Abstract:
Acidified beverages contain an acidulant, a flavor component and a high intensity sweetener mixture of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The beverages exhibit high flavor, low chemical taste, balanced sourness and superior overall blendedness when the ratio of aspartame to acesulfame potassium is from about 4:1 to about 2:1.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 09/186,901, filed Nov. 6, 1998 now abandoned. 
    
    
     CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The subject matter of this case generally relates to that of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/771,096, filed Dec. 20, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,882, issued Nov. 30, 1999, entitled “Sweetener Blends for Raspberry Flavored Beverages” and U.S. Patent Ser. No. 09/072,775, filed May 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,602, issued Nov. 2, 1999, entitled “Method of Formulating Acidified Cola Beverages and Compositions so Formulated”. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This patent relates generally to beverage compositions including high intensity sweeteners, and specifically relates to acidified beverages of tea, lemon, mango, strawberry and cranberry flavors sweetened with a blend of acesulfame potassium and aspartame. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Blends of high intensity sweeteners are known as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,068 to Von Rymon Lipinski el al. Blends of acesulfame K with other high intensity sweeteners tend to exhibit more sucrose-like taste than is otherwise found, although other blends have been disclosed. See U.S. Pat. No. 4,495,170 for blends of chlorodeoxysucroses with a variety of other high intensity sweeteners, as well as U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,189 for blends of saccharin with aspartame and related material. 
     Fruit beverages may include an acidulant, a flavor component as well as a sweetener. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,232 of Keating at Columns 3-4. See also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,541 at Column 7, Example 4; and Abstract of Robert F. Baron and Lisa Hanger (Published July, 1996). 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It has been found that certain acidified beverages exhibit superior sensory characteristics when sweetened with a blend of acesulfame potassium sometimes referred to as acesulfame K and aspartame. Beverages in accordance with the invention are formulated with a flavor component selected from tea, lemon, strawberry, cranberry and mango, a high intensity sweetener mixture of acesulfame potassium and aspartame, an acidulant and water. The acidulant is operative to maintain the pH of the beverage at a pH of about 3 or greater, preferably in the range of 3to about 4. 
     The ratio of aspartame to acesulfame potassium is generally from about 4.5:1 to about 1.5:1 parts by weight, from about 4:1 to about 2:1 being typical. It was unexpectedly found that a ratio of aspartame to acesulfame potassium of 4:1 was particularly preferred for mango beverages while a ratio of 2:1 was particularly preferred for tea, lemon and cranberry beverages. 
     The acidulant, or acid component, may be any suitable acid, such as phosphoric acid; however, malic and citric acid are preferred in accordance with the present beverage formulations. An alkali metal salt of an organic acid may be added if so desired, preferably in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 0.3 percent by weight. Unless otherwise indicated, percentages appearing below refer to weight percentage of the subject formulation. 
     The amount of sweetener used in beverages will vary slightly from flavor to flavor. The total amount of sweetener is related to the required sweetness of the final product. The preferred sweetness of each beverage flavor is a function of the beverage industry and consumer demand. It is generally recognized that products similar to the lemon and mango juice beverages tend to be preferred with sweetener levels of about 400 to about 500 parts per million by weight of sweetener. Other beverages had preferred ranges as follows: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 PREFERRED SWEETENER 
               
               
                   
                 FLAVOR 
                 MIXTURE CONCENTRATION ppm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Tea 
                 250-350 
               
               
                   
                 Strawberry 
                 300-400 
               
               
                   
                 Cranberry 
                 350-450 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In general, it was found that from about 200 to about 500 parts per million by weight of the acesulfame potassium/aspartame sweetener mixture was most suitable. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention is described in detail below in connection with numerous examples which are intended as illustrative only. The invention is defined in the appended claims. 
     Various juice beverages were formulated containing from 5 to 25 percent by weight juice. Different juice levels were used to be representative of juice content in commercially available beverages. Additionally, iced tea beverages were also evaluated. All beverages are formulated to have a pH of 3 or greater. The preferred combinations were those with high flavor scores, low chemical and bitterness scores, high blendedness scores and a balance sour score (less than 5, more than 2). Fruit juice and iced tea beverages were formulated using the ingredients in Table A. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE A 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Ingredients 
               
             
          
           
               
                 FLAVOR COMPONENTS 
                 SUPPLIER 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Flavors 
                   
               
               
