A NATURAL SWEETENING COMPOSITION OF LUO HAN GUO AND APPLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 100 m and Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 1 m and use in beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic, veterinary or tobacco products thereof.

Claims

1. A natural sweetening composition comprising: a) Apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 100 m, and b) Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 1 m.

2. The natural sweetening composition of claim 1, comprising: a) Apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) is between 100 and 500 m, and b) Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) is between 1 and 50 m.

3. The natural sweetening composition of claim 1, comprising: a) Apple concentrate having a particle size ratio of (d50) to (d90) which is between 0.30 and 0.80, and b) Luo Han Guo concentrate having a particle size ratio of (d50) to (d90) which is between 0.20 and 0.70.

4. The natural sweetening composition of claim 1, comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate wherein the particle size ratio of d(50) of Luo Han Guo concentrate to apple concentrate is between 0.01 to 0.1.

5. The natural sweetening composition of claim 1, further comprising inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar, lactose, locust bean gum; rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, isomogroside V, 11-oxomogroside, steviol glycosides, stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, mogroside VI, siamenoside, monatin and its salts (monatin SS, RR, RS, SR), curculin, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, mabinlin, brazzein, hernandulein, phyllodulcin, glycyphyllin, phloridzim, trilobatin, baiyunoside, osladin, polypodoside A, pterocaryoside A, pterocaryoside B, mukurozioside, phlomisoside I, periandrin I, abrusoside A, cyclocarioside I; a sweetener which is extracted from the group consisting of Stevia rebaudiana, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Siraitia grosvenorii; sucrose, liquid sucrose, glucose, liquid glucose, fructose, liquid fructose, dextrose, galactose, lactulose, lactose, cellobiose, kojibiose, nigerose, isomaltose, .beta., .beta.-trehalose, .alpha., .beta.-trehalose, tagatose, sophorose, laminaribiose, gentiobiose, turanose, maltose, maltulose, palatinose, gentiobiulose, mannobiose, melibiose, melibiulose, rhamnose, ribose, rutinose, rutinulose, trehalose, xylobiose, xylose, corn syrups, fructo-oligosaccharides; erythritol, glycol, glycerol, threitol, arabitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, dulcitol, iditol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, polyglycitol; apple skin extract (applephenon) or mixtures thereof.

6. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate and inuline.

7. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate and erythritol.

8. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate and coconut sugar.

9. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate and lactose.

10. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate and locust bean gum.

11. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline and erythritol.

12. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol and coconut sugar.

13. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol and locust bean gum.

14. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar and lactose.

15. The natural sweetening composition of claim 5, wherein the composition comprises apple concentrate, Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar, lactose and locust bean gum.

16. A beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic or veterinary product comprising a natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo.

17. The beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic or veterinary product of claim 16, wherein said product is solid, liquid or semisolid.

18. The beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic or veterinary product of claim 17, wherein: said beverage is selected from the group consisting of colas, ginger ales, root beers, ciders, fruit-flavored soft drinks, powdered soft drinks or mixtures thereof; fruit juices originating in fruits or vegetables, fruit juices including squeezed juices or mixtures thereof, fruit juices containing fruit particles, fruit beverages, fruit juice beverages, beverages containing fruit juices, beverages with fruit flavorings, vegetable juices, juices containing vegetables, and mixed juices containing fruits and vegetables; drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, near water or mixtures thereof; tea type or favorite type beverages which are coffee, cocoa, chocolate, black tea, green tea, oolong tea or mixtures thereof; beverages containing milk components which are milk beverages, coffee containing milk components, cafe au lait, milk tea, fruit milk beverages, drinkable yogurt, lactic acid bacteria beverages or mixtures thereof; dairy products; alcoholic beverages which are wine, beer, cider; distilled beverages which are spirit, liquor; said food product is selected from the group consisting of bakery products; desserts which are yogurt, jellies, drinkable jellies, puddings, Bavarian cream, blancmange, cakes, brownies, mousse or mixtures thereof; sweetened food products eaten at tea time or following meals; frozen foods; cold confections, types of ice cream which are ice cream, ice milk, lacto-ice or mixtures thereof; ice confections which are sherbets, dessert ices or mixtures thereof; ice cream; general confections, baked confections or steamed confections which are cakes, crackers, biscuits, buns with bean-jam filling or mixtures thereof; rice cakes and snacks; nut and peanut butter; table top products; general sugar confections which are chewing gum, hard candy, soft candy, mints, nougat candy, jelly beans or mixtures thereof; chocolates, chocolate creams; sauces including fruit flavored sauces, chocolate sauces or mixtures thereof; edible gels; cremes including butter cremes, flour pastes, whipped cream or mixtures thereof; jams including strawberry jam, marmalade or mixtures thereof; breads including sweet breads or other starch products or mixtures thereof; spice; general condiments including seasoned soy sauce used on roasted meats, roast fowl, barbecued meat or mixtures thereof, as well as tomato catsup, sauces, noodle broth or mixtures thereof; processed agricultural products, livestock products or seafood; processed meat products which are sausage or mixtures thereof; retort food products, pickles, preserves boiled in soy sauce, delicacies, side dishes; snacks which are potato chips, cookies or mixtures thereof; wafer, waffle, cornets, bars, wafer sheet; cereal products, granola; baby food; said pharmaceutical product is selected from the group consisting of drugs or quasi-drugs that are administered orally or used in the oral cavity, wherein the drug may be in solid, liquid, gel or gas form which is a pill, tablet, spray, capsule, syrup, drop, troche agent, sachet, powder or mixtures thereof; herbal products, vitamins; nutraceutical products comprising any food or part of a food that may provide medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease; said oral product is selected from the group consisting of hygienic or cosmetic products; personal care products which are oral compositions used in the oral cavity, mouth freshening agents, gargling agents, mouth rinsing agents, toothpaste, tooth polish, dentrifices, mouth sprays, teeth-whitening agents or mixtures thereof; said dietetic product is a dietary supplement; or said veterinary product is an animal feed.

19. A method for making a beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic or veterinary product, the method comprising admixing a natural sweetening composition apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo with the other components of the beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic or veterinary product.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said product is solid, liquid, or semisolid.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein: said beverage is selected from the group consisting of colas, ginger ales, root beers, ciders, fruit-flavored soft drinks, powdered soft drinks or mixtures thereof; fruit juices originating in fruits or vegetables, fruit juices including squeezed juices or mixtures thereof, fruit juices containing fruit particles, fruit beverages, fruit juice beverages, beverages containing fruit juices, beverages with fruit flavorings, vegetable juices, juices containing vegetables, and mixed juices containing fruits and vegetables; drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, near water or mixtures thereof; tea type or favorite type beverages which are coffee, cocoa, chocolate, black tea, green tea, oolong tea or mixtures thereof; beverages containing milk components which are milk beverages, coffee containing milk components, cafe au lait, milk tea, fruit milk beverages, drinkable yogurt, lactic acid bacteria beverages or mixtures thereof; dairy products; alcoholic beverages which are wine, beer, cider; distilled beverages which are spirit, liquor; said food product is selected from the group consisting of bakery products; desserts which are yogurt, jellies, drinkable jellies, puddings, Bavarian cream, blancmange, cakes, brownies, mousse or mixtures thereof; sweetened food products eaten at tea time or following meals; frozen foods; cold confections, types of ice cream which are ice cream, ice milk, lacto-ice or mixtures thereof; ice confections which are sherbets, dessert ices or mixtures thereof; ice cream; general confections, baked confections or steamed confections which are cakes, crackers, biscuits, buns with bean-jam filling or mixtures thereof; rice cakes and snacks; nut and peanut butter; table top products; general sugar confections which are chewing gum, hard candy, soft candy, mints, nougat candy, jelly beans or mixtures thereof; chocolates, chocolate creams; sauces including fruit flavored sauces, chocolate sauces or mixtures thereof; edible gels; cremes including butter cremes, flour pastes, whipped cream or mixtures thereof; jams including strawberry jam, marmalade or mixtures thereof; breads including sweet breads or other starch products or mixtures thereof; spice; general condiments including seasoned soy sauce used on roasted meats, roast fowl, barbecued meat or mixtures thereof, as well as tomato catsup, sauces, noodle broth or mixtures thereof; processed agricultural products, livestock products or seafood; processed meat products which are sausage or mixtures thereof; retort food products, pickles, preserves boiled in soy sauce, delicacies, side dishes; snacks which are potato chips, cookies or mixtures thereof; wafer, waffle, cornets, bars, wafer sheet; cereal products, granola; baby food; said pharmaceutical product is selected from the group consisting of drugs or quasi-drugs that are administered orally or used in the oral cavity, wherein the drug may be in solid, liquid, gel or gas form which is a pill, tablet, spray, capsule, syrup, drop, troche agent, sachet, powder or mixtures thereof; herbal products, vitamins; nutraceutical products comprising any food or part of a food that may provide medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease; said oral product is selected from the group consisting of hygienic or cosmetic products; personal care products which are oral compositions used in the oral cavity, mouth freshening agents, gargling agents, mouth rinsing agents, toothpaste, tooth polish, dentrifices, mouth sprays, teeth-whitening agents or mixtures thereof; said dietetic product is a dietary supplement; or said veterinary product is an animal feed.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Health trends have promoted an increased use of natural sweeteners in consumer diets. Amongst the many possibilities available to product developers is the option to enrich foods with healthy ingredients or perhaps to exchange one or more ingredients of the recipe in order to optimise the nutritional profile.

