Shelf-stable, preservative-free liquid beverage enhancer products

Abstract

A liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee, including a shelf-stable and physically stable, highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution including at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties including propylene glycol and optionally a non-water solvent chosen from the group consisting of glycerol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propanediol, and combinations thereof, 5-90% flavors and colors, 0-70% water, 0-30% high intensity sweeteners, 0-40% sugars, and 0-40% acid, wherein the liquid beverage enhancer product has a pH greater than 4.6 and is free of preservatives sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. A method of enhancing a beverage by adding a liquid beverage enhancer product including a shelf-stable highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution having at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties including propylene glycol to a beverage, and enhancing the flavor and color of the beverage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee, consisting essentially of a shelf-stable and physically stable, highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution including at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties including propylene glycol and optionally a non-water solvent chosen from the group consisting of glycerol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propanediol, and combinations thereof, 5-90% flavors and colors, 0-70% water, 0-30% high intensity sweeteners, 0-40% sugars, and 0-40% acid, wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a pH greater than 4.6 and is free of preservatives sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. 
     
     
         2 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said non-water solvents with humectant properties further includes a non-water solvent chosen from the group consisting of glycerol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, propanediol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid beverage enhancer product of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a pH greater than 4.6. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product does not require thermal processing. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product is added to milk, milk substitute products, and protein containing beverages without causing curdling. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 5 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a pH greater than 5.0. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a water activity level of less than 0.90. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 7 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a water activity level of less than 0.85. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product is preservative free. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee is chosen from the group consisting of natural, all-natural, 100% natural, and organic. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including vitamin C. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product is made shelf-stable through a processing method chosen from the group consisting of thermal, high pressure, irradiation, and ultraviolet (UV). 
     
     
         13 . The liquid beverage enhancer product of  claim 1 , further including 5-90% flavors and colors, 0-70% water, 0-30% high intensity sweeteners, 0-40% sugars, and 0-40% acid. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said flavors have superior taste at pH greater than 4.6. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee adds flavor to a beverage without modifying the acid or sweetness profile of said beverage. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including vitamins chosen from the group consisting of Vitamin A, Vitamin B 1 , Vitamin B 2 , Vitamin B 3 , Vitamin B 5 , Vitamin B 6 , Vitamin B 12 , Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including electrolytes. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid beverage enhancer for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including an ingredient chosen from the group consisting of fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, vegetable juice, vegetable juice concentrate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including an ingredient chosen from the group consisting of protein, caffeine, green coffee extract, guarana, melatonin, L-Theanine, glucosamine, chondroitin, chamomile, CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), L-carnitine, omega-3, docosahexanoic acid (DHA), quercetin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further including therapeutics chosen from the group consisting of anti-pain agents, anti-inflammatory agents, narcotics, anti-cancer agents, biologics, anti-infective agents, hormones, diabetes treatments, heart and circulatory drugs, respiratory agents, gastrointestinal agents, genitourinary agents, central nervous system agents, neuromuscular agents, nutritional supplements, and blood modifying agents. 
     
     
         21 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further in combination with a beverage chosen from the group consisting of milk and coffee. 
     
     
         22 . The liquid beverage enhancer product of  claim 1 , further in combination with a non-beverage food product chosen from the group consisting of ready to eat frosting, whipped cream, cream cheese, ice cream, cake batter, and plain yogurt. 
     
     
         23 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , wherein said high intensity sweeteners are present in an amount to provide said liquid beverage enhancer product with an effective sweetness equivalent to greater than 65 degrees Brix sugar in water solution. 
     
     
         24 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 23 , wherein said high intensity sweeteners are present in an amount to provide said liquid beverage enhancer product with an effective sweetness equivalent to greater than 100 degrees Brix sugar in water solution. 
     
     
         25 . The liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee of  claim 1 , further defined as including at least 30% non-water solvents with humectant properties. 
     
     
         26 . A method of enhancing a beverage, including the steps of:
 adding a liquid beverage enhancer product including a shelf-stable highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution having at least 10% non-water solvents with humectant properties including propylene glycol to a beverage; and   enhancing the flavor and color of the beverage.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said adding step is performed by a step chosen from the group consisting of squeezing a bottle, pouring a bottle, and dripping a bottle containing the liquid beverage enhancer product into the beverage, and a user mixing the beverage. 
     
     
         28 . A liquid beverage enhancer product for milk or coffee, consisting essentially of a shelf-stable and physically stable, highly concentrated liquid flavor and color solution including 20-60% propylene glycol, 0-30% flavors, 20-60% water, 0-5% acesulfame potassium, 0-10% sugars, 0-5% sucralose, 0-10% sodium citrate, and 0-5% citric acid, wherein said liquid beverage enhancer product has a pH greater than 5.0 and is free of preservatives sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate.