A method for the production of tomato concentrate is described, comprising the steps of: chopping the tomato so as to obtain chopped tomato with peels and seeds, subjecting the chopped tomato with peels and seeds to an enzymatic deactivation process, subjecting the chopped tomato with peels and seeds to an extraction process to obtain a tomato juice, subjecting said tomato juice to an evaporation process to obtain a concentrated juice and vapour, using said vapour to heat the chopped tomato with peels and seeds before subjecting it to the extraction process.

The present invention provides a sugar-depleted fruit or vegetable juice product, wherein said juice product is a fruit or vegetable juice or juice-retaining fruit or vegetable derived matter, wherein said juice product contains at least about 5 g/l gluconic acid and said juice product contains any two or three, of (i) at least about 0.5 g/l Ca.sup.2+, (iii) at least about 1 g/l K.sup.+, and (iii) at least about 0.1 g/l Mg2+. Also provided are methods of producing the same and the use thereof to assist in maintaining the health and well-being of a subject and in the treatment and prevention of medical ailments, specifically those associated with the over-consumption of glucose and/or sucrose or inappropriate metabolism of glucose, e.g. metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and liver steatosis.

The present invention provides a sugar-depleted fruit or vegetable juice product, wherein said juice product is a fruit or vegetable juice or juice-retaining fruit or vegetable derived matter, wherein said juice product contains at least about 5 g/l gluconic acid and said juice product contains any two or three, of (i) at least about 0.5 g/l Ca.sup.2+, (iii) at least about 1 g/l K.sup.+, and (iii) at least about 0.1 g/l Mg2+. Also provided are methods of producing the same and the use thereof to assist in maintaining the health and well-being of a subject and in the treatment and prevention of medical ailments, specifically those associated with the over-consumption of glucose and/or sucrose or inappropriate metabolism of glucose, e.g. metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus type II, obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, hypertension and liver steatosis.

The present invention relates among other things to a method for making enzymatically produced purple corn nectar having a composition comprising saccharides and. anthocyanins. The anthocyanin composition is present in concentrations of at least 40 mg/100 g of nectar and is a direct result of the process of making the corn nectar from the purple corn kernels and does not constitute an exogenous addition to the purple corn nectar.

The present invention relates among other things to a method for making enzymatically produced purple corn nectar having a composition comprising saccharides and. anthocyanins. The anthocyanin composition is present in concentrations of at least 40 mg/100 g of nectar and is a direct result of the process of making the corn nectar from the purple corn kernels and does not constitute an exogenous addition to the purple corn nectar.

A fermented beverage and a preparation method are disclosed. The method uses ripened fruits and/or vegetables as raw materials. The method includes performing a natural ripening on a fruit and/or a vegetable at 15° C. to 30° C. for 5 days to 10 days to obtain a ripened fruit and/or vegetable; and inoculating lactic acid bacteria into the ripened fruit and/or vegetable, and performing a fermentation for 10 days to 30 days at 15° C. to 30° C. to obtain the fermented beverage. After 23 days of fermentation, the fermented beverage has a total flavonoid content up to 0.5 mg/mL to 2.0 mg/mL, which is beneficial to human health, a pH of 3.2 to 3.8 and a total titratable acidity of up to 12 mg/mL to 18 mg/mL. The fermented beverage requires a short fermentation cycle, which is beneficial to industrial production.

Provided is a preparation method of composite juice mixed by noni fruit and blueberry, which includes the following steps: a noni fruit pre-fermentation, a blueberry pretreatment, a composite fruit juice fermentation, a filtration and a centrifugation. The prepared composite juice mixed by noni fruit and blueberry has a clear and transparent form, no precipitation, uniformity, no suspended matter, rich blueberry aroma, not pungent, soft taste, moderate sweet and sour, purple luster and translucent.

Provided is a preparation method of composite juice mixed by noni fruit and blueberry, which includes the following steps: a noni fruit pre-fermentation, a blueberry pretreatment, a composite fruit juice fermentation, a filtration and a centrifugation. The prepared composite juice mixed by noni fruit and blueberry has a clear and transparent form, no precipitation, uniformity, no suspended matter, rich blueberry aroma, not pungent, soft taste, moderate sweet and sour, purple luster and translucent.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a reduced calorie beverage or food product employing fermentation of a plant-derived juice or liquid and removing the ethanol therefrom. This invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the process for preparing a reduced calorie beverage or food product and to the reduced calorie juices and juice products created using this process and apparatus.

The invention relates to a process for preparing a reduced calorie beverage or food product employing fermentation of a plant-derived juice or liquid and removing the ethanol therefrom. This invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the process for preparing a reduced calorie beverage or food product and to the reduced calorie juices and juice products created using this process and apparatus.