PureCircle introduces Sigma-Beverage

23 Nov 2016

PureCircle has introduced Sigma-Beverage, a stevia ingredient that the company says is specifically optimised for beverage formulations and claims delivers unmatched taste results when compared to other stevia ingredients.

PureCircle has introduced Sigma-Beverage, a stevia ingredient that the company says is specifically optimised for beverage formulations and claims delivers unmatched taste results when compared to other stevia ingredients on the market. Sigma-Beverage is said to perform similarly to sugar at deep calorie reductions, so, according to PureCircle, formulators can create beverage solutions consumers will love while reducing development time by 30-50%.

“Sigma-Beverage was formulated with a carefully tailored, proprietary combination of steviol glycosides designed to address the unique needs for beverage formulations,” said Faith Son, PureCircle’s Vice President of Marketing and Innovation. “We have seen success with this approach for our customers and are excited to help them further unlock the beverage category and reduce overall calories while meeting the taste desires consumers demand.”

Designed, says the company, as the perfect stevia sweetener for beverage formulations, Sigma-Beverage is said to have a crucial upfront sweetness needed for most beverage applications and provide a reduction in linger when formulating low-to-zero calorie solutions.

“Beverages have provided a challenge for formulators because of the high sweetness max,” said John Martin, PureCircle’s Senior Director of Global Technical Innovation. “To achieve that high level of sweetness with stevia can often result in linger and a strong, sweetness aftertaste. However, by selecting the steviol glycosides that provide a very clean, sugar-like taste with a reduced linger, we have been able formulate a stevia ingredient that really works well for the challenges of beverage applications. We are extremely pleased with the results we are seeing.”

Sigma-Beverage is the third category-specific ingredient in PureCircle’s portfolio. It joins Sigma-Tea and Sigma-Dairy, all of which PureCircle says are outperforming first generation Reb A solutions on taste and have been developed through PureCircle’s predictive modelling technology.