NZ796068A - Sweetening compositions - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sweetening composition comprising a natural sweet-tasting car-bohydrate, a stevia compound, rubusoside, and tannin, wherein component d) is present in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l. The invention also relates to a sweetening composition comprising a natural sweet- tasting carbohydrate, a stevia compound, rubu-soside, tannin and oak extract or pomegranate extract. The invention further relates to a sweetening composition comprising acesulfam or aspartame, sucralose, a stevia compound, saccharin or cyclamate, neohesperidin, and tannin in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/ l. Moreover, the invention relates to a sweetening composition comprising a) 0,1 to 50 g/l of a natural sweet- tasting carbohydrate, b) 40 to 120 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate different from a), and c) 30 to 300 mg/l of rubusoside. And, the invention is about the use of said sweetening compositions for sweetening and preparing beverages.

Description

The invention relates to a sweetening composition comprising a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate , a stevia compound, rubusoside, and tannin, wherein component d) is present in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l. The invention also s to a sweetening composition comprising a l sweet-tasting carbohydrate, a stevia compound, rubu-soside, tannin and oak extract or anate extract. The ion further relates to a sweetening composition comprising acesulfam or aspartame, sucralose, a stevia compound, saccharin or cyclamate, neohesperidin, and tannin in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l.

Moreover, the invention relates to a sweetening composition comprising a) 0,1 to 50 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, b) 40 to 120 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate different from a), and c) 30 to 300 mg/l of rubusoside. And, the ion is about the use of said sweetening itions for sweetening and preparing beverages.

NZ 796068 R50107WO Red Bull GmbH Am Brunnen 1 5330 Fuschl am See Austria Sweetening compositions ption This application is a divisional of New Zealand patent application 755861, which is the national phase entry in New Zealand of PCT international ation shed as herein by reference.

The present invention relates to sweetening compositions, their use for the preparation of sweetening syrups and beverages as well as to the preparation of said beverages.

Common soft drinks usually contain significant amounts of natural sugars such as sucrose, glucose, se or mixtures thereof. The caloric content of these natural sugars usually is in the range from 3.6 to 3.9 kcal/g. Many attempts have been made to reduce the c content of beverages such as soft drinks. In some instances natural sugars have been replaced by steviol glycosides. Some l glycosides have a sweetening power which is about 240 to 400 times that of natural sugar sucrose. Steviol glycosides are derived from extracts of the leaves of the stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni). The four major steviol glycosides found in the leaves of the stevia plant are side (about 5 to 10 wt-%), rebaudioside A (about 2 to 4 wt-%), rebaudioside C (about 1 to 2 wt-%) and dulcoside A (about 0.5 to 1 wt-%). Further steviol glycosides which are found in the extract of the leaves of the stevia plant, however in rather minute quantities, are rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D and rebaudioside E. The common aglycon of all steviol glycosides is steviol which belongs to the class of diterpenes.

Unfortunately, beverages sweetened with l glycosides suffer some drawbacks which for many consumers outway the caloric content of conventional beverages. Steviol ides are known to cause a bitter and/or licorice-like aste, in some instances also a metallic aftertaste. In addition, the sweet sensation is retarded to some extent, that is, the sweetening t a so-called lingering. In some cases steviol glycosides are also responsible for a blunt or dry mouthfeel.

In EP 2 519 118 sweetening compositions are disclosed containing a sweetener and at least one ess enhancer chosen from terpenes, flavonoids, amino acids, proteins, polyols, other known natural sweeteners, ammarane ides, and analogues thereof. Suitable sweetening er are reported to include stevia sweeteners, such as side, steviolbioside , rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, ioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside F, and dulcoside A. The at least one sweetness enhancer has to be present in the composition in an amount at or below the sweetness detection threshold level of the at least one sweetness enhancer, and the at least one sweetener and the at least one sweetness enhancer are different.

In EP 2 386 211 the use of rubusoside for masking, reducing or suppressing a bitter, sour and/or astringent taste impression of a bitter, sour and/or astringent-tasting substance is described. Compositions containing rubusoside shall mask, reduce or ss in food products and in pharmaceuticals the bitter, sour and/or astringent taste impression of compounds such as steviosides and rebaudioside A. % of at least one sweetener, wherein said sweetener includes sucrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, , arabinose, rhamnose, erythritol, xylitol, mannitol , sorbitol, inositol, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, sucralose, saccharine, or combinations thereof, wherein said at least one sweetener or sweetener combination is present in a tration above the sweetness detection threshold in a concentration of at least isosweet to 2% sucrose, and b) at least one sweetness enhancer ed from the group consisting of naringin dihydrochalcone, mogroside V, swingle extract, rubusoside, rubus extract, stevioside, and rebaudioside A. Each sweetness enhancer shall be present in a concentration near its sweetness detection threshold. For naringin dihydrochalcone this concentration shall be from 2 to 60 ppm, for rubusoside from 1.4 ppm to 56 ppm, for rubus extract from 2 ppm to 80 ppm, for mogroside V from 0.4 ppm to 12.5 ppm, for swingle extract from 2 to 60 ppm, for stevioside from 2 to 60 ppm, and for rebaudioside A from 1 to ppm.

Also many other attempts have been made to overcome the afore-mentioned shortcomings of steviol ide sweeteners such as a bitter and/or ce-like aftertaste, a blunt or dry mouthfeel and/or a sweet aftertaste.

For example, according to shall be decreased or eliminated by the reduction or elimination of rebaudioside C or dulcoside A or both from stevia compositions. However, it has been found that the reduction of ioside C and/or dulcoside A as such does not guarantee a reduction in bitter aftertaste. er, even with stevia compositions being void of rebaudioside C or dulcoside A consumers experience a slow onset and sometimes even a longer duration of the sweetness sensation. by sweetener compositions comprising at least a) one sweetness enhancer such as urea or ea, b) at least one sweetener comprising a carbohydrate sweetener, a natural highpotency sweetener, a tic high-potency sweetener or a combination f such as rebaudioside compounds, sucralose, aspartame or acesulfame potassium, and c) at least one sweet taste improving composition selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates , polyols, amino acids, or mixtures thereof.

