| abstract |
Disclosed is a shelf-stable liquid base composition for preparing acidified milk based beverages which comprises: a) from about 2 to about 10 weight % of denatured milk proteins expressed as solid-not-fat (SNF) milk components; b) from about 15 to about 80 weight%, expressed as sugar equivalents, of a carbohydrate based and/or non carbohydrate based sweetener; c) from about 0.35 to about 1.50 weight % of a carbohydrate based stabiliser (such as a polysaccharide selected from the group consisting of gums, pectins, cellulose derivatives, carrageenans and mixtures thereof); and d) an acidifying agent present in amounts necessary for achieving a pH of about 3.0 to about 3.8 of the said base composition. Further disclosed is a method for preparing acidified milk based beverages which includes the step of diluting one part of the liquid base composition as defined above with 2 to 7 parts of water and wherein the step is performed by a beverage-dispensing machine. |