The present invention relates to a steviol glycoside having the formula of (I) ##STR00001## wherein at least 3 sugar moieties are present at positions R1 and at least three sugar moieties are present at position R2 and wherein the steviol glycoside comprises at least seven sugar moieties all of which are linked, directly or indirectly, to the steviol aglycon by β-linkages.

Sweetener compositions comprising particular glycoside blends are described in this paper. The glycioside blends comprise rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, and/or rebaudioside D in various proportions. The sweetener composition can also include one or more bulking agents or other ingredients. The sweetener compositions can be used in foods and beverages.

Sweetener compositions comprising particular glycoside blends are described in this paper. The glycioside blends comprise rebaudioside A, rebaudioside B, and/or rebaudioside D in various proportions. The sweetener composition can also include one or more bulking agents or other ingredients. The sweetener compositions can be used in foods and beverages.

Provided herein is a liquid concentrate composition comprising steviol glycosides, a stabiliser comprising xanthan and/or iota-carrageenan, and water. The steviol glycosides include rebaudioside M in an amount of about 800 ppm or more by total weight of the liquid concentrate composition. The pH of the liquid concentrate composition is less than about 7. Also provided herein is a method of providing a food product, a food product obtainable from the method, and a method of providing a liquid concentrate composition.

Provided herein is a liquid concentrate composition comprising steviol glycosides, a stabiliser comprising xanthan and/or iota-carrageenan, and water. The steviol glycosides include rebaudioside M in an amount of about 800 ppm or more by total weight of the liquid concentrate composition. The pH of the liquid concentrate composition is less than about 7. Also provided herein is a method of providing a food product, a food product obtainable from the method, and a method of providing a liquid concentrate composition.

A solubilized steviol glycoside composition including one or more steviol glycosides and one or more steviol glycoside solubility enhancers can be used as a sweetener composition to sweeten other compositions (sweetenable compositions) such as foods, beverages, medicines, oral hygiene compositions, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and the like.

Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudiosides A, D and M are described. The methods include utilizing recombinant microorganisms for converting various staring compositions to target steviol glycosides. In addition, novel steviol glycosides reb D2 and reb M2 are disclosed, as are methods of preparing the same. The highly purified rebaudiosides are useful as non-caloric sweetener in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.

Methods of preparing highly purified steviol glycosides, particularly rebaudiosides A, D and M are described. The methods include utilizing recombinant microorganisms for converting various staring compositions to target steviol glycosides. In addition, novel steviol glycosides reb D2 and reb M2 are disclosed, as are methods of preparing the same. The highly purified rebaudiosides are useful as non-caloric sweetener in edible and chewable compositions such as any beverages, confectioneries, bakery products, cookies, and chewing gums.

The present invention provides a method for preparation of an enzyme-modified stevia sugar. The method includes the steps of adding a β-fructosidase to a solution in which a stevia sugar raw material and sucrose are dissolved to obtain a reaction solution, adjusting the pH of the reaction solution to be 5.0-8.0, maintaining a reaction temperature at 20-45° C., and after a reaction with stirring, collecting the enzyme-modified stevia sugar. The stevia sugar raw material includes one or more of stevioside and rebaudioside A, and the β-fructosidase is derived from Microbacterium saccharophilum or Aspergillus japonicus. The preparation method takes a short time, is efficient and convenient to operate, low in cost, high in conversion rate, green and environmentally friendly, and can be widely applied to industrial scale production. The present invention further provides an enzyme for preparation of the enzyme-modified stevia sugar and application thereof.

Steviol glycoside compositions having improved sweetness and flavor profiles are described.