[0016] For instance foods, which do not include additives or sugar, are perceived by the consumer, as natural and healthy. Despite their immense popularity, sweeteners and particularly sucrose recently gained bad publicity because of health concerns. That's why fruit sweeteners are becoming more and more important as a natural alternative to sucrose as they contain the fruit's own sugar spectrum.

[0017] Of increasing nutritional and physiological importance to today's consumer is the glycemic index (GI) that is much lower for fructose compared to that of glucose. Using glucose as the standard base, with a GI of 100, fructose has only a GI of around 20. The GI measures the glycemic response (an indication of the rate at which the blood glucose level rises and how it is sustained over time) after ingestion of carbohydrate foods. The consumption of food with low GI, such as fruit and vegetables, results in a slow increase of the blood glucose level. Food with a high GI, such as sucrose and white bread, results in a quick response of blood glucose insulin levels and therefore should not only be avoided by diabetics, but also by the growing number of health conscious consumers as there is growing evidence that over long time, a diet based on high-carbohydrate low-glycemic foods is beneficial towards health by preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease and possibly cancer.

[0018] In present invention, the phrase concentrate includes any apple or Luo Han Guo product that is solid comprising extract, concentrated extract, dried fruit, de-juiced fruit, lyophilized, spray dried, crystallized or mixtures thereof.

[0019] In present invention, the concentrates comprising fructose, aromas, flavorings, vitamins, minerals, nutrients, concentrated juices, pieces of pulp and other remnants or mixtures thereof.

[0020] The main object of the present invention is to obtain adequate content uniformity and desired particle size distribution of natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate and improved processes. In this invention, the natural sweetening composition has homogeneity and high flowability properties during the process.

[0021] Another main object of this invention is to obtain a sweetener composition that has sweeter taste because of the synergy between apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate. This invention relates to a natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, the composition is exhibiting synergy, i. e. providing greater sweetness than would be expected from simple summation of the sweetness contributed by the component sweetening agents.

[0022] Another main object of the present invention is to obtain a sweetener composition that does not increase the glycemic index. This invention provides a sweetener composition, which does not raise the glycemic index and provides the advantage of production simplicity.

[0023] Another main object of the present invention is to obtain a sweetener composition that is natural and healthy. Also it also would be desirable to improve the taste of ingestible compositions that include natural ingredients to promote their use and the resulting health benefits. In this invention, the natural sweeteners apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate do not carry any glycemic index potential. Thus, a product is obtained which can be used by those who are in diets or by the diabetics.

[0024] The present invention provides a novel natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 100 m and Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 1 m which overcomes the above described problems in prior art and have additive advantages over them.

[0025] In an embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising; apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) is between 100 and 500 m and Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) is between 1 and 50 m.

[0026] In an embodiment, the natural sweetening composition of this invention comprises apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 100 m, preferably greater than 250 m, more preferably greater than 300 m and having particle size of d(90) greater than 600 m, preferably greater than 750 m.

[0027] In a more preferably embodiment, the natural sweetening composition of this invention comprises apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 300 m and having particle size of (d90) greater than 750 m.

[0028] In another embodiment, the natural sweetening composition of this invention comprises Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 1 m, preferably greater than 5 m, more preferably greater than 10 m and having particle size of (d90) greater than 20 m, preferably greater than 30 m.