                 Mango Melon 341340 
                 Givaudan Roure, Cincinnati, OH 
               
               
                 Kiwi Strawberry 133739 
                 Givaudan-Roure, Cincinnati, OH 
               
               
                 Lemon 9/79K404 
                 Dragoco, Totowa, NJ 
               
               
                 Natural Lemon Oil 3202 
                 Ottens Flavor, Philadelphia, PA 
               
               
                 Cranberry Raspberry 4813173/BM 
                 Bell Flavors, Northbrook, IL 
               
               
                 Tea Extract 8030 
                 Fidco, Solon, OH 
               
               
                 Juice Concentrates 
               
               
                 Mango Puree 15/17 Brix 
                 Gillette, Union, NJ 
               
               
                 Mango 65 Brix 
                 Gillette, Union, NJ 
               
               
                 Strawberry 65 Brix 
                 Kerr, Salem, OR 
               
               
                 Lemon 400 GPL 
                 Gillette, Union, NJ 
               
               
                 Cranberry s50 Brix 
                 Kerr, Salem, OR 
               
               
                 Additional Components 
               
               
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 Nutrinova, Inc., Somerset, NJ 
               
               
                 Aspartame (APM) 
                 Nutrasweet, St. Louis, MO 
               
               
                 Citric Acid 
                 ADM, Decatur, IL 
               
               
                 Malic Acid 
                 Bartek Ingredients Inc., Ontario, 
               
               
                   
                 Canada 
               
               
                 Sodium Citrate 
                 ADM, Decatur, IL 
               
               
                 Sucrose 
                 Mallinckrodt, Paris, KY 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The various beverages are formulated as follows: 
     Mango Melon (10% juice): 
     The mango melon beverage formulations are included in the following table. The sweeteners are defined as ranges, this is a result of the experimental design which required varying sweetener ratios. Additionally, the acid level varied as part of the experimental design, hence a range of citric acid was used in the formulation. 
     The beverage is prepared by mixing the juice concentrate(s), flavors, acid, and water. This mixture is then heated to 180° F., the sweeteners are added and then the beverage is sealed and cooled. The heat processing step was performed to mimic a standard hot filling process which is common in juice and tea beverages. The sweeteners are added after the hot fill to eliminate possible breakdown of aspartame during the heating process. The juice content of this beverage is 10%. Juice content is based on a regulatory definition of single strength juices. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE B 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Mango Beverage Formulations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Mango Concentrate 
                 0.60 
               
               
                   
                 Mango Puree 
                 1.00 
               
               
                   
                 Mango Melon Flavor 
                 0.28 
               
               
                   
                 Citric Acid 
                 0.0-0.28 
               
               
                   
                 Aspartame 
                 0.016-0.05 
               
               
                   
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 0.0-0.016 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance to 100% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Lemonade (10% juice): 
     The lemonade is prepared in similar manner to the mango melon beverage. Flavors, concentrate(s), acid, buffer, and water are mixed and heated, sweeteners are added, and beverage is bottled. The main difference from the previous formulation is the use of a buffer (sodium citrate). The lemon juice concentrate has a very low pH which results in a finished lemonade pH that is too low to fit into the design range of 3 or greater. Therefore the buffer is added to raise the pH. The formulation is outlined in the following table. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE C 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Lemonade Formulations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Lemon Juice Concentrate 
                 0.84 
               
               
                   
                 Flavor 
                 0.08 
               
               
                   
                 Lemon Oil 
                 0.04 
               
               
                   
                 Citric Acid 
                 0.0-0.08 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium Citrate 
                 0.0-.25 
               
               
                   
                 Aspartame 
                 0.016-0.05 
               
               
                   
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 0.0-0.016 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance to 100% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Cranberry Raspberry (25% juice): 
     The Cranberry Raspberry juice is formulated in the same maimer as previously defined. This juice however, contains both malic and citric acid as the acidulant. Combining acids is common practice in beverages. The formulation is outlined below. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE D 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Cranberry Beverage Formulations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Apple Juice Concentrate 
                 1.64 
               
               
                   
                 Raspberry Juice Concentrate 
                 1.06 
               
               
                   
                 Cranberry Juice Concentrate 
                 0.87 
               
               
                   
                 Flavor 
                 1.10 
               
               
                   
                 Malic Acid 
                 0.0-26 
               
               
                   
                 Citric Acid 
                 0.0-0.26 
               
               
                   
                 Sodium Citrate 
                 0.0-.25 
               
               
                   
                 Aspartame 
                 0.016-0.05 
               
               
                   
