In-line and in-container flavor/additive dosing method and system for beverage manufacturing

A method for producing a variety of hot filled different flavored beverages from a single base batch comprising:

• providing a base batch for a beverage;
• thermally processing said base batch to a degree adequate to stabilize microbiologically to the flavored beverage and hot filling said base batch into a container;
• adding a flavor component to said base batch in said container to form a flavored beverage, wherein a variety of different flavor components can be added to said base batch to form different flavored beverages;
• and
• capping said container after adding said flavor component,
• wherein said flavored beverage is an isotonic beverage and wherein said formulating of the master batch base comprises combining water, electrolytes and a sweetener.

A method for producing a flavored beverage comprising:

• adding a flavor component to a container, said flavor component being selected from a plurality of flavor components suitable for incorporating into the beverage;
• combining base ingredients of said flavored beverage, except said flavor component, to form a master batch base;
• and
• thermally processing said master batch base to a degree adequate to stabilize microbiologically to said flavored beverage and hot filling said master batch base into said container containing said flavor component to produce a flavored beverage,
• wherein said flavored beverage is an isotonic beverage and wherein said formulating of the master batch base comprises combining water, electrolytes and a sweetener.

A system for producing a variety of flavored beverages from a single master base batch comprising:

• a master batch forming location for combining all base ingredients of the flavored beverage, except for a flavor component, to form a master batch base;
• a thermal unit for heat processing said master batch base to thermally processed master batch base;
• a hot filler for hot filling a container with said thermally processed master batch base;
• and
• a dosing device for adding at least one selected flavor component from a variety of different flavor components to said container in order to form a beverage having one of said variety of different flavor components from the same master batch,
• wherein said flavored beverage is an isotonic beverage and wherein said formulating of the master batch base comprises combining water, electrolytes and a sweetener.

The method for producing a flavored beverage comprising:

• combining components needed for formulating a flavored beverage, exclusive of a flavor component, to form a master base;
• thermally processing said master base to a degree adequate to stabilize microbiologically the flavored beverage being produced;
• adding said flavor component to a container while substantially simultaneously hot filling said master base into said container to produce a flavored beverage;
• and
• sealing said container after said adding the flavor component and hot filling,
• wherein said flavored beverage is an isotonic beverage and wherein said formulating of the master batch base comprises combining water, electrolytes and a sweetener.