New sweetened beverage formulations which do not exhibit a bitter aftertaste shall be obtained according to EP 2 474 240 A1 by use of rebaudioside D and an acidulant comprising at least lactic acid and one or both of ic acid and citric acid, and no oric acid. ning steviol glycosides shall be masked by incorporating an increased , relative to lly occurring compositions, of rebaudioside D.

EP 2 486 806 A1 discloses a low-calorie orange juice drink which makes use of a mixture of 84 wt-% ioside A and 16 wt-% rebaudioside D. Different from a low-calorie orange juice having been sweetened with a conventional stevia extract a nt taste similar to sucrose, a full mouthfeel, and no bitterness and no aftertaste shall be observed during sensory evaluation. A similar outcome was reported for a zero-calorie carbonated beverage.

According to conventional steviol glycosides shall be masked by the presence of anisic acid.

And, in and licorice flavor of steviol glycosides may be overcome by sweetening compositions comprising a blend of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and steviol glycosides, in ular when the ratio of rebaudioside B to total steviol glycosides in the blend ranges from 0.5 % to about 50 % and more preferably from about 5 % to about 40 %.

Sucrose being the standard natural sweetener has a characteristic time and ity sweetness profile. Whereas some artificial sweeteners have a more rapid onset of sweetness than sucrose, most artificial sweeteners such as stevia nds have not only a significantly slower onset but also exhibit a significantly longer linger than e. The aforementioned drawbacks associated with the use of steviol glycosides are still not overcome to a satisfactory extent. It is therefore desirable to obtain beverages, which contain less or no natural sweeteners, and which have a much improved sweetness and aroma profile.

Accordingly, there still is a need to provide low-calorie beverages which do not exhibit a delayed onset of the sensation of sweetness and which, optionally, also do not suffer from a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste and/or which do not cause a blunt or dry mouthfeel. Hence, it has been a major goal of the t invention to attain a temporal sweetening profil similar or even essentially identical to that of natural sugar, i.e. a l sweetening profile, in particular with respect to both the onset of sweetness and its ing time.

The problem underlying the present invention has surprisingly been solved by a sweetening ition according to a first embodiment comprising a) at least one natural sweettasting carbohydrate, b) at least one stevia nd, c) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or tine and/or phloretin and/or atin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside, in ular rubusoside or at least one rubusoside derivative or neohesperidin or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside or any combination thereof, and d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative in an amount, based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative.

With said first embodiment the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a ition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, are to be present in an amount, based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative, in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, if the composition of said first embodiment is an aqueous composition , in particular in the form of a ge.

Alternatively or simultaneously, said first embodiment of a sweetening composition can be characterized in that, based on the total weight of component b), component c), in particu- lar the rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 45 to 75 wt-%, the component c), in particular the rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 2 to 40 wt-%, and the component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative , is present in an amount in the range from 2 to 40 wt-%, n in each case the sum of components b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%. The weight ranges are in particular applicable for an alternative ment in which the composition of said first embodiment represents a dry mixture, in ular in powder and/or particulate form.

According to a preferred ment the aforementioned alternate forms of the first embodiment of a sweetening composition, based on the total weight of component b), component c), in particular the rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the ent b) is present in an amount in the range from 50 to 70 wt-%, in ular 55 to 65 wt-%, the component c), in particular the rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, and the component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%.

The at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate of the first embodiment in particular is sucrose. And, among the at least one stevia compound of the first embodiment those are red selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof.

Among the compounds of component c) of the first embodiment of the sweetening composition of the present invention side and/or at least one rubusoside derivative are preferred, rubusoside being ularly red.

Tannins in the meaning of the present invention shall comprise polyphenols, in particular so-called plant polyphenols, which exhibit an astringent sensation. It is presently believed that said astringent sensation is caused by or associated with a binding reaction of said polyphenols to proteins. For example, tannic acid coagulates albumen and gelatin. Tannins usually have two or three phenolic hydroxyl groups on the phenyl ring. Tannins can, for example, be classified into pyrogallol type tannins and the catechol type tannins. Tannins can also be classified into so-called hydrolysable tannins, e.g. based on ellagic acid and gal- lic acid, and condensed tannins, e.g. based on catechol. s of the present invention can be derived from any of the aforementioned fied groups. le tannins encompass for example ellagitannins, such as punicalagin and geranii, and gallotannins which belong to the class of hydrolysable s, as well as stilbenoids such as astringin or resveratrol. Ellagitannins usually contain various numbers of hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) units, as well as l units and/or sanguisorboyl units bound to sugar moiety. Suitable representatives of tannins also comprise epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin e, and phlorotannins.

Tannins can for example be obtained from extracts of oak or of pomegranates, in particular pomegranate rind extracts. For example, gallic acid is found in gallnuts, sumac, witch hazel, tea leaves, oak bark, The composition or extract containing at least one , in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, can be derived from seeds, bark, cones, husk, and/or heartwood of oak, pomegranate, chestnut, gallnut or mimosa, in particular from oak or anate.

Tannic acid in the meaning of the present invention in particular comprises polygalloyl glucoses and polygalloyl quinic acid esters with the number of galloyl moieties per molecule in particular ranging from 2 up to 12, in particular 3 to 12, e.g. decagalloyl glucose. Accordingly , tannic acid in the g of the present invention can be understood to be, for e , formed of gallic acid molecules and glucose. Tannic acid will usually hydrolyze into glucose and gallic acid and/or ellagic acid units. In general, with the term tannic acid both an individual compound as well as a mixture of two or more compounds is meant.

