Protein beverage and protein beverage concentrate and methods of making the same

A protein beverage concentrated powder composition suitable for reconstitution to generate a beverage suitable for human consumption, comprising:

• about 0% by weight to about 100% by weight juice in the form of a dried juice powder concentrate;
• about 0.05% by weight to about 90% by weight protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder may be diluted with a liquid to prepare a protein beverage suitable for human consumption and wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder may be used by an individual, in a food services beverage dispenser, or in a bottling plant.

A method of making a protein beverage concentrated syrup composition suitable for dilution to generate a beverage suitable for human consumption, comprising:

• admixing a juice concentrate having a Brix value of about 20° Brix to about 75° Brix, to achieve a percent by weight of juice concentrate of about 0% by weight to about 60% by weight and a protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose, to achieve a percent by weight of protein in the admixture of about 10% by weight to about 75% by weight, thereby obtaining an admixture;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated syrup is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• packaging said protein beverage concentrated syrup in a container which may be stored at room temperature.

A method of making a protein beverage concentrated powder composition suitable for reconstitution to generate a beverage suitable for human consumption, comprising:

• admixing a dried juice powder concentrate to achieve a percent by weight of juice concentrate of about 0% by weight to about 100% by weight and a protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose, to achieve a percent by weight of protein in the admixture of about 0.05% by weight to about 90% by weight, thereby obtaining an admixture,
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder is essentially free of lactose and hydrolyzed lactose;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder is suitable for dilution with a liquid to prepare a protein beverage suitable for human consumption and wherein said protein beverage concentrated powder may be used by an individual, in a food services beverage dispenser, or in a bottling plant.

A protein beverage concentrated syrup composition suitable for dilution to generate a beverage suitable for human consumption, comprising:

• about 0% by weight to about 60% by weight juice concentrate, wherein said juice concentrate has a Brix value of about 20° Brix to about 75° Brix;
• about 0.05% by weight to about 75% by weight protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated syrup is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• wherein both, at the time of packaging of the protein beverage concentrated syrup and during subsequent storage without refrigeration, substantial solubility of the protein is maintained in the protein beverage concentrated syrup, and wherein said protein beverage concentrated syrup is essentially free of pathogenic microbes known to be harmful to human health, both at the time of packaging of the protein beverage concentrated syrup and during subsequent storage.

A method of making a protein beverage concentrated syrup composition suitable for dilution to generate a beverage suitable for human consumption, comprising:

• admixing a juice concentrate having a Brix value of about 20° Brix to about 90° Brix, to achieve a percent by weight of juice concentrate of about 0% by weight to about 60% by weight and a protein, wherein said protein is essentially free of lactose, to achieve a percent by weight of protein in the admixture of about 0.05% by weight to about 75% by weight, thereby obtaining an admixture;
• and
• wherein said protein beverage concentrated syrup is essentially free of lactose;
• and
• packaging said protein beverage concentrated syrup in a container which may be stored at room temperature.