1. Role of Gellan Gum in Neutral Beverages
Gellan Gum plays a crucial role in neutral beverages by offering the following key benefits:
Suspension Stability: Gellan Gum effectively enhances the suspension of solid components such as fruit pulp, seeds, or particles, preventing them from settling or separating, ensuring uniformity and stability in the beverage.
Enhanced Clarity: Due to its high transparency, Gellan Gum helps maintain a clear appearance in neutral beverages, improving their visual appeal.
Improved Mouthfeel: Gellan Gum contributes to a smoother texture, reducing any graininess or unpleasant sedimentation, enhancing the overall drinking experience.
Shelf-life Extension: By preventing sedimentation or separation, Gellan Gum helps extend the beverage’s shelf life, ensuring that it retains its quality during storage.
2. Usage Instructions
High Acyl Gellan Gum is easy to use in neutral beverages, following these steps:
Dispersion and Mixing: Disperse the Gellan Gum either alone or with other ingredients into cold water or the beverage’s solid component system. It is essential to ensure the Gellan Gum is evenly dispersed to prevent clumping.
Heating: Heat the mixture to above 85°C and maintain it for around 15 minutes to ensure the Gellan Gum fully dissolves and activates its gelling properties.
pH Adjustment and Homogenization: After dissolving the Gellan Gum, add the remaining ingredients, adjust the pH to neutral (around 6.8), and homogenize the mixture to ensure uniform distribution of all components.
Sterilization: After homogenization, perform UHT (Ultra High Temperature) or HTST (High Temperature Short Time) sterilization at 140°C for 3 seconds, then cool the mixture and fill it aseptically.
3. High-Acyl Gellan Gum Application Formula in Walnut Milk (For Reference Only)
Here’s a basic formula for walnut milk using High-Acyl Gellan Gum:
Basic Formula:
High Acyl Gellan Gum (Biogum BJ-GE200N): 0.025–0.035%
Sodium Citrate: 0.05%
Sodium Hexametaphosphate: 0.02%
Walnut Powder: 4%
Granulated Sugar: 4%
Emulsifier, flavoring, and other additives: appropriate amounts
Water: to 100%
Production Process:
Pre-treat the walnut powder by adding it to deionized water and maintaining a temperature of 60°C for 30 minutes. Then pass it through a colloid mill and filter.
Dry-mix the Gellan Gum, salts, and sugar, and while stirring, add the prepared walnut mixture.
Heat the mixture above 85°C and maintain it for 15 minutes to ensure the Gellan Gum dissolves completely.
Adjust the volume, and use sodium bicarbonate to bring the pH to around 6.8. Homogenize at approximately 50°C under 15–35 MPa pressure.
Perform UHT sterilization at 140°C for 3 seconds, then cool and fill aseptically.
4. Problems and Solutions
Problem 1: Solid Components Settling in the Beverage
Problem Description: Many neutral beverages contain solid components like fruit pulp or seeds that can settle at the bottom, affecting the appearance and uniformity of the beverage.
Solution: Gellan Gum creates a stable gel network that keeps the solid components suspended in the beverage. This prevents settling and ensures a consistent, clear beverage appearance.
Problem 2: Rough or Grainy Mouthfeel
Problem Description: Some neutral beverages may have a rough texture, especially those containing solid particles or pulp, leading to a less pleasant mouthfeel.
Solution: Gellan Gum improves the mouthfeel by providing a smoother, more uniform texture. It eliminates graininess or sedimentation, offering a better drinking experience.
Problem 3: Beverage Instability Affecting Shelf Life
Problem Description: Some neutral beverages may experience phase separation or settling during storage, reducing their quality and shortening their shelf life.
Solution: Gellan Gum helps maintain stability by preventing separation or sedimentation, extending the shelf life of the beverage and ensuring it stays fresh for a longer period.
Problem 4: Uneven Distribution of Solid Components
Problem Description: In some beverages, solid components like fruit pulp or seeds may not be evenly distributed, leading to an uneven texture and poor product consistency.
Solution: Gellan Gum enhances the suspension of solid ingredients, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the beverage, improving both the texture and the overall product quality.