[0029] In a more preferably embodiment, the natural sweetening composition of this invention comprises Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 10 m and having particle size of (d90) greater than 30 m.

[0030] As used here in, particle size distribution is defined by the cumulative volume size distrubition as tested by a conventionally accepted method which is the laser diffraction method determined by the equipment of Malvern Mastersizer 2000. Median particle size is defined by d50, the diameter where fifty percent of the distribution has a smaller particle size and d90 means that the the diameter where ninety percent of the distribution has a smaller particle size. Desired particle size distribution is defined by the ratio between the median particle size (d50) and the particle size at (d90).

[0031] In order to achieve the unexpected good results of content uniformity the natural sweetening composition of this invention the apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate must have a desired particle size distribution.

[0032] The natural sweetening composition of the present invention comprising; apple concentrate having a particle size ratio of (d50) to (d90) which is between 0.30 and 0.80; Luo Han Guo concentrate having a particle size ratio of (d50) to (d90) which is between 0.20 and 0.70.

[0033] According to this embodiment, this ratio of (d50) to (d90) of apple concentrate must be between 0.30 and 0.80, preferably between 0.35 and 0.70, more preferably between 0.40 and 0.60, and most preferably between 0.40 and 0.50.

[0034] According to this embodiment, this ratio of (d50) to (d90) of Luo Han Guo concentrate must be between 0.20 and 0.70, preferably between 0.25 and 0.60, more preferably between 0.30 and 0.50, and most preferably between 0.30 and 0.40.

[0035] The natural sweetening composition of the present invention, comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate wherein the particle size ratio of d(50) of Luo Han Guo concentrate to apple concentrate is between 0.01 to 0.1.

[0036] According to this embodiment, particle size ratio of d(50) of Luo Han Guo concentrate to apple concentrate is between 0.01 to 0.1, preferably between 0.02 and 0.08, more preferably between 0.03 and 0.07 and most preferably between 0.03 and 0.06.

[0037] According to the special particle sizes and ratios mentioned below, the invention's advantages are reasonable preparing process, high flowability, uniform dispersion of sweetening agent and low moisture absorption. Specifically, this invention of the natural sweetening composition has the advantage of minimal changes in the products' physical characteristics, such as density, flowability, etc.; namely, preventing the final composition from becoming sticky which often occurs when a sweetening agent is added into a composition rather, and retains more of the characteristic flowability and density of the bulked composition with is normally adversely affected by conventional sweetening agent.

[0038] In this present invention, the natural sweetening composition further comprising inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar, lactose, locust bean gum; rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, rebaudioside C, rebaudioside D, rebaudioside E, rebaudioside F, dulcoside A, dulcoside B, rubusoside, isomogroside V, 11-oxomogroside, steviol glycosides, stevia, stevioside, mogroside IV, mogroside V, mogroside VI, siamenoside, monatin and its salts (monatin SS, RR, RS, SR), curculin, glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhizic acid and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, mabinlin, brazzein, hernandulein, phyllodulcin, glycyphyllin, phloridzim, trilobatin, baiyunoside, osladin, polypodoside A, pterocaryoside A, pterocaryoside B, mukurozioside, phlomisoside I, periandrin I, abrusoside A, cyclocarioside I; a sweetener which is extracted from the group comprising Stevia rebaudiana, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Siraitia grosvenorii; sucrose, liquid sucrose, glucose, liquid glucose, fructose, liquid fructose, dextrose, galactose, lactulose, lactose, cellobiose, kojibiose, nigerose, isomaltose, .beta., .beta.-trehalose, .alpha., .beta.-trehalose, tagatose, sophorose, laminaribiose, gentiobiose, turanose, maltose, maltulose, palatinose, gentiobiulose, mannobiose, melibiose, melibiulose, rhamnose, ribose, rutinose, rutinulose, trehalose, xylobiose, xylose, corn syrups, fructo-oligosaccharides; erythritol, glycol, glycerol, threitol, arabitol, xylitol, ribitol, mannitol, sorbitol, dulcitol, iditol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol, polyglycitol; apple skin extract (applephenon) or mixtures thereof.

[0039] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline.

[0040] In another embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, erythritol.

[0041] In another embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, coconut sugar.

[0042] In another embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, lactose.

[0043] In another embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, locust bean gum.

[0044] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol.