Enzyme-treated steviol glycosides e those steviol glycosides having been treated with, for example, cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase).

The nds of component c) of the first embodiment of the present invention, in particular rubusoside or a rubusoside derivative or neohesperidin or enzyme-treated steviol glycosides, and even more particular rubusoside, have been found with the compositions of the present invention to assist in improving its sweetening profile at the onset so that the sweetening sensation is shifted towards the actual consumption of the ning composition of a product containing said sweetening composition of the first embodiment of the present invention. side (CAS No: 648494) can be found in leaves of Rubus suavissimus S. Lee (Chinese sweet leaf). Rubusosides in the meaning of the present invention shall also comprise enzymatically-treated rubusosides.

With the sweetening compositions according to said first ment it is preferred that the at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in ular e, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 80 g/l, preferably in the range from 15 g/l to 70 g/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 55 g/l. Alternatively or in addition in said sweetening compositions of the first embodiment rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative preferably is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 200 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 20 mg/l to 150 mg/l and in particular in the range from 30 to 125 mg/l.

The problem underlying the present invention has also been solved by a sweetening composition , also referred to as second embodiment of a sweetening composition of the present invention, comprising a) at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in particular sucrose , b) at least one stevia compound, in ular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, c) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or tin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside, in particular rubusoside or at least one rubusoside derivative or peridin or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside or any combination thereof, d) tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative and e) oak extract and/or pomegranate extract.

Among the compounds of component c) of the second embodiment of the sweetening composition of the present invention side and/or at least one rubusoside derivative are preferred, rubusoside being particularly preferred.

In said second embodiment of the ning composition of the present invention the at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in particular sucrose, is preferably t in an amount in the range from 5 to 80 g/l, more preferably in the range from 15 g/l to 70 g/l and in particular in the range from 25 to 55 g/l. atively or in addition in said sweetening compositions of the second embodiment rubusoside and/or at least one side derivative is ably present in an amount in the range from 20 to 200 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 20 mg/l to 150 mg/l and in particular in the range from 30 to 125 mg/l. And, again, alternatively or in addition in said second embodiment of the sweetening composition of the present invention the total amount of tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative is ably present in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and in particular in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l.

The problem ying the present invention has also been solved by a sweetening composition , also referred to as third embodiment of a sweetening composition of the present invention , comprising a) acesulfam and/or aspartam, in particular acesulfam, b) sucralose and/or at least one stevia compound, in particular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, and/or saccharin and/or cyclamate, c) neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin, d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative.

Among the compounds of component c) of the third embodiment of the sweetening ition of the present invention neohesperidine and rubusoside are preferred, neohesperidine being ularly preferred.

In this third embodiment component d), based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more ably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l.

Such a sweetening ition according to the third embodiment of the invention is particularly preferred which comprises a) acesulfam and/or aspartame, in particular acesulfam , b) sucralose or saccharin or at least one stevia compound, in particular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and es thereof, c) neohesperidin , and d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, wherein ent d), based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, ably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l if the composition of said third embodiment is an aqueous composition , in particular in the form of a ge.

Alternatively or simultaneously, said third embodiment of a ning composition can be characterized in that, based on the total weight of component a), in ular acesulfam, component b), in particular sucralose, component c), in particular neohesperidine, and component d), in ular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is t in an amount in the range from 10 to 50 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 15 to 65 wt-%, the component c) is present in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 4 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 50 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components a, b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%.

According to a preferred embodiment the aforementioned ate forms of the third embodiment of a sweetening composition, based on the total weight of component a), in particular acesulfam, component b), in particular ose, component c), in particular neohesperidine , and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is present in an amount in the range from 15 to 45 wt-%, in particular 20 to 40 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 55 wt-%, in particular 30 to 45 wt-%, the component c) is present in an amount in the range from 0,2 to 3 wt-%, in particular 0,5 to 2 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 10 to 40 wt-%, in particular 15 to 35 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of ents a), b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%, Particularly preferable results as to an improved sweetening profile, i.e. a sweetening e coming close to or being even essentially identical to that of natural sugar, that is a socalled natural sweetening profile, is obtained with the third embodiment of the sweetening composition of the present invention in which ent b) comprises or consists of sucralose , saccharin and cyclamate or, alternatively, in which component b) comprises or consists of at least one stevia compound, in particular selected from the group ting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, saccharin and cyclamate.

In the sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention, in particular in the form of an aqueous composition, preferably in the form of a beverage, acesulfam and/or ame is preferably present in an amount in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 50 to 200 mg/l and in particular in the range from 75 to 150 mg/l.

Alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention sucralose preferably is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 750 mg/l, more ably in the range from 40 mg/l to 550 mg/l and in particular in the range from 60 to 450 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention, and also in the red embodiment of the first and second embodiment, peridin preferably is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and in ular in the range from 1,0 to 10 mg/l. Alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention saccharin ably is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 750 mg/l, more ably in the range from 20 mg/l to 500 mg/l and in particular in the range from 30 to 400 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention cyclamate preferably is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 50 mg/l to 300 mg/l and in particular in the range from 75 to 200 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third ment of the invention, and also in the preferred embodiment of the first and second embodiment , thaumatine preferably is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 10 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and in particular in the range from 0,1 to 2 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention side and/or at least one rubusoside derivative preferably is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 200 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 150 mg/l and in particular in the range from 20 to 125 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention, and also in the preferred embodiment of the first and second embodiment, phloretin ably is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 250 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and in particular in the range from 10 to 150 mg/l.

