DEVELOPMENT OF READY TO SERVE BEVERAGE (RTS) FROM A BLEND OF ORANGE, ALOE VERA AND MINTNAKKA CHARAN KUMAR AND PUNEET ARORAAbstract The demand for health beverages is growing in the soft drink industry. The functional properties and health benefits of Orange, Aloe vera and Mint are known worldwide. Blending RTS beverages with fruit has several benefits, including increased nutrient content, improved taste, and reduced sugar content. Fruits are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which can provide numerous health benefits. The addition of fruits can also help reduce the need for added sugars, as fruits provide natural sweetness to the beverage. In present study the efforts have been made to prepare ready-to-serve (RTS) made from a blend of Orange, aloe vera and mint fruit juice. Orange juice is rich in vitamin C, which boosts the immune system and helps to prevent diseases. Aloe vera is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and is also rich in vitamins and minerals. Mint is a natural digestive aid and can help to relieve stomach discomfort. Four formulations were tried with Orange, aloe vera and mint. Optimized formulation was found to be in the treatment which has 97% orange, 1% aloe vera and 2% cornsilk mint. The proximate analysis of the product showed an average of 4.85 pH, 16.4% Total Solids, 0.20% Fat, 0.71% Protein, 13.82% Carbohydrates, 0.45% Ash, 0.95% Acidity, 12.01 mg Ascorbic acid, 11.08 mg Calcium, 194 mg Potassium. Sensory attributes like colour and appearance, flavour score, consistency and overall acceptability for the prepared RTS beverage (200 ml) of optimized formulation (T1) is found best. While, there was a decreasing trend of ascorbic acid, Total sugar and organoleptic score due to aloe vera and mint contain compounds that can interact and cause it to degrade more quickly. |