[0045] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar.

[0046] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, locust bean gum.

[0047] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar, lactose.

[0048] In one embodiment, the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate, inuline, erythritol, coconut sugar, lactose, locust bean gum.

[0049] Use of the natural sweetening composition comprising apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate in beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic, veterinary or tobacco products

[0050] In this present invention, said products are solid, liquid or semisolid.

[0051] Use of the natural sweetening composition, wherein; [0052] said beverages are selected from the group comprising colas, ginger ales, root beers, ciders, fruit-flavored soft drinks, powdered soft drinks or mixtures thereof; fruit juices originating in fruits or vegetables, fruit juices including squeezed juices or mixtures thereof, fruit juices containing fruit particles, fruit beverages, fruit juice beverages, beverages containing fruit juices, beverages with fruit flavorings, vegetable juices, juices containing vegetables, and mixed juices containing fruits and vegetables; drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, near water or mixtures thereof; tea type or favorite type beverages which are coffee, cocoa, chocolate, black tea, green tea, oolong tea or mixtures thereof; beverages containing milk components which are milk beverages, coffee containing milk components, cafe au lait, milk tea, fruit milk beverages, drinkable yogurt, lactic acid bacteria beverages or mixtures thereof; dairy products; alcoholic beverages which are wine, beer, cider; distilled beverages which are spirit, liquor; [0053] said food products are selected from the group comprising bakery products; desserts which are yogurt, jellies, drinkable jellies, puddings, Bavarian cream, blancmange, cakes, brownies, mousse or mixtures thereof; sweetened food products eaten at tea time or following meals; frozen foods; cold confections, types of ice cream which are ice cream, ice milk, lacto-ice or mixtures thereof; ice confections which are sherbets, dessert ices or mixtures thereof; ice cream; general confections, baked confections or steamed confections which are cakes, crackers, biscuits, buns with bean-jam filling or mixtures thereof; rice cakes and snacks; nut and peanut butter; table top products; general sugar confections which are chewing gum, hard candy, soft candy, mints, nougat candy, jelly beans or mixtures thereof; chocolates, chocolate creams; sauces including fruit flavored sauces, chocolate sauces or mixtures thereof; edible gels; cremes including butter cremes, flour pastes, whipped cream or mixtures thereof; jams including strawberry jam, marmalade or mixtures thereof; breads including sweet breads or other starch products or mixtures thereof; spice; general condiments including seasoned soy sauce used on roasted meats, roast fowl, barbecued meat or mixtures thereof, as well as tomato catsup, sauces, noodle broth or mixtures thereof; processed agricultural products, livestock products or seafood; processed meat products which are sausage or mixtures thereof; retort food products, pickles, preserves boiled in soy sauce, delicacies, side dishes; snacks which are potato chips, cookies or mixtures thereof; wafer, waffle, cornets, bars, wafer sheet; cereal products, granola; baby food; [0054] said pharmaceutical products are selected from the group comprising drugs or quasi-drugs that are administered orally or used in the oral cavity, wherein the drug may be in solid, liquid, gel or gas form which is a pill, tablet, spray, capsule, syrup, drop, troche agent, sachet, powder or mixtures thereof; herbal products, vitamins; nutraceutical products comprising any food or part of a food that may provide medicinal or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of disease; [0055] said oral products are selected from the group comprising hygienic or cosmetic products; personal care products which are oral compositions used in the oral cavity, mouth freshening agents, gargling agents, mouth rinsing agents, toothpaste, tooth polish, dentrifices, mouth sprays, teeth-whitening agents or mixtures thereof; [0056] said dietetic products are selected from the group comprising dietary supplement; [0057] said veterinary products are selected from the group comprising animal feed; [0058] said tobacco products are selected from the group comprising smoke and smokeless tobacco products such as snuff, cigarette, pipe and cigar tobacco, and all forms of tobacco such as shredded filler, leaf, stem, stalk, homogenized leaf cured, reconstituted binders and reconstituted tobacco from tobacco dust, fines or ether sources in sheet, pellet or other forms, tobacco substitutes formulated from non-tobacco materials, dip or chewing tobacco.

