Author: Ramachandran P, Nagarajan S (2014)
Aloe vera gel, well known for its nutraceutical potential, is being explored as a functional ingredient in a wide array of health foods and drinks, Processing of exotic fruits and herbal botanicals into functional beverage is an emerging sector in food industry, develop a spiced functional RTS beverage blend using Aloe gel (AG) and papaya, physicochemical parameters, sugar profile, bioactive compounds, microbial quality, instrumental color, and sensory acceptability, Healthy beverages, particularly those that offer functional ingredients such as botanicals, minerals, and antioxidants, are increasing in demand. New product introductions in the health drink and fruit juice categories, Functional beverage sector has been reported to be the fastest growing segment, Fruit based functional beverages with refreshing flavors and tastes are being preferred over aerated drinks by the health-conscious consumers, in particular, value enhancement is feasible with addition of nutraceuticals from botanical origin have a great scope to offer varied health benefits such as improved antioxidant profile and protection against various chronic metabolic diseases.
