Process of preparing hard confectionery products containing mainly xylitol

Abstract: This invention relates to a hard confectionery product mainly composed of xylitol, i.e. it contains at least 45 to 65% by weight of xylitol. The invention also relates to a process of preparing said hard con­ fectionery product by heating a mixture containing 5 to 20% by weight of xylitol, 85 to 70% by weight of maltitol or lactitol, less than 15% by weight of other sugar alcohols, and small amounts of water, to a temperature of from 170 to 175°C ; allowing the resulting melt to cool to a temperature ranging between 105 and 120° C; subsequently rapidly adding to the melt 30 to 60% by weight of powdered xylitol, counted on the amount of the melt, while mixing carefully; and final­ ly shaping the obtained mixture into a confectionery product, such as a sweet.

Description: The invention relates to hard confectionery products, such as sweets, containing mainly xylitol and a process of perparing such products. Traditionally, hard sweets have been prepared by concentrating solutions containing mainly saccharose and glucose syrup to a low water content. The product so obtained has a "glass-like" structure. In this specification, the term "traditional structure" is intended to mean such a glass-like (amorphous) structure, which can soften quickly in the mouth. Such structure results in a particular palatability, i.e. feeling the mouth. Since both saccharose and glucose syrup are good sources of energy for bacteria causing dental caries, attempts have been made to replace such substances by more tooth-friendly substances, such as sorbitol and above all xylitol. However, it has proved difficult to prepare hard sweets containing a high amount of xylitol. US-A-3,914,434 and FR-A-2339345 (corresponding to US-A-4,134,999) dislcose that xylitol can be used to replace a part or all of sugars such as sucrose and glucose in foods with a high sugar content. FI-A-61 265 discloses a process of preparing hard sweets containing xylitol. In this prior art method, powdered xylitol is added to melted xylitol in an amount of 10 to 30% by weight, counted on the total amount of the confectionery material, at a temperature not greater than approximately the melting point of xylitol (96°C). The resultant melt is poured into moulds and allowed to cool; thus the prior art process is not continuous. In addition, the prior art process is technically difficult and its industrial application has not been possible. The present invention provides a process of preparing a hard confectionery product containing at least 45 to 65% by weight of xylitol, characterised by heating a mixture containing (a) 5 to 20 % by weight of xylitol, (b) 85 to 70% by weight of lactitol or maltitol and less than 15% by weight of other sugar alcohols, or a maltitol syrup containing less than 8% of sorbitol and at least 60 to 65% of maltitol and (c) a small amount of water, to a temperature of from 170 to 175°C to form a melt; allowing the resulting melt to cool to a temperature ranging from 105 to 120°C, preferably from 110 to 115°C; rapidly, preferably within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, subsequently adding to the melt 30 to 60% by weight of powdered xylitol based upon the amount of the melt, while mixing; whereby the temperature should not exceed 96°C during mixing; and finally shaping the obtained mixture into a confectionery product, such as a sweet. The process may be continuous. Preferably a process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture which is heated contains (a) 7 to 10% by weight of xylitol, (b) 80 to 75% by weight of lactitol or maltitol and less than 15% by weight of other sugar alcohols, or a maltitol syrup containing less than 8% of sorbitol and at least 60 to 65% of maltitol and (c) a small amount of water; allowing the resulting melt to cool to a temperature from 110 to 115°C; subsequently 35 to 55% by weight, preferably 50 to 55% by weight of powdered xylitol, based upon the amount of the melt is added to the melt, preferably in an extruder mixer; and prior to the shaping step cooling the resultant mixture to a temperature clearly below 96°C. The confectionery product obtainable according to the invention preferably contains 50 to 55% by weight of xylitol. The product can be flavoured by means of aromatic substances known per se in the preparation of confectionery. Preferably, the product has a xylitol coating. The moulding machine may be a rolling machine, a filled-sweet production line, and a toffee, cutting and wrapping machine. The maltitol is preferably derived from maltitol syrup such as "Finnmalt" or "Melida" (registered trade marks), but it is also possible to use crystalline maltitol, or sugar alcohol mixtures containing mainly maltitol, such as "Palatinit" and "Lycasin" (registered trade marks), which contain less than about 8% of sorbitol, 60 to 90% of maltitol, and 10 to 40% of other sugar alcohols. The lactitol used is preferably a lactitol monohydrate or a lactitol dihydrate. The additon and mixing of powdered xylitol can be carried out e.g. in a Z mixer or in an extruder mixer. The following Examples illustrate the present invention. Example 1 A mixture containing 1280 g of maltitol syrup ("Finnmalt"; containing less than 8% of sorbitol, 60 to 65% of maltitol, and 30 to 35% of other sugar alcohols; dry susbtance content 75 +/- 1%, manufacturer Finnsugar Ltd, or the like) and 120 g of xylitol was heated to 175°C, whereafter it was cooled to 115°C. The humidity of the mixture was thereby 1.3%. At this point, 980 g of powdered xylitol and 4 ml of mint aroma were added rapidly to the mixture while mixing carefully; the temperature of the resulting mixture was about 62°C. The mixture was allowed to cool to about 40°C, whereafter the mass was shaped in a cold rolling machine, and wrapped. Example 2 A mixture containing 700 g of maltitol and 200 g of xylitol and small amounts of water was heated to 170°C, whereafter the mixture was cooled to 112°C. Thereby the humidity of the mixture was 1.3%. At this point, 1100 g of powdered xylitol and 4 ml of mint aroma were added rapidly to the mixture while mixing carefully, the temperature of the resulting mixture being maintained below 65°C. Thereafter the mixture was cooled to about 42°C, and the mass was shaped in a cold rolling machine and the shaped product was wrapped. Example 3 A mixture containing 700 g of lactitol and 200 g of xylitol and small amounts of water was heated to 170°C, whereafter the mixture was cooled to 112°C. Thereby the humidity of the mixture was 1.3%. At this point, 1100 g of powdered xylitol and 4 ml of mint aroma were added rapidly to the mixture while mixing carefully, the temperature of the resulting mixture being maintained below 65°C. Thereafter the mixture was cooled to about 42°C, and the mass was shaped in a cold rolling machine and the shaped product was wrapped. Example 4 The shaped product obtained as described in Example 1, 2 or 3, was coated before wrapping. In a coating vessel, the product was treated at 75°C with a xylitol syrup (the syrup was prepared by mixing 16.5 kg xylitol and 7.3 l water at 120°C and by adding a gum arabicum solution (50% gum arabicum and 50% water; 70°C) as well as colours and aromas). Xylitol powder was added, whereby hard dragees were obtained. This coating step was repeated twice. After drying and glossing the product was wrapped.

