Method for the preparation of spherical capsules of aqueous substances and capsules obtained by said method

A method for the preparation of spherical capsules of aqueous substances, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

• (a) mixing a source of ions of an alkaline earth metal selected from calcium and magnesium with an aqueous substance to be encapsulated to obtain a mixture, wherein the aqueous substance to be encapsulated is a liquid food product selected from liquid fruits, liquid olives, milk products, infusions, vinegars, spirit drinks, wines, alcoholic beverages, fermented juices (for example, soya), or any water-based substance in liquid state or resulting from the extraction of any type of solid whose juice has an aqueous content;
• (b) introducing the mixture into a buffering oily layer to form a drop or drops of the mixture within said buffering oily layer, the buffering oily layer being formed on the surface of an aqueous solution containing a non-calcium alginate;
• (c) rounding the drop or drops into spherical form within the buffering oily layer;
• (d) permitting the rounded drop or drops to fall into the aqueous solution from the buffering oily layer;
• (e) maintaining the rounded drop or drops in suspension in the aqueous solution while maintaining the spherical form of the rounded drop or drops for a sufficient time to form a spherical capsule or capsules from the rounded drop or drops within the aqueous solution;
• (f) in collecting the capsule or capsules formed in step (d);
• (g) incubating the collected capsules from step (e) in suspension for a time of between 2 seconds and 2 hours;
• (h) washing, draining and packaging the capsules.