Storage stable calcium-supplemented beverage premix concentrates and syrups

Abstract

This invention relates to storage stable beverage premix concentrates for preparing syrups, beverages and food compositions which are nutritionally supplemented with significant levels of calcium and to a method for preparing these concentrates. Further, this application relates to beverage flavor base compositions for preparing said beverage premix concentrates and to a method for preparing the beverage flavor base compositions. The beverage concentrates have a greater than 10 fold concentration and comprise: (a) from about 1.2% to about 7%, by weight, solubilized calcium; (b) from about 4.8% to about 47%, by weight, of an edible acid component comprising a mixture of citric acid and malic acid wherein the ratio of citric and malic equivalents to calcium equivalents is from about 1.5:1 to about 2:1 and the ratio of citric acid to malic acid equivalents is from about 3:97 to about 93:7; (c) from about 0% to about 4%, by weight, of an acidic anion component selected from the group consisting of chloride anion, nitrate anion, sulfate ion and mixtures thereof; (d) an effective amount of a flavor component; and (e) from about 5% to about 70% sugar, on a dry weight basis; (f) from about 8% to about 40%, by weight, water; wherein the weight ratio of said acid component to said solubilized calcium is from about 4 to about 7 and said beverage concentrate has a pH of less than or equal to about 4.5, preferably less than or equal to about 3.5. These beverage concentrates are stable at temperatures of greater than about 85.degree. F. (29.degree. C.), preferably 90.degree. F. (32.degree. C.), for at least about 4 hours, preferably at least about 3 days.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.