Beverage concentrates

A cartridge for a beverage preparation system, the cartridge comprising an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, an outlet downstream of the inlet for the discharge of a beverage from the cartridge and a flow path connecting the inlet to the outlet,

• wherein the flow path includes within it a beverage liquid concentrate comprising an alginate and/or a thermally reversible gelling thickener, and the total concentration of the thickener in the concentrate is about 0.01 to about 5 weight %.

A method of dispensing a beverage from a cartridge containing a beverage liquid concentrate comprising an alginate and/or a thermally reversible gelling thickener dissolved in the concentrate, the method comprising the steps of:

• passing an aqueous medium through the cartridge to form a beverage by dilution of said beverage concentrate, and
• dispensing the beverage into a receptacle,
• wherein the overall weight ratio of the beverage concentrate to the aqueous medium is from about 10:1 to about 1:10.

A beverage concentrate comprising a thickener, wherein the thickener comprises methyl cellulose and at least one alginate in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1, wherein the methyl cellulose and the at least one alginate are present in a combined amount of about 0.01 to about 5 weight %.

The use of a sodium alginate and methyl cellulose to improve the organoleptic properties, preferably the mouthfeel, of a beverage prepared from a beverage concentrate, wherein the methyl cellulose and at least one alginate in a weight ratio of 1:5 to 5:1.