[0059] In result, the art of sweetener products requires a novelty to provide the advantages of being healthy and natural, not increasing the glycemic index, production simplicity, cost-efficient and sweeter taste because of the synergy between apple concentrate and Luo Han Guo concentrate. It has been found that contrary to prior art and the general knowledge of the skilled person in the natural sweetening composition of comprising apple concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 250 m and Luo Han Guo concentrate having a median particle size (d50) greater than 5 m does not show the expected disadvantages in flow behaviour and homogeneity and thus processability if it is provided as particles having a desired particle size distribution. In this case the sweetening composition can be easily handled, mixed with excipients even having a larger particle size and can be processed into beverage, food, pharmaceutical, oral, dietetic, veterinary or tobacco products without the known and expected problems such as segregation or de-mix during the process steps.

[0060] According to this invention, some examples are disclosed below:

Example 1: Chocolate Formulation

[0061]

TABLE-US-00001 Ingredients Amount (% by weight) Erythrol 5-25 Inulin 20-65 Natural sweetening composition of apple and 1-35 LHG concentrates Hazelnut or puree thereof 10-30 Cacao products 1-45 Milk products 5-30 Vegetable oil 25-40 Lactose 0-5 Vanilla 0-2

[0062] Production process of the formulation as following:

[0063] The mixture of erythrol, natural sweetening composition of apple and LHG concentrates, and inulin is finely mixed and homogenized by means of a mixer. Then, a previously-grinded hazelnut puree is added to this mixture. The resulting mixture is grinded and mixed back so as to be homogenized.

[0064] To the preferably pre-ground mixture is added a liquid mixture composed of cacao powder, dry milk products, lactose and vanilla if required, and vegetable oil. Then, conching and settling steps are applied to this mixture, where after the resultant mixture is prepared for sales, following a filling or shaping process as required by the form of the targeted product. The process steps may be illustrated in the following diagram.

[0065] In result, thanks to the embodiment disclosed above, dietary chocolate composition comprising natural sweetening composition of apple and LHG concentrates is obtained, with reduced calorie and low glycemic index.

Example 2: Sweetener Tablet Formulation

[0066]

TABLE-US-00002 Ingredients Amount (% by weight) Function Natural sweetening 5-95 Sweetener composition of apple and LHG concentrates D-Mannitol 50-80 Filler Croscarmellose sodium 1-5 Disintegrant Colloidal silicone dioxide 0.1-5 Glidant L-Leucine 1-10 Lubricant Sodium stearyl fumarate 1-5 Lubricant

[0067] Production process of the formulation as following:

[0068] Mannitol, L-leucine and a suitable disintegrant are added to natural sweetening composition of apple and LHG concentrates and mixed. A mixture of colloidal silicone dioxide and sodium stearyl fumarate is added to this first mixture and mixed them together. The resulting mixture is compressed in the form of tablets. The production preferably involves direct compressing method. It can alternatively be produced by wet granulation.

[0069] In this formulation, the sweetener is anatural sweetening composition of apple and LHG concentrates, the mannitol used as a filler, and other excipients do not carry any glycemic index potential. Thus, a product is obtained which can be used by those who are in diets or by the diabetics.

[0070] Sodium stearyl fumarate is a very efficient lubricant, being less hydrophobic and having a lower delaying effect, when the tablet is dissolved. The present invention involves the use of sodium stearyl fumarate and L-leucine (the lubricant) and colloidal silicone dioxide (the glidant) in the form of a combination, thereby eliminating the problems related to decreasing flowability and to the sticking of these materials to the production apparatuses and elements. Additionally, the product's dissolution rate is brought to a very satisfactory extent, thanks to using croscarmellose sodium as a disintegrant.

Example 3: Oral Pharmaceutical Formulation

[0071]

TABLE-US-00003 Amount Ingredients (% by weight) Function Active ingredient 5-95 Active ingredient Anhydrous citric acid 0.1-2 Flavor enhancer Hypromellose 0.25-5 Suspending and/or thickening agent Natural sweetening composition of 5-80 Sweetener apple and LHG concentrates Orange aroma 0.5-2 Aromatic agent Sodium benzoate 0.01-0.03 Microbial preservative Disodium EDTA 0.005-0.1 Antioxidant

[0072] Production process of the formulation as following:

[0073] Active ingredient, hypromellose and anhydrous citric acid are mixed. Natural sweetening composition of apple and LHG concentrates, orange aroma, sodium benzoate and disodium EDTA are added to the first mixture and mixed and homogenized. The resulting mixture is filled into sachets.