FLAVORED MELT FORMULATION

Abstract

A flavored melt is provided. The flavored melt includes a baked sugar composition, wherein the baked sugar composition includes sugar, water, one or more natural or artificial flavorings, and one or more bitter blockers.

Claims

1. A flavored melt, comprising: a baked sugar composition, the baked sugar composition including: sugar; water; one or more natural or artificial flavorings; and one or more bitter blockers.

2. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the baked sugar composition is formed into a desired shape.

3. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the sugar includes one or more sugars selected from the group consisting of baker's sugar; brown sugar; dark brown sugar; and caramel powder.

4. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more natural or artificial flavorings are selected from the group consisting of chocolate flavored powder, cocoa powder; and vanilla flavor.

5. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes food coloring.

6. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes salt.

7. The flavored melt as recited in claim 1, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

8. A method for forming a flavored melt, comprising: blending a plurality of ingredients of a baked sugar composition, wherein the plurality of ingredients includes: sugar; water; one or more natural or artificial flavorings; and one or more bitter blockers; placing the blended ingredients into an internal cavity of a mold; removing the blended ingredients from the mold, wherein the blended ingredients retain a shape of the internal cavity; and baking the blended ingredients in the shape of the internal cavity, forming the flavored melt.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the sugar includes one or more sugars selected from the group consisting of: baker's sugar; brown sugar; dark brown sugar; and caramel powder.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the one or more natural or artificial flavorings are selected from the group consisting of: chocolate flavored powder; cocoa powder; and vanilla flavor.

11. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes food coloring.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes salt.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the baked sugar composition further includes sodium carboxymethylcellulose.

14. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising: cooling the flavored melt after baking the blended ingredients.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising: packaging the flavored melt after cooling the flavored melt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a method for forming flavored melts, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a system for forming flavored melts, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

[0029] Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

[0030] Referring now to FIG. 1, a method 100 for forming flavored melts is illustratively depicted, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] At step 105, a pre-determined mixture of dry ingredients 205 (as shown in system 200 of FIG. 2) and wet ingredients 210 and premeasured. According to an embodiment, the ingredients may include wet ingredients 210 such as, e.g., water, food coloring, and/or any other suitable liquid ingredients. According to an embodiment, the ingredients may include dry ingredients 205 such as, e.g., baker's sugar, brown sugar, dark brown sugar, caramel powder, sodium carboxymethykellulose, salt, chocolate flavored powder, cocoa powder, vanilla flavor, and/or any other suitable dry ingredients. It is further noted that, according to each embodiment of the present invention, the wet ingredients 210 and/or dry ingredients 205 include one or more bitter blockers 215.

[0032] The inclusion of the bitter blockers 215 enables the flavored melts 235 to block some or all of the bitter flavor from the beverage (e.g., coffee, tea, espresso, cappuccino, etc.), making the beverage smoother and tastier. By removing or decreasing the bitterness from the beverage, the flavored melt 235 makes the beverage more enjoyable, thus producing a direct benefit to the consumer of the beverage. Furthermore, unlike creamers, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the flavored melts 235 include no dairy. A lot of people who are either lactose intolerant or just looking to cut calories and fat grams by not putting any type of dairy into their beverage, by using the flavored melts 235 of the present invention, will be able to make their beverages more enjoyable and sweeter without the use of dairy and make their beverages less bitter with the use of the bitter blockers 215.

[0033] At step 110, any dry ingredients 205 are added to any wet ingredients 210 and blended until the ingredients form an approximately homogenous blended mixture 220. It is noted that any suitable method of blending may be used, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

[0034] At step 115, the blended ingredients 220 are placed in one or more molds 225, the molds 225 having a cavity 230 in the shape of a desired flavored melt 235. It is noted that any suitable cavity shape may be used while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. According to an embodiment, the blended ingredients 220 are firmly pressed into the molds 225. According to an embodiment, excess blended ingredients 220 is removed from the molds 225, ensuring smooth edges of the flavored melts 235.

[0035] According to an embodiment, once the blended ingredients 220 are placed in the molds 225, the molded blended ingredients 220, at step 120, are removed from the molds 225 and, at step 125, baked. According to an embodiment, the baking process involves baking the ingredients 220 at approximately 250 F. for approximately one hour. It is noted, however, that, depending on the desired ingredients, texture, appearance, etc., that other temperatures and timeframes may be used to prepare the flavored melts 235, while maintaining the spirit of the present invention. According to various embodiments, one or more heating methods 240 may be used to bake the blended ingredients 220. These heating methods may include, e.g., a rotating rack over, a band over, a dehydrator, a drying/heated room, and/or any other suitable heating method.

[0036] At step 130, the baked ingredients are cooled, forming the flavored melts 235. According to an embodiment, the ingredients are left to air-cool. According to an embodiment, the ingredients are cooled using a refrigeration device 245. Once the ingredients are cooled, the flavored melts 235, at step 135, are packaged for sale and/or use. According to an embodiment, each flavored melt 235 is individually packaged.

[0037] When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, and the are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective another, when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms including and having are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

[0038] Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.