Sweetening compositions

Abstract

This disclosure provides aqueous steviol glycoside compositions as well as syrups and beverages comprising these compositions. In certain embodiments, the aqueous steviol glycoside composition comprises water and a sweetening composition, wherein the sweetening composition is solubilized in the water and comprises a stevioside composition and rebaudioside D.

1 .- 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of preparing an aqueous steviol glycoside composition,
 wherein the aqueous steviol glycoside composition comprises water, and a sweetening composition comprising rebaudioside D and a stevioside composition, wherein the sweetening composition is solubilized in the water;   the method comprising:   preparing an aqueous rebaudioside D suspension; and   adding a stevioside composition to the aqueous rebaudioside D suspension under shear.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the aqueous rebaudioside D suspension is prepared by suspending rebaudioside D in water having a temperature ranging from 18° C. up to about 75° C. 
     
     
         41 .- 69 . (canceled) 
     
     
         70 . A stevioside/rebaudioside D complex. 
     
     
         71 . The complex of  claim 70 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 12:1 by weight. 
     
     
         72 . The complex of  claim 70 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 2:1 to about 7:1 by weight. 
     
     
         73 . The complex of  claim 70 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of about 2:1, about 3:1, about 5:1 or about 6:1 by weight. 
     
     
         74 . An aqueous steviol glycoside composition comprising:
 water; and   the complex of  claim 70 .   
     
     
         75 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 74 , wherein the rebaudioside D is present in the water at a concentration ranging from about 0.2 weight percent to about 3 weight percent. 
     
     
         76 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 75 , wherein the rebaudioside D is present in the water at a concentration ranging from about 0.5 weight percent to about 1.5 weight percent. 
     
     
         77 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 76 , wherein the rebaudioside D is present in the water at a concentration ranging from about 1 weight percent to about 1.5 weight percent. 
     
     
         78 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 77 , wherein the rebaudioside D is present in the water at a concentration of about 1.3 weight percent, about 1.4 weight percent, or about 1.5 weight percent. 
     
     
         79 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 74 , further comprising a steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside. 
     
     
         80 . The aqueous steviol glycoside composition of  claim 79 , wherein the steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside is selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside G, rebaudioside H, rebaudioside I, rebaudioside J, rebaudioside K, rebaudioside L, rebaudioside M, rebaudioside O, steviolbioside, rubusoside, and dulcoside A. 
     
     
         81 . A syrup comprising water and the complex of  claim 70 . 
     
     
         82 . The syrup of  claim 81 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 12:1 by weight. 
     
     
         83 . The syrup of  claim 81 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 2:1 to about 7:1 by weight. 
     
     
         84 . The syrup of  claim 81 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of about 2:1, about 3:1, about 5:1 or about 6:1 by weight. 
     
     
         85 . The syrup of  claim 81 , further comprising a steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside. 
     
     
         86 . The syrup of  claim 85 , wherein the steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside is selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside G, rebaudioside H, rebaudioside I, rebaudioside J, rebaudioside K, rebaudioside L, rebaudioside M, rebaudioside O, steviolbioside, rubusoside, and dulcoside A. 
     
     
         87 . A beverage comprising water and the complex of  claim 70 . 
     
     
         88 . The beverage of  claim 87 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 1:1 to about 12:1 by weight. 
     
     
         89 . The beverage of  claim 87 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of from about 2:1 to about 7:1 by weight. 
     
     
         90 . The beverage of  claim 87 , wherein the stevioside and the rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of about 2:1, about 3:1, about 5:1 or about 6:1 by weight. 
     
     
         91 . The beverage of  claim 87 , further comprising a steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside. 
     
     
         92 . The beverage of  claim 91 , wherein the steviol glycoside other than rebaudioside D or stevioside is selected from the group consisting of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rebaudioside G, rebaudioside H, rebaudioside I, rebaudioside J, rebaudioside K, rebaudioside L, rebaudioside M, rebaudioside O, steviolbioside, rubusoside, and dulcoside A. 
     
     
         93 . The stevioside/rebaudioside D complex of  claim 70 , wherein the stevioside and rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of about 5:1 (weight:weight); and wherein the stevioside/rebaudioside D complex is characterized by the 13C NMR spectrum depicted in  FIG. 9 . 
     
     
         94 . The stevioside/rebaudioside D complex of  claim 70 , wherein the stevioside and rebaudioside D are present at a ratio of about 1:1 (weight:weight); and wherein the stevioside/rebaudioside D complex is characterized by the 13C NMR spectrum depicted in  FIG. 10 . 
     
     
         95 . A stevioside/rebaudioside D complex, prepared by a method comprising:
 combining stevioside and rebaudioside D in water to form a mixture; and   heating the mixture to a temperature ranging from about 18° C. to about 75° C.   
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the temperature is about 75° C. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the mixture is stirred using a high shear process.