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 0.0-0.016 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance to 100% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Strawberry Kiwi (5% juice): 
     The Strawberry Kiwi juice beverage is prepared in a similar manner to the previous examples. The formulation for this beverage is detailed in the following table. This beverage includes pectin, which is used to provide viscosity and mouth feel. The pectin is solubilized prior to mixing of other ingredients. Additionally, malic acid is used as the acidulant. Malic acid is often used in juice beverages. The process then followed that previously defined. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE E 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Strawberry Beverage Formulations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Strawberry Juice Concentrate 
                 0.25 
               
               
                   
                 Kiwi Juice Concentrate 
                 0.47 
               
               
                   
                 Apple Juice Concentrate 
                 0.16 
               
               
                   
                 Pectin 
                 0.15 
               
               
                   
                 Flavor 
                 0.10 
               
               
                   
                 Malic Acid 
                 0.0-0.37 
               
               
                   
                 Aspartame 
                 0.0165-0.045 
               
               
                   
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 0.0-0.0165 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance to 100% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Iced Tea 
     The Iced Tea is prepared by blending dry ingredients (maltodextrin, tea powder, tea essence, malic acid, and flavor) with water. The mixture is heated to 180° F., sweeteners are added and the mixture is bottled. The formulation is outlined in the following table. Malic acid is selected as the acidulant because it is a common acid in iced tea beverages. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE F 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Iced Tea Formulations 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Ingredient 
                 % 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Maltodextrin 
                 2.34 
               
               
                   
                 Tea Powder 
                 0.21 
               
               
                   
                 Tea Essence 
                 0.032 
               
               
                   
                 Flavor 
                 0.008 
               
               
                   
                 Malic Acid 
                 0.24-0.32 
               
               
                   
                 Aspartame 
                 0.015-0.045 
               
               
                   
                 Acesulfame Potassium 
                 0.0-0.015 
               
               
                   
                 Water 
                 Balance to 100% 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Beverages formulated as above with different levels of sweetener (sucrose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium) acid (malic, citric) and buffer (sodium citrate) are evaluated by trained panels of 6-8. The beverages are evaluated for their flavor components, sweeteners, sour, chemical and blendedness. The melon mango beverages are also evaluated for astringency, however this property does not vary significantly in most cases. 
     Standard references (Meilgaard et al.,  Sensory Evaluation Techniques , CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Fla., 1990, 1991) for flavor (universal scale) and taste (basic) attributes are used. A 15 cm line scale is used in accordance with Chapter 8. See Table G hereafter for reference values. 
     Results for the various beverages are set forth in Tables 1-5 hereafter appearing. 
     Table 1 includes the results for some of the more important flavor characteristics for Mango Melon beverages formulated as above. The 10.0% sucrose sample can be considered a bench mark of what the optimum beverage would be. The tables also include an all aspartame (sometimes referred to herein as “APM”) sweetened beverage. Additionally, all other samples have comparable scores for flavors, chemical, and blendedness. The sour levels could also be considered balanced. 
     Table 2 includes the results for some of the more important flavor characteristics for lemonade beverages formulated as above. This product formulation is somewhat different from others in that the juice concentrates are providing high levels of acid. This results in a pH that is out of the desirable range. Sodium citrate is used as a buffer to get the proper pH. The optimum sample for this test could be considered the 162.5 ppm Sunett®/300 ppm APM/0.1 Sodium Citrate. This sample has one of the lowest chemical scores and the highest blended score (with the exception of the sucrose sample). All other characteristics are close to the bench mark scores. All other Sunett®/APM samples also had very good number in comparison to the bench mark. The 100% APM sample had a slightly higher chemical score than any of the blends. 
     Table 3 includes the results for some of the more important flavor characteristics for Cranberry Raspberry beverages formulated as above. Of the Sunett®/APM samples, the 125 ppm Sunett®/195 ppm APM/0.13 Malic/0.13 Citric performed the best. 
     Table 4 contains the sensory results for Strawberry Kiwi beverages formulated as above. Of the blends evaluated the 112.5 Sunett®/242.5 APM/0.185% malic is considered the most optimized for the flavor characteristics defined below. 
     Table 5 includes mean scores for flavor characteristics that are considered important for Iced Tea Beverages formulated as above. The optimal sample from this test is defined as the one with 90 ppm Sunett®/190 APM/0.22% Malic. This sample is very similar to the sucrose bench mark for all characteristics. It received moderate tea scores, with a slight lemon note, chemical is among the lowest observed, and the product is similar in blended with the sucrose sample and slightly higher than the APM sample. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE G 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Term 
                 Definition 
                 Reference 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Fruit/Tea 
                 The flavor associated with the 
                 Universal Scale* 
               
               
                   
                 component. 
               