And, alternatively or in on, in said sweetening compositions of the third embodiment of the invention, and also in the preferred embodiment of the first and second embodiment, trilobatin preferably is present in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 250 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and in particular in the range from 5 to 150 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said sweetening compositions of the third ment of the invention, and also in the preferred ment of the first and second embodiment , monatin ably is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and in particular in the range from 0,05 to 5 mg/l. And, alternatively or in addition, in said ning compositions of the third embodiment of the invention hesperetin preferably is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 750 mg/l, more preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and in particular in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l.

In the sweetening compositions according to the first, second and third embodiment of the present invention the at least one stevia compound preferably is a mixture comprising, in particular consisting of, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 80.0 to 99.0 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 1.5 wt-%, and rebaudioside D is present in an amount in the range from 0.9 to 18.5 wt-%.

Moreover, in the sweetening compositions according to the first, second and third embodiment of the present invention the at least one stevia nd preferably is a mixture comprising, in particular ting of, rebaudioside A, ioside B and rebaudioside D wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, ioside A is present in an amount in the range from 85.0 to 95.0 wt-%, rebaudioside B is t in an amount in the range from 0.2 to 1.2 wt-%, and rebaudioside D is present in an amount in the range from 4.8 to 13.8 wt-%.

Furthermore, in the sweetening compositions according to the first, second and third embodiment of the present invention rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 86.0 to 94.3 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in an amount in the range from 0.3 to 0.9 wt-%, and rebaudioside D is present in an amount in the range from 5.4 to 13.1 wt-%, in each case based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D.

In a particular preferred version of the sweetening compositions according to the first, second and third embodiment of the present invention rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.5 to 94.0 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 1.0 wt-% and rebaudioside D is present in amount in the range from 5.8 to 8.5 wt-%, based on the total weight of ioside A, ioside B and ioside D, or rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.9 to 94.4 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 0.5 wt-% and rebaudioside D is present in amount in the range from 5.4 to 8.6 wt-%, in each case based on the total weight of ioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D.

Steviolglycosides such as rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside E, ioside F, stevioside, dulcoside, rubusoside and steviolbioside can be detected and determined according to HPLC-UV as specified in JECFA (2010) Steviol Glycosides , FAO JECFA Monograph 10, FAO, Rome.

The problem underlying the present invention has also been solved by a sweetening composition , also referred to as fourth embodiment of a sweetening composition of the present ion, comprising a) 0,1 to 50 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in particular selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting monosaccharides, b) 40 to 120 g/l of a natural tasting carbohydrate different from a), in particular selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting disaccharides, and c) 30 to 300 mg/l rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 1,0 to 10 mg/l, neohesperidin , or 0.01 mg/l to 10 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,1 to 2 mg/l, thaumatine or 1 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 10 to 150 mg/l, phloretin or 0,1 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 5 to 150 mg/l, trilobatin or 0,01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,05 to 5 mg/l, monatin or 1 to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, etin or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside or any e thereof, in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol ide.

Among the compounds of ent c) of the fourth embodiment of the sweetening composition of the present invention rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative are preferred, rubusoside being particularly preferred.

Said versions of the fourth embodiment of the present ion are ularly preferred which comprise a) 0,5 to 30 g/l of a l sweet-tasting carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting monosaccharides, b) 70 to 110 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting disaccharides , and c) 40 to 220 mg/l rubusoside and/or at least one side derivative or 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and preferably 1,0 to 10 mg/l neohesperidin, or 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and preferably 0,1 to 2 mg/l tine or 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and preferably 10 to 150 mg/l phloretin or 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and preferably 5 to 150 mg/l trilobatin or 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and ably 0,05 to 5 mg/l n or 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and preferably 25 to 250 mg/l hesperetin.

In the sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention the at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate preferably is selected from the group consisting of a natural sweet-tasting monosaccharide, a natural sweet-tasting disaccharide, a sweet-tasting sugar alcohol and a mixture thereof. While said the sweet-tasting natural monosaccharide preferably is selected from the group ting of fructose, glucose, mannose , rhamnose, xylose, tagatose, galactose, and mixtures thereof, said sweet-tasting natural disaccharide is preferably selected from the group consisting of e, lactose, maltose and es thereof. Moreover, said sweet-tasting sugar alcohol preferably is selected from the group consisting of erythritol, glycerol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, l, galactitol and mixtures thereof.

With the sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention it is particularly preferred to make use of sucrose as the sweet-tasting natural disaccharide.

The sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention can further comprise at least one flavoring ingredient ed from the group consisting of galangal , cocoa, cinnamon, lemon, lemon juice concentrate, coca leaf, orange, orange oil, corn mint, pine, cardamom, mace, clove, lime, lime oil, nutmeg, nutmeg oil, mustard seeds, mustard seed oil, caramel, rosemary, , honey, , vanilla, licorice, licorice extract , cola nut and cola nut t or mixtures thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment the sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention further comprise e and/or ne. ingly , the sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention can be used for sweetening beverages, in ular soft drinks or energy drinks.

Interestingly, the sweetening compositions of the present invention are also suited to prepare precursor compositions in the form of a syrup which can be easily stored and transported and can be used on demand for the preparation of in particular carbonated beverages.

The problem underlying the present ion has also been solved by a beverage comprising a sweetening composition according to any of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, the sweetening composition according to any of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention can already as such represent an aqueous composition , in particular a beverage. Alternatively, said sweetening composition according to any of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, without added water present, can also represent a dry mixture, in particular in powder and/or ulate form. However, even if the sweetening composition according to any of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention represent aqueous compositions still further ingredients such as flavors or thickening agents may be added to form, for example, a commercial beverage.

Suitable beverages according to preferred embodiments are characterized in that rebaudioside A, B and D in combination are present in the beverage in a concentration in the range from 0.01 to 1.0 g/l, preferably from 0.05 to 0.75 g/l and more preferably from 0.1 to 0.6 g/l (determined at ambient temperature and 1 bar).

