Stevia sweetener with improved solubility

Abstract

The invention describes a stevia sweetener with improved solubility in an aqueous solution for convenience of use in the food and beverage industry.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A steviol glycoside composition with improved solubility in a water or water/alcohol solution,
 wherein the steviol glycoside composition is stable in the water or water/alcohol solution for at least 1 day to greater than 30 days at a temperature from 0° C. to about 25° C.,   wherein the steviol glycoside composition comprises rebaudioside A and rebaudioside B, or rebaudioside A and rebaudioside D, or rebaudioside A and stevioside, or rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B and rebaudioside D, or rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D and stevioside, and   wherein the steviol glycoside composition has a solubility that is greater than or equal to 10 g/100 g water or water/alcohol solution.   
     
     
         24 . The steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, sec-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, n-pentanol, sec-pentanol, isopentanol and neopentanol. 
     
     
         25 . The steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the water or water/alcohol solution is from about 60% to about 1% alcohol by volume. 
     
     
         26 . The steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23 , wherein rebaudioside A is the main component. 
     
     
         27 . The steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition is stable in water or water/alcohol solution at room or ambient temperature. 
     
     
         28 . A sweetener composition comprising the steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23  and a sweetener. 
     
     
         29 . The sweetener composition according to  claim 28 , wherein the sweetener is selected from the group consisting of cyclamates and salts thereof, sucralose, aspartame, saccharin and salts thereof,  stevia , rebaudioside A, xylitol, acesulfame-K, neotame, N [N-[3-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)propyl]-alpha-aspartyI]-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester, glycyrrhizin, thaumatin, monellin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises rebaudioside M. 
     
     
         31 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises rebaudioside C. 
     
     
         32 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises rebaudioside E. 
     
     
         33 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises rebaudioside F. 
     
     
         34 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises rubusoside. 
     
     
         35 . The steviol glycoside composition of  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition further comprises dulcoside A. 
     
     
         36 . The steviol glycoside composition according to  claim 23 , wherein the steviol glycoside composition has a solubility of greater than or equal to 60 g/100 g water or water/alcohol solution. 
     
     
         37 . A beverage comprising the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         38 . A concentrated beverage product comprising the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         39 . A food product comprising the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         40 . A sweetener comprising the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         41 . A syrup comprising the composition of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         42 . A flavor comprising the composition of  claim 23 .