Taste-Neutral Caffeine Bitter Blocker Composition
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current bitter blockers for caffeine in beverages and food products either fail to completely mask the bitter taste or introduce unwanted salty or sweet tastes, along with unpleasant aftertastes, and are not naturally occurring.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising caffeine and a mixture of magnesium, calcium, potassium, sodium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, and β-alanine, in specific weight ratios, which effectively masks the bitter taste of caffeine without introducing any new taste, including a method for manufacturing this composition and its incorporation into beverages and food products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If salt compositions are used to mask bitter taste, then bitter taste is blocked, but salty taste and unpleasant aftertaste are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite bitter blocker composition containing multiple cations (potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium) and anions (chloride, carbonate, sulfate, ascorbate, citrate, tartrate) in specific ratios. This composite approach allows the composition to effectively mask bitter taste while the balanced ionic composition prevents unwanted salty taste and metallic aftertaste, resolving the contradiction between bitter blocking effectiveness and taste neutrality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration ratios of different cations and anions in the bitter blocker composition. By adjusting these parameters (specifically maintaining potassium at 40-70% of total cations, magnesium at 10-30%, calcium at 10-30%, and sodium at 10-30%, with anions in complementary ratios), the composition achieves optimal bitter masking while maintaining taste neutrality and avoiding unpleasant aftertastes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bitter blockers are used to mask caffeine bitterness, then bitter taste is reduced, but the beverage taste is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent carefully controls the concentration parameters of all ionic components in the bitter blocker composition. By maintaining specific ratio ranges (potassium 40-70%, magnesium 10-30%, calcium 10-30%, sodium 10-30% of total cations), the composition masks caffeine bitterness effectively while the balanced ionic profile matches natural beverage mineral content, preserving the original taste profile without noticeable alteration.
Solution Approach 2:
The bitter blocker composition is designed to mimic the ionic composition found in natural mineral waters and balanced electrolyte solutions. By copying these natural ionic profiles, the composition provides bitter masking functionality while remaining indistinguishable from natural beverage components, thus preserving the authentic taste profile.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Bitter blocker composition, comprising caffeine and a mixture including Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, Na+, HCO3 -,SO42 -, Cl-, and β-alanine.