Also those beverages according to the present invention are preferred in which the sweettasting natural carbohydrates and the sweet-tasting sugar alcohols are t in combination in the beverage in a concentration not above 40 g/l, preferably in the range from 5 g/l to 35 g/l and more preferably in the range from 10 g/l to 25 g/l (determined at ambient temperature and 1 bar). Ambient temperature in the meaning of the present ion shall mean room temperature, i.e. a temperature in the range from 20°C to 25°C.

The beverages of the present invention comprise, in particular carbonated, soft drinks and energy drinks. Suitable soft drinks also include cola-flavored soft drinks, wherein colaflavored soft drinks also encompass cola-flavored-type soft drinks. Also these beverages, when being sweetened with the sweetening composition in accordance with the present invention, do not or do essentially not exhibit a slow onset of the ion of sweetness but provide a rather ic sweetening profile and do not or do essentially not have a bitter or ce-like aftertaste.

It is r benefit of sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention that beverages can be obtained which, if at all, contain l sugars such as sweet-tasting carbohydrates and/or sweet-tasting sugar ls in a very reduced amount.

The sweetening compositions of the first to fourth embodiment of present invention can also comprise, for example when used with energy drinks, further ingredients such as sodium citrate, glucoronolactone, inositol, at least one n, e.g. niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, riboflavin, caustic caramel, caustic sulfite caramel, ammonia caramel , e ammonia caramel or ascorbic acid or mixtures thereof.

The sweetening ition of the present invention can be used for sweetening beverages, in particular soft drinks or energy drinks. The beneficial effects coming along with the use of the sweetening composition of the present invention can in particular also be accomplished with carbonated beverages.

The problem of the present ion has also been solved by a method comprising the steps of a) providing a sweetening composition according to the first to fourth embodiment of the t invention, b) providing water and c) mixing components provided under a) and b). The process of the t invention particularly further comprises the step (step d)) of carbonating the beverage. ing to another embodiment, the process of the present ion can further comprise the step of adding at least one thickening agent, at least one sweet-tasting natural carbohydrate , at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, at least one organic acid and/or at least one flavoring ingredient to the sweetening composition according to the first to fourth embodiment of the present invention or to a mixture comprising water and one of said sweetening itions of the present invention. The aforementioned components may also be added to water prior to mixing with any of said ning compositions of the present invention. Here, the definitions provided above for thickening agent, sweet-tasting natural carbohydrate, sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, organic acid and flavoring ingredient are able as well both in terms of general information and preferred embodiments.

Furthermore, it is also le that the sweet-tasting natural carbohydrates and/or at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol are added to the mixture comprising water and one of the first to fourth embodiment of the sweetening compositions of the present ion prior to and/or after the carbonating step, preferably prior to the carbonating step.

The first to fourth ments of the sweetening itions of the present invention as well as the beverages of the present invention, e.g. soft drinks or energy drinks, in one embodiment can also comprise common additives such as amino acids, coloring agents, g agents, modified starches, texturizers, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, stabilizers , gelling agents or arbitrary mixtures thereof.

With the present invention it has been surprisingly found that ning compositions are ible which do not exhibit a slow onset in the sweetening sensation. As an additional effect it is also possible to arrive at such sweetening compositions which do not have a bitter aftertaste and/or which also do not have a metallic aftertaste. Moreover, it has surprisingly been found that with the ning compositions of the present invention an aroma or sweetening profile can be accomplished which resembles that of beverages having been sweetened with natural sugars, even with carbonated beverages. Furthermore, it has surprisingly been found that with at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or tannic acid derivatives, being present in the compositions of the present invention the long-lasting sweetening ions of artificial sweeteners as, for example, stevia compounds can be shortened furnishing a natural or an essential l sweetening sensation, that is a sweetening profile regularly caused by known high caloric sugars.

It is, thus, possible with the sweetening composition of the present invention to prepare beverages, in particular carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks and energy drinks which though having a significantly reduced caloric content exhibit an improved ess and aroma profile and which in a preferred embodiment also do not differ icantly in their taste from conventional beverages having been sweetened with natural sugars and/or artificial sweeteners. This also includes that a sweetened sensation is perceived by the er already at the very beginning. In addition, with the sweetening composition of the present ion beverages can be obtained which do not have an insipid or blunt taste or mouthfeel.

In the meaning of the present invention artificial sweeteners shall comprise all sweeteners different from natural ners such as natural monosaccharide and disaccharide sweeteners , e.g. glucose and sucrose.

The beverages of the present invention comprise, in particular carbonated, soft drinks and energy drinks. Suitable soft drinks also include lavored soft drinks, wherein avored soft drinks also encompass cola-flavored-type soft . Also these beverages, when being sweetened with the sweetening composition in accordance with the present invention, do not or do essentially not exhibit a slow onset of the sensation of sweetness but provide a rather ic sweetening profile and do not or do essentially not have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste.

That is, with the present invention, in particular with the combined use of rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or n and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzymetreated steviol glycoside, in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or a tannic acid tive, beverages are accessible which though having been sweetened or co-sweetened with artificial sweeteners such as stevia compounds exhibit a temporal ess profile as to onset time, duration , i.e. linger, and, if need be, intensity of sweetness being rather similar to that of sucrose. ingly, the present invention not only allows shifting the slow onset of, for example , stevia compounds towards that of e, i.e. thereby exhibiting a more rapid onset , but also aids in significantly reducing the lingering effect.

Although modifications and changes maybe suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the applicant to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and probably come within the scope of this contribution to the art. The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth in detail in the appended claims. The features disclosed in the description and in the claims could be essential alone or in every ation for the realization of the invention in its different embodiments.

