An acid-oil dispersion composition for use in coating a cereal piece. The acid-oil dispersion composition comprising an edible acid particles dispersed in an edible oil component, wherein the acid particles are in a range of about 1 wt % to about 25 wt % of the acid-oil dispersion composition; and wherein the edible oil component is at an amount that is in a range of about 75 wt % to about 99 wt % of the acid-oil dispersion composition.

A sweetener composition including allulose and a salt and having improved taste, and a method of improving taste of allulose are disclosed.

To provide an edible ingredient having an exceptional effect for enhancing umami.

An umami-enhancing composition having a carotenoid degradation product as an active ingredient. The umami-enhancing composition can be formulated through a manufacturing method that includes a step for adding a carotenoid to an edible oil and fat, and a step for degrading the carotenoid in the edible oil and fat. The carotenoid degradation product is preferably a degradation product of one or more selected from the group consisting of carotenes and xanthophylls. The umami-enhancing composition is optimally used as a food-product ingredient, etc., for manufacturing a seasoning or extract or for enhancing the umami of a food product.

To provide an edible ingredient having an exceptional effect for enhancing umami.

An umami-enhancing composition having a carotenoid degradation product as an active ingredient. The umami-enhancing composition can be formulated through a manufacturing method that includes a step for adding a carotenoid to an edible oil and fat, and a step for degrading the carotenoid in the edible oil and fat. The carotenoid degradation product is preferably a degradation product of one or more selected from the group consisting of carotenes and xanthophylls. The umami-enhancing composition is optimally used as a food-product ingredient, etc., for manufacturing a seasoning or extract or for enhancing the umami of a food product.

A method for forming encapsulated sweetener granules (ESGs) may include heating a first mixture to form a molten mixture, the first mixture includes one or more polyols and one or more hydrocolloids; cooling the molten mixture to a first temperature to form a cooled molten mixture; adding one or more high-intensity sweeteners to the cooled molten mixture to form a second mixture; cooling the second mixture to a second temperature to form one or more sheets, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and fragmenting the one or more sheets to form a plurality of encapsulated sweetener granules. The first temperature may be between about 120° C. and about 200° C. The second temperature may be below a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the one or more polyols and the one or more hydrocolloids. For example, the second temperature may be between about 65° C. and about 200° C.

A method for forming encapsulated sweetener granules (ESGs) may include heating a first mixture to form a molten mixture, the first mixture includes one or more polyols and one or more hydrocolloids; cooling the molten mixture to a first temperature to form a cooled molten mixture; adding one or more high-intensity sweeteners to the cooled molten mixture to form a second mixture; cooling the second mixture to a second temperature to form one or more sheets, the second temperature being different from the first temperature; and fragmenting the one or more sheets to form a plurality of encapsulated sweetener granules. The first temperature may be between about 120° C. and about 200° C. The second temperature may be below a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of the one or more polyols and the one or more hydrocolloids. For example, the second temperature may be between about 65° C. and about 200° C.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a raw liquid for a seasoning which can be utilized for obtaining a seasoning with a mellow aroma and high palatability by simply performing yeast fermentation so as to enable the yeast fermentation even at home, an index of fermentation control, a set of members including the raw liquid and the index, and a method for manufacturing a seasoning. A second object of the present invention is to provide a seasoning that has a fruity aroma hardly noticeable in a conventional soy sauce while having a flavor inherent in a soy sauce. The first object is achieved by a raw liquid for a seasoning having a reducing sugar content of 4.5 wt % or more and an ethanol content of 1.5 wt % or less, a wood piece characterized by having been subjected to compression processing, and having a volume less than 20 cm.sup.3, a kit for manufacturing a seasoning including the raw liquid, the wood piece, a yeast-containing liquid, and a container for yeast fermentation, and a method for manufacturing a seasoning utilizing the kit. The second object is achieved by a soy sauce or a soy sauce-like seasoning containing ethyl octanoate and/or ethyl decanoate, or the like.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a raw liquid for a seasoning which can be utilized for obtaining a seasoning with a mellow aroma and high palatability by simply performing yeast fermentation so as to enable the yeast fermentation even at home, an index of fermentation control, a set of members including the raw liquid and the index, and a method for manufacturing a seasoning. A second object of the present invention is to provide a seasoning that has a fruity aroma hardly noticeable in a conventional soy sauce while having a flavor inherent in a soy sauce. The first object is achieved by a raw liquid for a seasoning having a reducing sugar content of 4.5 wt % or more and an ethanol content of 1.5 wt % or less, a wood piece characterized by having been subjected to compression processing, and having a volume less than 20 cm.sup.3, a kit for manufacturing a seasoning including the raw liquid, the wood piece, a yeast-containing liquid, and a container for yeast fermentation, and a method for manufacturing a seasoning utilizing the kit. The second object is achieved by a soy sauce or a soy sauce-like seasoning containing ethyl octanoate and/or ethyl decanoate, or the like.

A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C., and contacting the feed composition with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of cleavage or formation of glucosyl bonds for a time sufficient to cause formation of non-linear saccharide oligomers, wherein a product composition is produced that contains a higher concentration of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers.

A food product comprises an oligosaccharide composition that is digestion resistant or slowly digestible. The oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises producing an aqueous composition that comprises at least one oligosaccharide and at least one monosaccharide by saccharification of starch, membrane filtering the aqueous composition to form a monosaccharide-rich stream and an oligosaccharide-rich stream, and recovering the oligosaccharide-rich stream. Alternatively, the oligosaccharide composition can be produced by a process that comprises heating an aqueous feed composition that comprises at least one monosaccharide or linear saccharide oligomer, and that has a solids concentration of at least about 70% by weight, to a temperature of at least about 40° C., and contacting the feed composition with at least one catalyst that accelerates the rate of cleavage or formation of glucosyl bonds for a time sufficient to cause formation of non-linear saccharide oligomers, wherein a product composition is produced that contains a higher concentration of non-linear saccharide oligomers than linear saccharide oligomers.