               
                 Sweet 
                 The basic taste associated with 
                 Sucrose in water at 
               
               
                   
                 sucrose. 
                 various concentrations 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2.0% = 2, 5.0% = 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5, 10.0% = 10 
               
               
                 Chemical 
                 The general perception of a 
                 0.25 gram of saccharin 
               
               
                   
                 chemical characteristic, giving 
                 in 500 ml of water = 8 
               
               
                   
                 a “flat” taste, does not 
               
               
                   
                 include medicinal or antiseptic. 
               
               
                 Sour 
                 The basic taste associated with 
                 Citric acid in water 
               
               
                   
                 citric acid. 
                 at various concen- 
               
               
                   
                   
                 trations 0.50 g/L = 2, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.80 g/L = 5, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 1.5 g/L = 10, 
               
               
                   
                   
                 2.0 g/L = 15.0 
               
               
                 Astringency 
                 The combination of sensations, 
                 Alum 
               
               
                   
                 dominated by a dry mouth, teeth 
                 0.50 g in 500 ml of 
               
               
                   
                 coating, furry tongue, and some 
                 water = 6 
               
               
                   
                 puckering. 
                 1.0 g in 500 ml of 
               
               
                   
                   
                 water = 10 
               
               
                 Blendedness 
                 Measure of how well flavors fit. 
                 15 cm scale* 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *References for flavor are from the “Universal Scale”, wherein the lemon flavor in lemon frosting = 2; the milk flavor in whole milk = 5; the orange flavor in orange juice = 7.5; the grape flavor in grape juice = 10; the cinnamon flavor in cinnamon gum = 12; the coffee flavor in espresso coffee = 14. A score of 15 for blendedness indicates well balanced and no off-taste.  
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener and Acid Levels Used in a Mango Melon Juice Beverage (10.0% Juice) 
               
               
                 Mean ± Std. Dev. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Citric 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sunett 
                 APM 
                 Sugar 
                 Acid 
               
               
                 (ppm) 
                 (ppm) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 pH 
                 Melon 
                 Mango 
                 Sweet 
                 Sour 
                 Chemical 
                 Astringency 
                 Blendedness 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 75.0 
                 162.5 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 4 
                 6.3 ± 1.1 
                 3.4 ± 1.2 
                 9.0 ± 1.0 
                 2.7 ± 1.4 
                 2.7 ± 1.2 
                 2.5 ± 1.3 
                 10.8 ± 1.2 
               
               
                 162.5 
                 162.5 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 4 
                 6.5 ± 1.4 
                 3.7 ± 1.9 
                 9.2 ± 1.1 
                 2.3 ± 1.4 
                 2.7 ± 1.2 
                 2.9 ± 0.4 
                 10.6 ± 1.8 
               
               
                 75.0 
                 300.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 4 
                 6.7 ± 1.0 
                 3.8 ± 1.6 
                 9.5 ± 0.8 
                 2.5 ± 0.8 
                 2.8 ± 0.6 
                 2.5 ± 1.0 
                 10.9 ± 0.5 
               
               
                 162.5 
                 300.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 4 
                 6.9 ± 1.5 
                 3.5 ± 1.0 
                 9.8 ± 1.1 
                 2.1 ± 1.2 
                 2.6 ± 1.8 
                 1.8 ± 1.2 
                  9.9 ± 1.4 
               
               
                 119.0 
                 231.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 6.6 ± 1.1 
                 3.1 ± 1.7 
                 9.6 ± 1.0 
                 2.9 ± 1.4 
                 2.9 ± 1.2 
                 3.2 ± 0.9 
                 10.0 ± 1.4 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 500.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 6.2 ± 1.5 
                 2.9 ± 2.2 
                 9.6 ± 0.8 
                 2.8 ± 0.9 
                 3.0 ± 1.3 
                 3.1 ± 0.6 
                  9.8 ± 1.2 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 10.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 7.0 ± 0.9 
                 3.7 ± 1.2 
                 9.8 ± 1.1 
                 2.8 ± 0.7 
                 1.6 ± 1.8 
                 3.1 ± 0.6 
                 11.4 ± 1.7 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener and Acid Levels Used in a Lemon Beverage (Lemonade) (10% Juice) 
               