The following numbered paragraphs define particular aspects of the present invention: 1. A sweetening composition comprising a) at least one natural sweet-tasting ydrate, in particular sucrose, b) at least one stevia compound, in ular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, c) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or n and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside, in particular rubusoside or at least one rubusoside derivative or peridin or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside or any combination thereof, d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive, wherein ent d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount, based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative, in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, and/or wherein based on the total weight of component b), component c), in particular side and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 45 to 75 wt-%, the component c), in particular the rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 2 to 40 wt-%, and the component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative , is t in an amount in the range from 2 to 40 wt-%, n in each case the sum of components b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%. 2. The sweetening composition according to paragraph 1, wherein the at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in ular sucrose, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 80 g/l, preferably in the range from 15 g/l to 70 g/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 55 g/l, and/or wherein rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative is/are present in an amount in the range from 20 to 200 mg/l, preferably in the range from 20 mg/l to 150 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 30 to 125 mg/l. 3. A sweetening composition, in ular according to paragraph 1 or 2, comprising a) at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in particular sucrose, b) at least one stevia compound, in particular ed from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, c) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol ide, in particular rubusoside or at least one rubusoside derivative or neohesperidin or at least one enzyme-treated l glycoside or any combination thereof, d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive, and e) oak extract and/or pomegranate t, in particular wherein component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in the amount in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l. 4. The sweetening ition according to any of the preceding paragraphs, wherein, based on the total weight of component b), component c), in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and component d), in ular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 50 to 70 wt-%, in particular 55 to 65 wt-%, the component c), in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, and the component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt- . A sweetening composition comprising a) acesulfam and/or aspartame, b) sucralose and/or at least one stevia compound, in ular ed from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof , and/or saccharin and/or cyclamate, c) neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin, d) at least one , in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative wherein component d), in ular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount, based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid derivative, in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, and/or wherein, based on the total weight of ent a), in particular acesulfam, component b), in particular sucralose, component c), in particular neohesperidine , and component d), in ular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is present in an amount in the range from 10 to 50 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 15 to 65 wt-%, the ent c) is t in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 4 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 50 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components a, b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%. 6. The sweetening composition according to paragraph 5, wherein, based on the total weight of component a), in particular acesulfam, component b), in particular sucralose, component c), in particular neophesperidine, and ent d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is present in an amount in the range from 15 to 45 wt-%, in particular 20 to 40 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 55 wt-%, in particular 30 to 45 wt-%, the component c) is present in an amount in the range from 0,2 to 3 wt-%, in particular 0,5 to 2 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 10 to 40 wt-%, in particular 15 to 35 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components a), b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%. 7. The sweetening ition according to paragraph 5 or 6, wherein component b) comprises or consists of sucralose, saccharin and cyclamate or wherein component b) comprises or consists of at least one stevia compound, in particular selected from the group consisting of l glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, saccharin and cyclamate. 8. The sweetening composition according to any one of the ing paragraphs, wherein fam and/or aspartame is present in an amount in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 50 to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 75 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein sucralose is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 40 mg/l to 550 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 60 to 450 mg/l, and/or wherein neohesperidin is t in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 1,0 to 10 mg/l, and/or wherein saccharin is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 20 mg/l to 500 mg/l and more ably in the range from 30 to 400 mg/l, and/or wherein cylamate is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l, preferably in the range from 50 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 75 to 200 mg/l, and/or wherein thaumatine is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 10 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,1 to 2 mg/l, and/or wherein rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative is/are t in an amount in the range from 5 to 200 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 150 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 20 to 125 mg/l, and/or wherein phloretin is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 250 mg/l, ably in the range from 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 10 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein trilobatin is present in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 5 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein monatin is t in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,05 to mg/l, and/or wherein hesperetin is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l. 9. The sweetening composition according to any of the preceding paragraphs, wherein the at least one stevia compound is a mixture comprising, in particular consisting of, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, ioside A is present in an amount in the range from 80.0 to 99.0 wt-%, in particular in the range from 85.0 to 95.0 wt-% and more ably in the range from 86.0 to 94.3 wt-%, rebaudioside B is t in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 1.5 wt-%, in particular in the range from 0.2 to 1.2 wt-% and more preferably in the range from 0.3 to 0.9 wt-%, and rebaudioside D is present in an amount in the range from 0.9 to 18.5 wt-%, in particular in the range from 4.8 to 13.8 wt-% or in the range from 5.4 to 13.1 wt-%.

. The sweetening composition according to any of paragraphs 1 to 9, wherein, based on the total weight of ioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.5 to 94.0 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 1.0 wt-% and rebaudioside D is t in amount in the range from 5.8 to 8.5 wt-%; wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.9 to 94.4 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 0.5 wt-% and rebaudioside D is present in amount in the range from 5.4 to 8.6 wt-%. 11. A sweetening composition comprising a) 0,1 to 50 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate, in particular selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting monosaccharides, b) 40 to 120 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate different from a), in particular selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting disaccharides , and c) 30 to 300 mg/l of rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative or 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l neohesperidin or 0.01 mg/l to 10 mg/l thaumatine or 1 to 250 mg/l tin or trilobatin or 0,01 mg/l to 20 mg/l monatin or 1 to 750 mg/l hesperetin or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside or any mixture thereof, in particular side and/or at least one side derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or at least one -treated steviol glycoside. 12. The sweetening composition of paragraph 11 comprising a) 0,5 to 30 g/l of a l sweet-tasting carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of natural tasting monosaccharides, b) 70 to 110 g/l of a natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate selected from the group consisting of natural sweet-tasting disaccharides, and c) 40 to 220 mg/l rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative or 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and preferably 1,0 to 10 mg/l neohesperidin, or 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and preferably 0,1 to 2 mg/l thaumatine or 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and ably 10 to 150 mg/l phloretin or 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and ably to 150 mg/l trilobatin or 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and preferably 0,05 to 5 mg/l monatin or 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and preferably 25 to 250 mg/l hesperetin. 13. The sweetening composition according to any of the ing paragraphs, wherein the at least one natural sweet-tasting carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of a natural sweet-tasting monosaccharide, a natural sweet-tasting disaccharide , a sweet-tasting sugar alcohol and a mixture f. 14. The sweetening composition according to paragraph 13, wherein the sweet-tasting natural monosaccharide is selected from the group consisting of fructose, glucose, mannose, se, , se, galactose, and mixtures thereof, and/or wherein the sweet-tasting natural disaccharide is selected from the group consisting of sucrose, lactose, maltose and mixtures f, and/or wherein the sweet-tasting sugar alcohol is selected from the group consisting of erythritol, glycerol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, galactitol and mixtures f, and/or wherein the sweet-tasting natural disaccharide is sucrose.

