Stevia is a natural plant-based high-intensity sweetener that is 300-400 times sweeter than sucrose while having low caloric content. Currently, it is widely used in beverages, dairy products, and related products. When using stevia, the following issues should be considered:
1. Sweetness Adjustment
Due to the extremely high sweetness of stevia, excessive use can result in overly sweet beverages and affect the taste. Therefore, when using stevia, it is important to control the amount used and combine it with other sweeteners to achieve the best taste.When adjusting the sweetness, factors such as the type of beverage, taste, target consumer group, and other ingredients used should be considered. The sweetness should be evenly and moderately distributed, not only satisfying consumers' taste preferences but also maintaining the stability of the beverage.
2. Texture
As a high-intensity sweetener, stevia requires appropriate additives to enhance the taste of the beverage. In addition to commonly used stabilizers such as gelatin, pectin, and carboxymethyl cellulose, adding natural ingredients can also improve the taste and nutritional value of the beverage.Protein or cellulose substances can be added to increase the nutritional value and thickness of the beverage. Therefore, when developing beverages, multiple factors should be considered to obtain a rich taste and nutritionally dense beverage.
3. Ingredient Requirements
Stevia is a sweetener that contains multiple components, and the taste and sweetness of each component are different. Therefore, when producing beverages, it is important to select the appropriate steviol glycoside to ensure that the selected stevia matches the expected beverage.It should be noted that different types of products may require different types of stevia. For example, in beverages and dairy products, RD and RM can better meet production expectations.
4. Coordination with Other Ingredients
In beverage development, stevia, as a sweetener, needs to be coordinated with other sweeteners and additives to achieve the best taste effect. To achieve this goal, a systematic experiment should be conducted to test the coordination between stevia and other ingredients and the reaction under different ratios, thereby optimizing the ingredient formula and improving the taste quality of the beverage.
In summary, stevia is a high-intensity sweetener that requires attention to sweetness adjustment, texture, ingredient requirements, and coordination with other ingredients. When adjusting sweetness, the type of beverage, taste, and target consumer group should be considered. Texture can be improved by adding protein or cellulose substances. Ingredient requirements should consider selecting suitable steviol glycosides. Coordination with other ingredients requires systematic experimentation to optimize the ingredient formula.