Rebaudioside b and derivatives

Abstract

The invention describes compositions that include a stevia sweetener and a salt of a steviol glycoside, wherein the concentration of the components provide an improved taste profile where bitterness, after taste and/or lingering of the stevia sweetener is decreased or eliminated.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A salt of rebaudioside B. 
     
     
         68 . The salt according to  claim 67 , wherein the rebaudioside B is in carboxylate form, and optionally wherein the salt is an alkali metal salt, an alkaline earth metal salt, an amino acid salt, or an ammonium salt. 
     
     
         69 . The salt according to  claim 68 , wherein the salt is the sodium salt or the potassium salt, optionally in the form of a white powder. 
     
     
         70 . The salt according to  claim 67 , wherein the salt is isolated and/or purified. 
     
     
         71 . A composition comprising the salt of  claim 67 , optionally wherein the composition further comprises a foodstuff. 
     
     
         72 . The composition according to  claim 71 , wherein the composition is a sweetener composition, optionally wherein the sweetener composition further comprises another sweetener, such as a stevia extract or mogroside V, or an artificial sweetener such a cyclamate or a salt thereof, sucralose, aspartame, saccharin or a salt thereof, xylitol, or acesulfame-K. 
     
     
         73 . The composition according to  claim 72 , wherein:
 (i) the composition comprises a stevia extract, such as a purified extract of stevia, optionally wherein the purified extract of stevia comprises rebaudioside A ranging from about 50% to about 100%, and optionally wherein the ratio of the stevia extract to the salt of rebaudioside B is from about 1:9 to about 9:1 on a weight basis; and/or   (ii) the composition further comprises one or more steviol glycoside(s), optionally wherein the one or more steviol glycoside(s) are selected from steviol, steviolbioside, stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rubusoside and dulcoside A.   
     
     
         74 . The composition according to  claim 72 , wherein the composition comprises the salt of rebaudioside B and rebaudioside A, optionally wherein the rebaudioside A is in salt form, and optionally wherein the ratio of the salt of rebaudioside B to rebaudioside A is from 1:9 to 9:1 on a molar basis. 
     
     
         75 . A sweetener composition comprising one or more of rebaudioside B, rebaudioside A, or rebaudioside D with a base, optionally wherein the base is a metal hydroxide such as an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, and optionally wherein the rebaudioside to base ratio is from about 10:1 to 1:10 on molar basis. 
     
     
         76 . The composition according to  claim 75 , wherein base is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. 
     
     
         77 . A solution comprising the salt of  claim 67 , optionally wherein the solution is aqueous, optionally wherein the solution is a beverage, and optionally wherein the solution has a pH below 7, or below about 6, or below about 3. 
     
     
         78 . A solution comprising the composition of  claim 71 , optionally wherein the solution is aqueous, optionally wherein the solution is a beverage, and optionally wherein the solution has a pH below 7, or below about 6, or below about 3. 
     
     
         79 . A solution comprising the composition of  claim 75 , optionally wherein the solution is aqueous, optionally wherein the solution is a beverage, and optionally wherein the solution has a pH below 7, or below about 6, or below about 3. 
     
     
         80 . A beverage, broth, beverage preparation, food, food preparation, candy, confection, dessert or snack comprising the salt of  claim 67 . 
     
     
         81 . A beverage, broth, beverage preparation, food, food preparation, candy, confection, dessert or snack comprising the composition of  claim 71 . 
     
     
         82 . A beverage, broth, beverage preparation, food, food preparation, candy, confection, dessert or snack comprising the composition of  claim 74 . 
     
     
         83 . A method of use of a salt according to  claim 67  as a sweetener, wherein the method comprises the step of:
 adding the salt according to  claim 67  to a composition, optionally wherein the salt is used without any additional steviol glycoside(s) or stevia extract(s). 
 
     
     
         84 . A method of use of a salt according to  claim 67 :
 (i) to eliminate the bitter aftertaste associated with a stevia sweetener; and/or   (ii) to decrease or eliminate the lingering profile of a stevia sweetener; and/or   (iii) to improve the taste profile of a composition comprising one or more steviol glycoside(s), optionally wherein the one or more steviol glycoside(s) are selected from steviol, steviolbioside, stevioside, rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, rubusoside and dulcoside A,
 the method comprises the step of adding the salt according to  claim 67  to the stevia sweetener in (i) or (ii), or the composition in (iii). 
   
     
     
         85 . A method of use of a salt according to  claim 67  to:
 (i) reduce or eliminate bitterness of a composition; and/or 
 (ii) reduce or eliminate aftertaste of the composition; and/or 
 (iii) reduce or eliminate lingering aftertaste of the composition; and/or 
 (iv) provide a sweetness profile similar to that of sugar to the composition, 
 the method comprises the step of adding the salt according to  claim 67  to the composition. 
 
     
     
         86 . A process to prepare a salt according to  claim 67 , comprising the step of:
 reacting rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D or a mixture thereof with a base, or reacting a stevia extract comprising one or more of rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside D or a mixture thereof with a base,   such that the salt is formed,   optionally wherein:   (i) the ratio of base to possible rebaudioside B salt content is at least 10 molar percent; and/or   (ii) the base is an amine, an amino acid, a metal carbonate, a metal bicarbonate, a metal hydroxide or a metal oxide, such as NaOH, KOH, Na 2 O, K 2 O, Na 2 CO 3 , K 2 CO 3 , NaHCO 3  or KHCO 3 ; and/or   (iii) the process is conducted in an aqueous environment; and/or   (iv) the process is conducted at a temperature of at least about 30° C. to about reflux; and/or   (v) the salt is isolated.