Claims: A process of preparing a hard confectionery product containing at least 45 to 65% by weight of xylitol, characterised by heating a mixture containing (a) 5 to 20 % by weight of xylitol, (b) 85 to 70% by weight of lactitol or maltitol and less than 15% by weight of other sugar alcohols, or a maltitol syrup containing less than 8% of sorbitol and at least 60 to 65% of maltitol and (c) a small amount of water, to a temperature of from 170 to 175°C to form a melt; allowing the resulting melt to cool to a temperature ranging from 105 to 120°C, preferably from 110 to 115°C; rapidly, preferably within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, subsequently adding to the melt 30 to 60% by weight of powdered xylitol based upon the amount of the melt, while mixing; whereby the temperature should not exceed 96°C during mixing; and finally shaping the obtained mixture into a confectionery product, such as a sweet. A process according to claim 1, wherein the mixture which is heated contains (a) 7 to 10% by weight of xylitol, (b) 80 to 75% by weight of lactitol or maltitol and less than 15% by weight of other sugar alcohols, or a maltitol syrup containing less than 8% of sorbitol and at least 60 to 65% of maltitol and (c) a small amount of water; allowing the resulting melt to cool to a temperature from 110 to 115°C; subsequently 35 to 55% by weight, preferably 50 to 55% by weight of powdered xylitol, based upon the amount of the melt is added to the melt, preferably in an extruder mixer; and prior to the shaping step cooling the resultant mixture to a temperature clearly below 96°C. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the hard confectionery product contains from 50 to 55% by weight of xylitol.

Inventors: KOEHLER HORST, KOEHLER, HORST, Köhler, Horst
Applicants: HUHTAMAEKI OY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G3