AU2007100055A4 - Macro-sphere Beverages - Google Patents

Description

Description A beverage in accordance with this invention comprises a pre-packaged beverage with a predetermined volume of Macro-spheres of the same, or a variety, of colours and the same or a variety of sphere size. These Macro-spheres many have various buoyancy within the beverage dependant on the desired visual result. For example theses Macro-sphere may be formulated at a specific gravity to float at a given plane within the beverage or to float at a variety of planes and for a variety of durations.

This invention could comprise of a beverage in which the Macro-sphere are constantly buoyant or only become buoyant upon agitation and only remain buoyant within the beverage for a pre-determined period of time.

These Macro-spheres could be formulated in several different ways base on the desired taste, texture, buoyancy or active encapsulate. A Macro-sphere could be formulated by way of example, but not restricted to, the following formulation description of the Macro encapsulate. The Macro-sphere?s outer shell could be formulated from, but not limited to, Chitosan (marine polysaccharide) and/or Agar, and/or a Gelatin membrane. This outer shell will contain an internal formulation that is not able to diffuse, or has limited diffusion, through the outer shell into the beverage. The inner formulation will most likely be a formulation, but not limited to, using oil based (food grade) carrier medium with the actives dissolved or dispersed within its matrix.

Apart from the exceptional visual effects of the Macro-sphere within the beverage the additional advantages would be the offer of numerous benefits and technical solution to beverage formulating, such as: Solving ingredients incompatibilities, Stabilizing actives (preventing volatilisation, oxidation or decomposition of active ingredients), Lengthening the shelf life of the final products, Covering/masking specific physiochemical properties (tastes or odour), increasing the active ingredients efficacy, Delivering ingredients in a directed and focused way.

Macro-spheres will release their actives by diffusion from the sphere into the stomach or by physical erosion (breaking down of the sphere when applied to the tongue or mouth).

The Macro-spheres can vary in size from 0.1 of a millimetre to 100 millimetres in diameter. The invention would see entire beverages utalising one Macro sphere size or combinations of sizes. One beverage may contain an average range of 1mm to This size may be deemed to give the best balance of visual interest and oral compatibility however another may be a combination of 5mm to 8mm which would create a similar harmonious balance. There also may be an opportunity to apply large and small Macro-spheres together in the same beverage for visual contrast or marketing differentiation.

The Macro-sphere may be present in the beverage from 0.01% by weight up to and including 99% of the beverage by weight. An average use rate is envisaged to be between 0.05% to 5% by weight.

For the purpose of example in this application the image accompanying the application is formulated with the addition of Macro-spheres at a 1% concentration to a Clear Spring Water beverage. These Macro-spheres contain actives of Vitamins E and C, Green Tea Extract and Beta Carotene.