               
                 Mean ± Std. Dev. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Citric 
                 Sodium 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sunett 
                 APM 
                 Sugar 
                 Acid 
                 Citrate 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Imm 
               
               
                 (ppm) 
                 (ppm) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 pH 
                 Lemon 
                 Sweet 
                 Sour 
                 Bitter 
                 Chem 
                 Blend 
                 Chem 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 75.0 
                 162.5 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.25 
                 4 
                 6.4 ± 0.9 
                   9 ± 0.59 
                 3.2 ± 0.8 
                 1.9 ± 1.5 
                 1.0 ± 1.2 
                 8.7 ± 1.8 
                 1.3 ± 1.2 
               
               
                 162.5 
                 162.5 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.25 
                 4 
                 6.7 ± 0.9 
                  9.6 ± 0.80 
                 3.1 ± 0.8 
                 1.5 ± 1.4 
                 2.0 ± 1.6 
                 8.8 ± 2.2 
                 2.2 ± 1.4 
               
               
                 75.0 
                 300.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.25 
                 4 
                 6.8 ± 0.9 
                  9.8 ± 0.53 
                 3.3 ± 0.7 
                 2.2 ± 0.9 
                 2.3 ± 0.9 
                 9.1 ± 2.1 
                 2.4 ± 0.9 
               
               
                 162.5 
                 300.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.25 
                 4 
                 7.2 ± 1.0 
                 10.6 ± 0.54 
                 3.2 ± 0.7 
                 1.8 ± 1.0 
                 1.0 ± 1.6 
                 9.9 ± 2.3 
                 1.3 ± 1.6 
               
               
                 119.0 
                 231.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 7.2 ± 1.4 
                   10 ± 0.57 
                 3.5 ± 0.7 
                 2.0 ± 0.9 
                 1.9 ± 1.2 
                 9.4 ± 1.3 
                 2.1 ± 1.2 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 500.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 7.3 ± 1.5 
                  9.7 ± 0.81 
                 3.2 ± 0.8 
                 1.3 ± 1.3 
                 2.6 ± 0.8 
                 9.6 ± 2.2 
                 2.5 ± 0.5 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 10.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.1 
                 3.25 
                 7.6 ± 0.9 
                   10 ± 0.74 
                 3.7 ± 0.7 
                 2.0 ± 0.8 
                 0.5 ± 1.0 
                 11.8 ± 2.1  
                 0.3 ± 0.8 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener and Acid Levels Used in a Cranberry Raspberry beverage (25% Juice) 
               
               
                 Mean ± Std. Dev. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Malic 
                 Citric 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sunett 
                 APM 
                 Sucrose 
                 Acid 
                 Acid 
               
               
                 (ppm) 
                 (ppm) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 pH 
                 Cranberry 
                 Raspberry 
                 Sweet 
                 Sour 
                 Bitter 
                 Chemical 
                 Blend 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 150.0 
                 150.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.00 
                 0.00 
                 3.5 
                 1.0 ± 1.4 
                 6.2 ± 1.5 
                 9.3 ± 0.7 
                 2.2 ± 1.0 
                 0.8 ± 1.1 
                 2.2 ± 0.9 
                 6.4 ± 2.9 
               
               
                 100.0 
                 240.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.00 
                 0.00 
                 3.5 
                 1.0 ± 1.3 
                 5.4 ± 1.7 
                 9.4 ± 0.4 
                 2.4 ± 0.3 
                 0.6 ± 1.0 
                 2.4 ± 0.6 
                 6.5 ± 1.0 
               
               
                 125.0 
                 195.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.13 
                 0.13 
                 3.0 
                 3.7 ± 1.9 
                 5.2 ± 1.4 
                 8.5 ± 1.1 
                 3.1 ± 0.8 
                 1.0 ± 1.1 
                 1.9 ± 0.9 
                 7.5 ± 1.4 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 450.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.13 
                 0.13 
                 3.0 
                 2.9 ± 3.3 
                 5.8 ± 1.2 
                 9.3 ± 0.3 
                 2.8 ± 0.4 
                 0.7 ± 1.1 
                 2.1 ± 0.8 
                 7.7 ± 1.1 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 9.0 
                 0.13 
                 0.13 
                 3.0 
                 4.1 ± 2.4 
                 5.4 ± 2.6 
                 9.1 ± 0.6 
                 3.0 ± 0.5 
                 0.5 ± 0.9 
                 1.4 ± 1.1 
                 9.1 ± 1.5 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener and Acid Levels Used in a Strawberry Kiwi beverage (5% Juice) 
               
