Containers and methods for dispensing multiple doses of a concentrated liquid, and shelf stable concentrated liquids

Abstract

Containers and methods are provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate utilizing one or more desirable properties including a generally consistent discharge across a range of squeeze forces, a generally consistent discharge with the same force without significant dependence on the amount of liquid concentrate in the container, a substantially dripless or leak proof outlet opening, a jet that minimizes splashing when the liquid concentrate impacts a target liquid, and a jet that maximizes mixing between the liquid concentrate and the target liquid to produce a generally homogenous mixture without the use of extraneous utensils or shaking Also provided are liquid beverage concentrates that can be cold filled during packaging while maintaining shelf stability for at least about three months at ambient temperatures. Concentrates are provided having low pH, with or without alcohol, and with buffers to allow for increased acid content at a selected pH.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 water; acid; up to 10 weight percent buffer, the buffer is selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and combinations thereof; 1 to 30 weight percent flavoring; and the acid and the buffer in amounts to provide a ratio of acid to buffer of at least 1:1;   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising amounts of the acid and the buffer and having a pH effective to avoid substantial degradation of the flavoring for at least three months storage at ambient temperature;   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate having a viscosity from 1 to 75 cP when measured at 20° C.; and   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate having a concentration such that, when diluted at a ratio of 1:75 to 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers 0.01 to 0.8 weight percent acid of the beverage made by diluting the flavored liquid beverage concentrate.   
     
     
         4 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent acid and wherein the pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate is from 1.4 to 2.7. 
     
     
         5 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate is from 1.7 to 2.7. 
     
     
         6 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , comprising 20 to 30 weight percent acid. 
     
     
         7 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , further comprising potassium, the potassium present in an amount effective to provide from 1 to 100 mg of potassium per 8 ounces of the beverage made by diluting the flavored liquid beverage concentrate. 
     
     
         8 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , comprising from 30 to 80 weight percent water. 
     
     
         10 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , further comprising a polyol and wherein the acid, the water, and the polyol are included in amounts effective to provide microbial stability such that the flavored liquid beverage concentrate has an aerobic plate count of less than 5000 CFU/g, yeast and mold at a level less than 500 CFU/g, and coliforms at 0 MPN/g for at least three months when stored at ambient temperature 
     
     
         11 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , comprising from 30 to 65 weight percent water and from 15 to 30 weight percent acid. 
     
     
         12 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , comprising up to 3 weight percent buffer. 
     
     
         13 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the acid to buffer ratio is from 1:1 to 60:1. 
     
     
         14 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the acid to buffer ratio is selected to provide the flavored liquid beverage concentrate with at least 5 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH. 
     
     
         15 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the flavoring is selected from the group consisting of liquid flavorings, powdered flavorings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 3 , wherein the flavoring includes a flavor key and an alcohol. 
     
     
         17 . A flavored liquid beverage concentrate comprising:
 water; flavoring; acid; and buffer, the buffer is selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and combinations thereof; and an acid to buffer ratio of at least 1:1;   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate having a viscosity from 1 to 75 cP when measured at 20° C.; and   the flavored liquid beverage concentrate having a concentration such that, when diluted at a ratio of 1:75 to 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by diluting the flavored liquid beverage concentrate.   
     
     
         18 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , further including an alcohol. 
     
     
         19 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 18 , wherein the acid, the water, and the alcohol are included in amounts effective to avoid substantial flavor degradation of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate and to provide microbial stability such that the flavored liquid beverage concentrate has an aerobic plate count of less than 5000 CFU/g, yeast and mold at a level less than 500 CFU/g, and coliforms at 0 MPN/g for at least three months when stored at ambient temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , comprising at least 30 weight percent water, at least 5 weight percent acid, up to 10 weight percent buffer, and at least 1 weight percent flavoring,
 wherein a pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate is from 1.4 to 2.7.   
     
     
         21 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein a pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate is from 1.7 to 2.7. 
     
     
         22 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , comprising 5 to 30 weight percent acid, 30 to 80 weight percent water, and wherein a pH of the flavored liquid beverage concentrate is from 1.4 to 2.7. 
     
     
         23 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , further comprising potassium, the potassium present in an amount effective to provide from 1 to 100 mg of potassium per 8 ounces of the beverage made by diluting the flavored liquid beverage concentrate. 
     
     
         24 . The flavored beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of citric acid, malic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the flavoring comprises a flavor key and an alcohol. 
     
     
         26 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , comprising from 30 to 80 weight percent water. 
     
     
         27 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , comprising from 30 to 65 weight percent water, from 1 to 30 weight percent flavoring, from 15 to 30 weight percent acid, and up to 10 weight percent buffer. 
     
     
         28 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , comprising up to 3 weight percent buffer. 
     
     
         29 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the acid to buffer ratio is from 1:1 to 60:1. 
     
     
         30 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the acid to buffer ratio is selected to provide the flavored liquid beverage concentrate with at least 5 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH. 
     
     
         31 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the flavoring is selected from the group consisting of liquid flavorings, powdered flavorings, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The flavored liquid beverage concentrate of  claim 17 , wherein the flavored liquid beverage concentrate further comprises a water activity reducing component that is selected from the group consisting of salt, alcohol, polyol, carbohydrate, and combinations thereof.