Sweet Talk From PureCircle USA
posted on June 9, 2009
Natural sweeteners derived from the Stevia plant have been making headlines in recent months, and Pure Circle, a supplier of the Stevia extract Rebaudioside A (Reb A), addressed some key issues involved in formulating with this high-profile ingredient at a press conference held on Monday, June 8.
According to the company, Reb A still has some bitterness and aftertaste, although the more highly purified the extract is, the less bitter it will be. Formulating with Reb A may require the use of flavor modifiers, and the use of these flavor modifiers depends on the application, the purity level of the Reb A extract (95% vs 98%, for instance), and how much sugar a formulator wants to replace in the application.
Potential Reb A applications include table-top sweeteners, dairy, snack bars, confectionery, seafood, jams, and sauces. In some applications like confectionery, Reb A must be used with a bulking agent to replace the bulk of sugar or it may be used with some sugar in low-calorie products.
PureCircle markets Reb A under the brand name PureVia. For more insights into formulating with Stevia, visit PureCircle USA at Booth 1275.