               
                 Mean ± Std. Dev. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Malic 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sunett 
                 APM 
                 Sucrose 
                 Acid 
               
               
                 (ppm) 
                 (ppm) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 pH 
                 Strawberry 
                 Kiwi 
                 Sweet 
                 Sour 
                 Chem. 
                 Blend 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 165.0 
                 165.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 3.5 
                 5.8 ± 1.2 
                 0.8 ± 1.7 
                 10.4 ± 0.3 
                 2.6 ± 0.8 
                 1.8 ± 1.2 
                 6.7 ± 0.5 
               
               
                 60.0 
                 320.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 3.5 
                 4.6 ± 1.8 
                 0.5 ± 1.0 
                 10.0 ± 0.2 
                 3.2 ± 1.3 
                 1.7 ± 1.2 
                 7.7 ± 0.6 
               
               
                 112.5 
                 242.5 
                 0.0 
                 0.185 
                 3.25 
                 6.9 ± 0.5 
                 2.8 ± 1.9 
                 10.3 ± 0.4 
                 3.5 ± 0.7 
                 2.1 ± 1.0 
                 8.3 ± 1.0 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 450.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.185 
                 3.25 
                 6.9 ± 0.6 
                 4.5 ± 0.9 
                  9.0 ± 1.1 
                 3.6 ± 0.5 
                 1.9 ± 1.3 
                 8.3 ± 0.9 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 9.0 
                 0.185 
                 3.25 
                 7.2 ± 0.5 
                 3.8 ± 1.2 
                  9.8 ± 0.4 
                 3.5 ± 0.8 
                 1.2 ± 1.4 
                 9.7 ± 1.8 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Sweetener and Acid Levels Used in an Iced Tea Beverage 
               
               
                 Mean ± Std. Dev. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Malic 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 Sunett 
                 APM 
                 Sucrose 
                 Acid 
               
               
                 (ppm) 
                 (ppm) 
                 (%) 
                 (%) 
                 pH 
                 Tea 
                 Lemon 
                 Chemical 
                 Sweet 
                 Sour 
                 Bitter 
                 Blendedness 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 60.0 
                 120.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.38 
                 3.0 
                 6.4 ± 0.9 
                 1.6 ± 2.0 
                 1.2 ± 1.4 
                  7.6 ± 1.6 
                 6.4 ± 1.9 
                 2.0 ± 0.8 
                 6.6 ± 1.7 
               
               
                 120.0 
                 120.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.06 
                 4.0 
                 6.5 ± 0.7 
                 1.5 ± 1.6 
                 2.0 ± 1.3 
                  9.4 ± 1.1 
                 2.3 ± 1.0 
                 2.2 ± 0.3 
                 8.5 ± 2.5 
               
               
                 60.0 
                 260.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.06 
                 4.0 
                 6.4 ± 0.8 
                 0.4 ± 1.1 
                 2.6 ± 0.3 
                 10.0 ± 0.5 
                 2.4 ± 1.2 
                 1.7 ± 1.1 
                 8.5 ± 2.3 
               
               
                 120.0 
                 260.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.38 
                 3.0 
                 6.7 ± 0.7 
                 3.1 ± 1.6 
                 2.2 ± 1.0 
                  9.3 ± 1.2 
                 4.8 ± 1.2 
                 2.1 ± 0.9 
                 7.1 ± 1.2 
               
               
                 90.0 
                 190.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.22 
                 3.25 
                 6.7 ± 0.8 
                 2.6 ± 1.8 
                 2.3 ± 1.2 
                  9.3 ± 0.8 
                 3.7 ± 0.9 
                 1.7 ± 1.0 
                 8.5 ± 1.6 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 400.0 
                 0.0 
                 0.22 
                 3.25 
                 7.1 ± 0.4 
                 2.1 ± 1.7 
                 2.6 ± 1.1 
                  9.1 ± 1.1 
                 4.3 ± 1.7 
                 2.1 ± 0.1 
                 8.1 ± 1.4 
               
               
                 0.0 
                 0.0 
                 8.0 
                 0.22 
                 3.25 
                 6.7 ± 0.4 
                 3.1 ± 0.9 
                 1.1 ± 1.2 
                  9.5 ± 0.5 
                 3.8 ± 0.9 
                 0.8 ± 1.1 
                 9.1 ± 1.4