DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISATION OF A CARBONATED FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE FROM PEACH (Prunus persica), STEVIA (Stevia rebaudiana), LEMON (Citrus limon) AND MINT (Mentha piperita) FOR Diabetic And Health Conscious Individuals
Keywords:
Carbonated beverage, stevia, peach, lemon, mint, diabetes, antioxidant, preservative-free, functional drink.Abstract
Background: Rising consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with obesity, hyperglycemia, and diabetes, creating a need for natural, sugar-free functional beverages with health-promoting properties.
Objective: This study aimed to develop and evaluate a carbonated functional beverage prepared from peach (Prunus persica), stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), lemon (Citrus limon), and mint (Mentha piperita) without added sugar or chemical preservatives.
Methods: Peach puree (20%) was used as the beverage base. Stevia concentration (0.5–1.5% v/v) was optimized by sensory evaluation, while lemon juice (0.5–2.0%) and mint extract (0.25–1.0%) were optimized using response surface methodology. The optimized formulation (T₂: 20% peach, 1.0% stevia, 1.0% lemon, and 0.5% mint) was pasteurized (85°C, 15 min), carbonated (35 psi; 3.2 volumes CO₂), and stored at 4 ± 1°C for 60 days. Physicochemical, antioxidant, sensory, microbiological, and storage stability analyses were performed.
Results: The optimized beverage exhibited a pH of 3.8, titratable acidity of 0.28%, total soluble solids of 4.5°Brix, total phenolic content of 162.5 mg GAE/L, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of 71.2%, all superior to the sucrose control. The beverage achieved an overall sensory acceptability score of 8.4/9 and remained microbiologically safe (<10 CFU/mL) throughout 60 days of refrigerated storage. Although total phenolic content and antioxidant activity decreased by approximately 20% and 26%, respectively, the beverage maintained acceptable physicochemical quality, color stability, and sensory acceptability.
Conclusion: The optimized formulation represents a sugar-free, preservative-free carbonated functional beverage with desirable physicochemical properties, high antioxidant potential, excellent consumer acceptability, and satisfactory refrigerated storage stability. The formulation provides a promising clean-label alternative to conventional sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages for diabetic and health-conscious consumers. Further in vivo and clinical studies are recommended to validate its potential health benefits.
