| abstract |
The subject invention relates to a natural sweetening composition comprising: (a) sweet juice derived from the botanical genus/species Siraitia grosvenorii, S. siamensis, S. silomaradjae, S. sikkimensis, S. africana, S. borneesis, S. taiwaniana or mixture thereof, and (b) sugar, wherein said sugar is selected fructose, sucrose, glucose or mixtures thereof, and wherein the ratio of the sweet juice of the sugar is from about 1:1 to about 1:5. An edible acid and/or an edible salt can be added to the composition to improve thc flavor. A beverage comprising an effective amount of a flavoring system and a sweetening composition is also claimed. These beverages are reduced calorie and can be supplemented with vitamins and minerals. Alternatively the beverages may comprise from 0,001 to 60 % of a sweetening system comprising naturally derived terpene glycosides, mogroside IV, mogroside V, siamenoside I, II-oxo-mogroside V or mixtures thereof, the percentage being based on the weight of said beverage. |