Compositions comprising glycosylated small molecule weight steviol glycosides (G-SMW-SGs) and glycosylated small molecule weight steviol glycoside Maillard reaction products (G-SMW-SG-MRPs) are described. These compositions provide improved taste profiles and can be used as sweeteners or a flavorants in consumable products, including foods and beverages.

The invention relates to recombinant microorganisms and methods for producing steviol glycosides and steviol glycoside precursors.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a comestible product, in particular a fermented beverage containing stevia extract. A further aspect of the invention is a comestible product obtainable by the method of the invention.

A taste and flavor profile modifying composition is described. The composition includes a blend of glycosylated steviol glycosides and residual steviol glycosides which can modify the intensity of a taste and/or flavor in a food or beverage product.

Disclosed are sweetened consumables and methods of forming said sweetened consumables that comprise certain sweeteners and at least one sweetness enhancer in a concentration near its sweetness detection threshold. The sweeteners include sucrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, inositol, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, sucralose, saccharine, or combinations thereof. The sweetness enhancer is selected from naringin dihydrochalcone, mogroside V, swingle extract, rubusoside, rubus extract, rebaudioside, and stevioside.

A taste and flavor profile modifying composition is described. The composition includes a blend of glucosylated steviol glycosides and residual steviol glycosides which can modify the intensity of a taste and/or flavor in a food or beverage product.

Aldehydes of formula (I) (X represents an alkyl or alkenyl group having up to 9 carbon atoms) for use in taste modulation and/or flavor compositions are provided. Specifically, the compounds of the presently disclosed subject matter provide effective and unexpected taste modulating properties. The taste modulation and/or flavor compositions can be incorporated into various consumer end products in particular in combination with high intensity sweeteners. ##STR00001##

Methods of preparing novel steviol glycosides are described herein. The methods utilize biocatalysts for converting a starting steviol glycoside to a target steviol glycoside. Compositions and consumables comprising said novel steviol glycosides as well as methods of purifying and using said novel steviol glycosides, are also provided.

Various ingredients and compositions are prepared from Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant. The compositions can be used as bulking agents, and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

A process for producing a dried product, optionally in the form of a flake, the process comprising (a) combining an active ingredient with a carrier, and an optional stabilizer, to create a wet mixture, wherein the active ingredient and carrier are in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:250 in the wet mixture; (b) spreading the wet mixture on a belt of a thin film belt dryer with a belt temperature in the range of about 60° C.-92° C.; and (c) drying the mixture to produce a dried product with less than about 7% moisture, optionally about 2-5% moisture, and a water activity of about 0.15 and about 0.65; as well as a dried product that can be produced by the method, and related methods and compositions.