The present application relates to methods for producing beverages with low levels of acids, cations and/or sugars. The methods comprise the step of removing acidic ions through an AX-REED membrane stack and optionally removing cations through a CX-REED membrane stack. In certain embodiments, the AX-REED and the CX-REEF membrane stacks are operated in parallel. The methods may also comprise a step of converting sugar to organic acid, while simultaneously removing the generated organic acid through the AX-REED membrane stack. The sugar may for example be converted with the aid of enzymes and/or microorganisms.

This invention disclosed a method for preparing low-sugar vegetable and fruit enzyme product comprising obtaining a fruit or/and vegetable as a material; fermenting the material for at least three times sequentially, and producing an enzyme product, wherein the first fermentation is yeast fermentation, the second fermentation is acetic acid bacteria fermentation and the third fermentation is lactic acid bacteria fermentation; and the sugar content of the enzyme product is less than 5 wt %, especially, in a predetermined fermentation condition, the sugar content of the enzyme product is less than 2.5 wt %.

The invention relates to methods for preparing a beverage comprising at least 2 g/L β-glucan, wherein said β-glucans have an average molecular weight in the range of 80 to 200 kDa. The methods involve mashing barley kernels comprising at least 10% β-glucans and having a ratio of DP3/DP4 in said β-glucan of at least 3 in the presence of α-amylase and endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase activity. The beverages have a viscosity providing a good mouth-feel, and at the same time they comprise β-glucans, which are able to aid in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. The beverages are generally stable and can be stored for months at room temperature without a significant decrease in β-glucan content.

The invention relates to methods of preparing vegetable juice comprising fermenting a vegetable substrate with a Pichia kluyveri. Fermented vegetable juice obtained according the method has better flavor profiles, in particular reduced earthy flavors. The invention also provides Pichia kluyveri strains useful for fermenting vegetable substrates, which can be further processed to obtain beverages or other consumer products.

Provided is a metal material capable of optimizing a response of a fermentative microorganism, a method of controlling a response of a fermentative microorganism, and a method of producing a fermented food product. A metal material includes a crystal grain having an average crystal grain size for controlling a response of a fermentative microorganism. The average crystal grain size of the crystal grain is preferably 100 nm or more and 10 μm or less. The metal material is preferably stainless steel. It is preferable that the response of the fermentative microorganism is adsorption or growth of the fermentative microorganism on the metal material.

Provided herein are methods and compositions for the production of cheese replicas. Generally the cheese replicas are produced by inducing the enzymatic curdling of non-dairy milks.

The present invention relates to the field of beverages or beverage bases, in particular to the field of health beverages. The beverage or beverage base is produced by preparing an aqueous extract of unmalted cereal grains. Fermenting the aqueous extract by cold contact fermentation and/or with inactivated yeast to obtain a fermented aqueous extract. The aqueous extract or fermented aqueous extract is then mixed with a juice, to obtain an alcohol free or low alcohol beverage or beverage base with desirable ingredients.

Method for producing tropical plant sap based wines (e.g. palm wine, pulque, guarapo) and secondary products derived from these fermented beverages (palm vinegar and distilled spirits). The method comprising of partly or fully supplemented or reconstituted fermentation media to compositions similar to that of naturally occurring sap to be used for the fermentation. Media may be formulated to impart desired beverage characteristics, but primary flavor and beverage properties are derived from products of microbial fermentation (primary or secondary). Fermentation proceeds through any combination of spontaneous, domesticated and/or engineered inoculum. Design of inoculated culture composition to produce desired beverage characteristics.

Useful probiotics have been selected among lactic acid bacteria strains of the genus L. acidophilus, L. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. helveticus and L. jensenii for their ability to kill urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens and their ability to inhibit internalization of urogenital and/or gastrointestinal pathogens within urogenital and/or gastrointestinal epithelial cells in humans. Probiotic compositions comprise at least one of the said lactic acid bacteria strains in combination with a suitable delivery system, such as a food product or a beverage, a food or beverage compositions, a food or beverage supplement or adjuvant.

The problem of the invention is to provide a malt beverage which has rich feeling, a reduced grain smell, and can also be produced at a low cost. The means for solving the problem is a malt beverage containing δ-cadinene at a concentration of 3-10 ppb.