| abstract |
It is intended to provide a powder comprising water-containing β-maltose crystals, which has been powdered by spraying and is excellent in the solubility in an aqueous system and handling properties, a process for producing the same and use of the same. An aqueous maltose solution containing at least 86% w/w (in term of dry matters) but less than 93% w/w of maltose and at least 2% w/w of glucose, which is employed as a mass kit, is powdered by spraying and then maintained in an atmosphere having a relatively low humidity and a high temperature. Next, it is maintained in another atmosphere having a relatively high humidity and a low temperature. Thus, a powder comprising water-containing β-maltose crystals, wherein the α-anomer content in the maltose amounts to at least 7% but less than 14% and the degree of crystallization amounts to at least 62% but less than 72%, and a process for producing the same are established. Moreover, use of the powder comprising water-containing β-maltose crystals in various compositions such as foods, drinks, cosmetics and drugs is established, thereby achieving the above object. |