초록 ▼

Containers and methods are provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate utilizing one or more desirable properties including a generally consistent discharge across a range of squeeze forces, a generally consistent discharge with the same force without significant dependence on the amount of liquid

Containers and methods are provided for dispensing a liquid concentrate utilizing one or more desirable properties including a generally consistent discharge across a range of squeeze forces, a generally consistent discharge with the same force without significant dependence on the amount of liquid concentrate in the container, a substantially dripless or leak proof outlet opening, a jet that minimizes splashing when the liquid concentrate impacts a target liquid, and a jet that maximizes mixing between the liquid concentrate and the target liquid to produce a generally homogenous mixture without the use of extraneous utensils or shaking. Also provided are liquid beverage concentrates that can be cold filled during packaging while maintaining shelf stability for at least about three months at ambient temperatures. Concentrates are provided having low pH, with or without alcohol, and with buffers to allow for increased acid content at a selected pH.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flavored beverage concentrate having a pH of about 1.9 to about 2.4, the flavored beverage concentrate comprising: about 30 to about 65 percent water by weight;about 15.0 to about 30.0 percent acid by weight;up to about 10.0 percent buffer by weight selected from the group consisting of a potas

1. A flavored beverage concentrate having a pH of about 1.9 to about 2.4, the flavored beverage concentrate comprising: about 30 to about 65 percent water by weight;about 15.0 to about 30.0 percent acid by weight;up to about 10.0 percent buffer by weight selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and combination thereof; andabout 1.0 to about 30.0 percent flavoring by weight;the acid and buffer included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, the ratio of the acid and buffer selected to provide the concentrate with at least about 5 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH, and the concentrate having a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate. 2. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid and buffer are included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 40:1. 3. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid and buffer are included in a ratio of about 7:1 to about 15:1. 4. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the concentrate has a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.1 to 0.3 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate. 5. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid and buffer are provided in a ratio effective selected to provide the concentrate with at least about 5 to about 40 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH. 6. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid and buffer are provided in a ratio effective selected to provide the concentrate with at least about 10 to about 20 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH. 7. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the flavoring is selected from the group consisting of liquid flavorings, powdered flavorings, and combinations thereof. 8. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 7, wherein the liquid flavoring comprises a flavor emulsion. 9. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 8, wherein the flavor emulsion comprises about 1 to about 10 percent of a flavor key. 10. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the concentrate further comprises a water activity reducing component selected from the group consisting of salt, alcohol, polyol, carbohydrate, and combinations thereof. 11. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises at least 50 percent by weight of an acid that is naturally present in greater quantities than any other acid in a fruit from which a flavor key of the flavoring was derived or formulated to mimic. 12. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises at least about 50 percent malic acid by weight. 13. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 12, wherein the acid comprises about 80 to about 95 percent malic acid by weight. 14. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the concentrate comprises acid, buffer, and flavor key of the flavoring in a ratio of about 1:1:0.002 to about 60:1:0.5. 15. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 1, wherein the concentrate further comprises about 5 to about 35 percent alcohol by weight. 16. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 15, wherein the alcohol includes at least one of the group consisting of ethanol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof. 17. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 15, wherein the concentrate having a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:120 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate. 18. A flavored beverage concentrate having a pH of about 1.9 to about 2.4, the flavored beverage concentrate comprising: about 30 to about 65 percent water by weight;about 15.0 to about 30.0 percent acid by weight;up to about 3.0 percent buffer by weight selected from the group consisting of a potassium salt of an acid, a sodium salt of an acid, and combination thereof; andabout 1.0 to about 30.0 percent flavoring by weight comprising a flavor key and alcohol;the acid and buffer included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, and the concentrate having a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:160 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate. 19. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 18, wherein the concentrate has a concentration such that when diluted at a ratio of about 1:75 to about 1:120 to provide a beverage, the concentrate delivers about 0.01 to 0.8 percent acid by weight of the beverage made by the flavored beverage concentrate. 20. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 18, wherein the flavor key is a non-citrus flavor key. 21. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 18, wherein the acid and buffer are included in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 60:1, the ratio of the acid and buffer selected to provide the concentrate with at least about 5 times more acid than an otherwise identical non-buffered concentrate having the same pH. 22. The flavored beverage concentrate of claim 18, wherein the alcohol includes at least one of the group consisting of ethanol, propylene glycol, and combinations thereof.