. The ning composition ing to any of the preceding paragraphs further comprising at least one flavoring ingredient selected from the group consisting of galangal, cocoa , cinnamon, lemon, lemon juice concentrate, coca leaf, orange, orange oil, corn mint, pine, cardamom, mace, clove, lime, lime oil, nutmeg, nutmeg oil, mustard seeds, mustard seed oil, caramel, rosemary, pepper, honey, ginger, vanilla, licorice, licorice extract, cola nut and cola nut extract or mixtures thereof, and/or further comprising taurine and/or caffeine. 16. The sweetening composition according to any of the preceding paragraphs, wherein said composition is a dry mixture, in particular in powder and/or particulate form. 17. The sweetening composition according to any of paragraphs 1 to 15 further comprising water. 18. Use of the sweetening composition of any of the preceding paragraphs for sweetening rbonated or carbonated beverages, in particular soft drinks or energy drinks, or as non-carbonated or carbonated ges, in particular soft drinks or energy drinks. 19. Use of the sweetening composition of any of paragraphs 1 to 17 for preparing a syrup as a precursor in the preparation of an, in ular carbonated, beverage, in particular a soft drink or an energy drink.

. Use of the sweetening composition of any of aphs 1 to 17 for preparing an, in particular carbonated, beverage. 21. Beverage, in ular carbonated ge, comprising or ting of the sweetening composition according to any of paragraphs 1 to 17. 22. ge according to aph 21, wherein rebaudioside A, B and D in combination are present in the beverage in a concentration in the range from 0.01 to 1.0 g/l, preferably from 0.05 to 0.75 g/l and more preferably from 0.1 to 0.6 g/l, and/or wherein the sweet-tasting l carbohydrates and the sweet-tasting sugar alcohols are present in combination in the beverage in a concentration not above 40 g/l, preferably in the range from 5 g/l to 35 g/l and more preferably in the range from 10 g/l to 25 g/l. 23. Beverage according to paragraph 21 or 22 characterized in that it is a soft drink, in particular a cola-flavored or cola-flavored-type soft drink, or an energy drink. 24. Process for ing a beverage according to any of paragraphs 21 to 23 comprising the steps of a) providing a sweetening composition according to any of paragraphs 1 to 17, b) providing water and c) mixing components provided under a) and b).

. Process according to paragraph 24 further sing the step (step d)) of carbonating the beverage. 26. Process according to paragraph 24 or 25 further comprising the step of adding at least one thickening agent, at least one sweet-tasting natural carbohydrate, at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, at least one organic acid and/or at least one flavoring ingredient to the ning composition prior to mixing with water or to a mixture comprising water and the sweetening composition and/or to water prior to mixing with the sweetening composition, and/or wherein the sweet-tasting natural carbohydrates and/or at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol , are added to the mixture comprising water and the sweetening composition prior to and/or after the ating step. 27. Use of a combination comprising i) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or phloretin and/or trilo- batin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside, in particular rubusoside or at least one rubusoside derivative or neohesperidin or at least one enzyme-treated l glycoside or any combination thereof, and ii) at least one tannin, in ular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive or a composition or t containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, for shortening, in particular with beverages, the lingering sweetness of artificial sweeteners, in particular of stevia compounds, and for shifting the onset of the temporal sweetness sensation of said artificial sweetener towards that of natural sugars, in particular to that of sucrose.

Claims (20)

Claims

1. A sweetening composition comprising a) acesulfam and/or ame, b) sucralose and/or at least one stevia compound, in ular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof , and/or saccharin and/or cyclamate, c) peridin and/or thaumatine and/or rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin, d) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive wherein component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount, based on the at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and the at least one tannic acid tive, in the range from 1 mg/l to 400 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, and/or wherein, based on the total weight of ent a), in particular acesulfam, component b), in particular sucralose, component c), in particular neohesperidine , and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is t in an amount in the range from 10 to 50 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 15 to 65 wt-%, the component c) is present in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 4 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 50 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components a, b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%.

2. The sweetening composition according to claim 1, wherein, based on the total weight of component a), in particular acesulfam, component b), in particular ose, component c), in particular neophesperidine, and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, the component a) is t in an amount in the range from 15 to 45 wt-%, in particular 20 to 40 wt-%,the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 55 wt- %, in particular 30 to 45 wt-%, the component c) is present in an amount in the range from 0,2 to 3 wt-%, in particular 0,5 to 2 wt-%, and the component d) is present in an amount in the range from 10 to 40 wt-%, in particular 15 to 35 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of components a), b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-%.

3. The sweetening composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein ent b) comprises or consists of sucralose, saccharin and cyclamate or wherein component b) comprises or consists of at least one stevia compound, in particular selected from the group consisting of steviol glycosides, rebaudiosides and mixtures thereof, rin and cyclamate.

