.

[0091] [Example A] Various glycerin / ethanol ratios Mixed solvents were obtained by mixing glycerin (purity 99%, Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) and ethanol (purity 99%, Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) in various volume ratios shown in Table 1. At that time, a magnetic stirrer (AS ONE, HSH-6D) was used to stir at 450 rpm until the mixture became homogeneous at atmospheric temperature without heating or cooling, to obtain mixed solvents. [Table 1]

[0092] Separately, ethanol (purity 99%, Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) and glycerin (purity 99%, Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) were weighed out to the ratio specified in Table 2 and added to a glass beaker. Using a magnetic stirrer (AS ONE, HSH-6D), stirring was performed at 450 rpm at ambient temperature without heating or cooling until homogenous, to obtain a mixed solvent. The specific gravity was calculated by placing each solvent into a 100 ml graduated cylinder after mixing and measuring the weight at that time. The specific gravity measurement was performed at room temperature (24°C). A to F in the table below correspond to solvents 2 to 7 in the table above. [Table 2]

[0093] Next, 1 g of RebD (purity 95%) was weighed out and added to a glass beaker containing 9 ml of each mixed solvent as shown in Table 3, and stirred at ambient temperature without heating or cooling. Stirring was performed at 450 rpm using a magnetic stirrer (AS ONE, HSH-6D). The weight-based RebD concentration was calculated using the specific gravity listed in Table 2. [Table 3]

[0094] When the appearance was evaluated 4 hours after adding RebD to each solvent, it was found that in the samples of Examples A3 to A6, RebD had completely dissolved, resulting in a transparent solution. In the samples of Examples A1, A2, and A7, a small amount of RebD remained undissolved, resulting in a lightly cloudy white color. In the samples of Examples A8 to A10, a large amount of RebD remained undissolved, resulting in a darkly cloudy white color. In addition, the viscosity of each sample obtained was measured in the range of 20 to 25°C using a viscometer (Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd., TVB-10). The results are shown in Figure 2. The sample using Solvent 1 (glycerin only) had a viscosity of 830 mPa·s, which shows that it is difficult to handle. On the other hand, it can be seen that the viscosity is significantly reduced by mixing with ethanol, which significantly improves the handling ability.

[0095] [Example B] Dissolution time in glycerin / ethanol mixed solvent Similarly to Example A, glycerin and ethanol were mixed in various volume ratios shown in Table 4 to obtain mixed solvents. [Table 4]

[0096] Next, 9 ml of each solvent was weighed out as shown in Table 5 and added to a flask together with 1 g of RebD. The weight-based RebD concentration was determined using the specific gravity shown in Table 2. A stirrer was placed in the flask and the mixture was dissolved while stirring. Stirring was performed at 450 rpm using a magnetic stirrer (AS ONE, HSH-6D). [Table 5]

[0097] The time from the start of stirring until complete dissolution was measured and summarized in Table 6. [Table 6]

[0098] [Example C] Dissolution time at different RebD contents As in the case of solvent 4 in Example A, glycerin and ethanol were mixed in a volume ratio of 70:30 to obtain a mixed solvent. This mixed solvent was used in this example. The weight-based content of RebD was calculated using the specific gravity of the solvent (mixed solvent: 1.128, glycerin: 1.26).

[0099] [Table 7]

[0100] The change in turbidity (NTU) from the time of sample preparation until 5 hours later was measured using a HACH 2100AN benchtop turbidity meter. The samples were dissolved in glass vials without stirring while being kept warm in a 40°C water bath. The results are shown in Figure 3.

[0101] [Example D] Dissolution time at different RebD contents and temperatures As in Example C, the dissolution time at different RebD contents and temperatures was evaluated using solvent 4. The samples used are shown in Table 8 below. The weight-based RebD content was calculated using the specific gravity of the solvent (mixed solvent: 1.128). [Table 8]

[0102] As with solvent 4 in Example A, glycerin and ethanol were mixed in a volume ratio of 70:30 to prepare a mixed solvent, and the mixed solvent was added to a glass beaker so that RebD (purity 95%) was in a predetermined ratio, and stirring was performed until uniform dispersion at 24.5°C or 40°C. Stirring was performed at 450 rpm using a magnetic stirrer (AS ONE, HSH-6D). The time when RebD was dispersed was visually confirmed as the time when dissolution was completed. The samples of Examples D1 to D5 were stirred at 24.5°C, and the samples of Examples D6 to 9 were stirred at 40°C. Unlike Example C, in this Example, stirring was performed to evaluate the time required for dissolution. The results are shown in Figure 4. At 24.5°C, it took more than 180 minutes to dissolve when the RebD content was 15w / v% or more, and it took more than 150 minutes to dissolve when the RebD content was 20w / v% or more at 40°C.

[0103] [Example E] Study on suppression of reprecipitation The liquid compositions of Examples B1 to B6 obtained in Example B were added to water so that the initial concentration of RebD was 10,000 ppm. The amount of RebD dissolved in the water was monitored immediately after the addition, and was observed for 120 minutes. The results are shown in FIG. 5. The sample numbers in the figure indicate the volume ratio of glycerin, a solvent used in the samples, and the sample with "100" is the sample of Example B1. From this result, the RebD concentration decreased to about 1,500 ppm after 120 minutes. In addition, reprecipitation of RebD was visually confirmed about 5 to 10 minutes after the start of the test.