4. The sweetening ition according to any of the preceding claims, n, based on the total weight of component b), component c), in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, and component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive, the component b) is present in an amount in the range from 50 to 70 wt-%, in particular 55 to 65 wt-%, the component c), in particular rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, and the component d), in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, is present in an amount in the range from 5 to 35 wt-%, in particular 10 to 30 wt-%, wherein in each case the sum of ents b), c) and d) always adds up to 100 wt-

5. The sweetening composition according to any one of the preceding , wherein acesulfam and/or aspartame is present in an amount in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 50 to 200 mg/l and more ably in the range from 75 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein sucralose is present in an amount in the range from 20 to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 40 mg/l to 550 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 60 to 450 mg/l, and/or wherein neohesperidin is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 15 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 1,0 to 10 mg/l, and/or wherein saccharin is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 20 mg/l to 500 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 30 to 400 mg/l, and/or wherein cylamate is present in an amount in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l, preferably in the range from 50 mg/l to 300 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 75 to 200 mg/l, and/or wherein thaumatine is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 10 mg/l, ably in the range from 0,05 mg/l to 5 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,1 to 2 mg/l, and/or wherein rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside tive is/are present in an amount in the range from 5 to 200 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 150 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 20 to 125 mg/l, and/or wherein phloretin is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 250 mg/l, ably in the range from 5 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 10 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein trilobatin is t in an amount in the range from 0,1 to 250 mg/l, preferably in the range from 1 mg/l to 200 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 5 to 150 mg/l, and/or wherein monatin is present in an amount in the range from 0.01 mg/l to 20 mg/l, preferably in the range from 0,1 mg/l to 10 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 0,05 to 5 mg/l, and/or wherein hesperetin is present in an amount in the range from 1 to 750 mg/l, preferably in the range from 10 mg/l to 500 mg/l and more preferably in the range from 25 to 250 mg/l.

6. The ning composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one stevia compound is a e comprising, in particular consisting of, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 80.0 to 99.0 wt-%, in particular in the range from 85.0 to 95.0 wt-% and more preferably in the range from 86.0 to 94.3 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in an amount in the range from 0.1 to 1.5 wt-%, in particular in the range from 0.2 to 1.2 wt-% and more preferably in the range from 0.3 to 0.9 wt-%, and rebaudioside D is present in an amount in the range from 0.9 to 18.5 wt-%, in particular in the range from 4.8 to 13.8 wt-% or in the range from 5.4 to 13.1 wt-%.

7. The sweetening composition according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.5 to 94.0 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 1.0 wt-% and ioside D is present in amount in the range from 5.8 to 8.5 wt-%; wherein, based on the total weight of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside rebaudioside A is present in an amount in the range from 90.9 to 94.4 wt-%, rebaudioside B is present in amount in the range from 0.2 to 0.5 wt-% and rebaudioside D is present in amount in the range from 5.4 to 8.6 wt-%.

8. The sweetening composition according to any of the preceding claims further comprising at least one flavoring ient selected from the group consisting of galangal , cocoa, cinnamon, lemon, lemon juice concentrate, coca leaf, orange, orange oil, corn mint, pine, cardamom, mace, clove, lime, lime oil, nutmeg, nutmeg oil, mustard seeds, mustard seed oil, caramel, rosemary, pepper, honey, , vanilla, licorice , licorice extract, cola nut and cola nut t or mixtures thereof, and/or further comprising taurine and/or caffeine.

9. The sweetening composition ing to any of the ing claims, wherein said composition is a dry mixture, in ular in powder and/or particulate form.

10. The sweetening composition according to any of claims 1 to 8 further sing water.

11. Use of the sweetening composition of any of the preceding claims for sweetening non-carbonated or carbonated beverages, in particular soft drinks or energy drinks, or as non-carbonated or carbonated beverages, in particular soft drinks or energy drinks.

12. Use of the sweetening composition of any of claims 1 to 10 for preparing a syrup as a precursor in the preparation of an, in ular carbonated, beverage, in particular a soft drink or an energy drink.

13. Use of the sweetening composition of any of claims 1 to 10 for preparing an, in particular carbonated, beverage.

14. Beverage, in particular carbonated beverage, comprising or consisting of the sweetening ition according to any of claims 1 to 10.

15. Beverage according to claim 14, wherein rebaudioside A, B and D in combination are present in the beverage in a concentration in the range from 0.01 to 1.0 g/l, ably from 0.05 to 0.75 g/l and more preferably from 0.1 to 0.6 g/l.

16. Beverage according to claim 14 or 15 characterized in that it is a soft drink, in particular a lavored or lavored-type soft drink, or an energy drink.

17. Process for preparing a beverage according to any of claims 14 to 16 comprising the steps of a) providing a sweetening composition ing to any of claims 1 to 10, b) providing water and c) mixing components provided under a) and b).

18. Process according to claim 17 further comprising the step (step d) of carbonating the beverage.

19. Process according to claim 17 or 18 further comprising the step of adding at least one thickening agent, at least one sweet-tasting natural carbohydrate, at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol, at least one c acid and/or at least one ing ient to the sweetening composition prior to mixing with water or to a mixture comprising water and the sweetening composition and/or to water prior to mixing with the sweetening composition, and/or n the sweet-tasting natural carbohydrates and/or at least one sweet-tasting sugar alcohol , are added to the mixture comprising water and the sweetening composition prior to and/or after the carbonating step.

20. Use of a combination comprising i) rubusoside and/or at least one rubusoside derivative and/or neohesperidin and/or thaumatine and/or phloretin and/or trilobatin and/or monatin and/or hesperetin and/or at least one enzyme-treated steviol glycoside, in particular rubu- soside or at least one rubusoside derivative or neohesperidin or at least one enzymetreated steviol glycoside or any combination thereof, and ii) at least one tannin, in particular tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid tive or a composition or extract containing tannic acid and/or at least one tannic acid derivative, for shortening, in particular with ges, the lingering sweetness of artificial sweeteners, in particular of stevia compounds, and for shifting the onset of the temporal sweetness sensation of said cial sweetener towards that of natural sugars, in particular to that of sucrose.