[0104] [Example F] Examination of the effect of cyclodextrin 7 ml of a liquid composition prepared in the same manner as in Example C2 of Example C was weighed out. γ-cyclodextrin was added as shown in Table 9, and stirring and dissolving were carried out at 50° C. 5 ml was taken from the liquid and added to a weighed amount of pure water so that the final concentration of RebD was about 10,000 ppm. Sampling was carried out over time, and the permeate was obtained through a 0.45 μm membrane filter, and the amount of RebD dissolved in the permeate was quantified by LCMS. [Table 9] The presence or absence of reprecipitation after addition was evaluated. The results are shown in Figure 6. It was observed that the addition of cyclodextrin suppressed the reprecipitation of RebD. Among Examples F1 to F4, sample F2, in which the amount of cyclodextrin was 0.7 g per 1 g of RebD, most effectively suppressed the reprecipitation of RebD.

[0105] [Example G] Sensory evaluation <Sample preparation> 10 g of the liquid composition of Example C3 of Example C (a mixture of glycerin and ethanol in a volume ratio of 70:30 (specific gravity: 1.128)) was weighed out, and 1.5 g of gamma cyclodextrin (Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) was added. In order to adjust the sweetness of the sample to 10 sucrose equivalents (SEV), the sweetness of RebD relative to sucrose was set to 200, and 0.866 g of the above sample (containing 100 mg of RebD) was weighed out, and pure water was added to adjust the solution volume to 200 ml. The composition of the obtained beverage sample is shown in Table 10. As a beverage sample comparison subject, a solution of 100 mg of RebD was adjusted to 200 ml with pure water to prepare a RebD single solution, and a solution of 20 g of sucrose (cane sugar, manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Foods Corporation) was adjusted to 200 ml with pure water to prepare a sugar solution. [Table 10]

[0106] <Sensory evaluation> The taste quality of the obtained beverage samples was comparatively evaluated by sensory evaluation. The taste quality items for the sensory evaluation were "sweetness onset," "sweetness intensity," "sweetness aftertaste," "bitterness intensity," "bitterness aftertaste," and "overall evaluation," and were verified by a panel of four people who were well trained in sensory evaluation. Specifically, a sample containing only sugar (reference sample, sweetness intensity: 10, sucrose content: 10g / 100ml) was scored as 0 points, and the difference in taste quality from this reference sample was quantified in increments of 0.5 points in the range of -3.0 to +3.0. Note that before the test, each panelist thoroughly discussed the purpose and scoring method. The results are shown in Table 11 and Figure 7. The obtained results are the average scores of the four panelists. [Table 11]

Claims

1. Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol, and a mixed solvent containing the same, RebD, and a liquid composition containing the same, wherein the content of RebD is 1.5 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the liquid composition.

2. The liquid composition according to Claim 1, wherein the ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is 15:1 to 1:1 by weight.

3. The liquid composition according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the total content of the one or more polyhydric alcohols and the ethanol is 90 to 100% by weight based on the total weight of the mixed solvent.

4. The liquid composition according to Claim 1 or 2, consisting essentially of the RebD, the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and the ethanol.

5. A beverage concentrate containing the liquid composition according to Claim 1 and 50 to 99% by weight of water based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate.

6. A beverage concentrate containing RebD, one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, ethanol, and water, wherein based on the total weight of the beverage concentrate, 0.01 to 10% by weight of RebD, 0.4 to 50% by weight of the one or more polyhydric alcohols, and 0.4 to 25% by weight of ethanol.

7. The beverage concentrate according to Claim 5 or 6, containing one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin, and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin.

8. The beverage concentrate according to Claim 5 or 6, containing γ-cyclodextrin.

9. A beverage containing the beverage concentrate according to Claim 5 or 6.

10. A method for producing a liquid composition containing 1.5 to 30% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition, comprising: Based on the total weight of the mixed solvent, preparing a mixed solvent containing 50 to 95% by weight of one or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, and 5 to 50% by weight of ethanol, and dissolving RebD in the mixed solvent to prepare a liquid composition containing 1.5 to 30% by weight of RebD based on the total weight of the liquid composition. A method comprising...

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol in the mixed solvent is from 15:1 to 1:1 by weight.

12. 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, One or more polyhydric alcohols selected from the group consisting of 5 ppm to 3,000 ppm of glycerin, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and 2 ppm to 1,000 ppm of ethanol A beverage comprising...

13. The beverage according to claim 12, comprising 1 ppm to 700 ppm of RebD, wherein the ratio of the one or more polyhydric alcohols to the ethanol is from 15:1 to 1:1 by weight.

14. The beverage according to claim 12 or 13, comprising one or more cyclodextrins selected from the group consisting of α-cyclodextrin, β-cyclodextrin, γ-cyclodextrin and 2-hydroxy-γ-cyclodextrin.

15. A 2- to 10-fold concentrate of the beverage according to claim 12 or 13.

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