Title: Alternative Sweeteners

136 Stargel et al.
Figure 4 Taste profile of neotame at various concentrations in water.
significantly longer linger than sucrose. As shown in Fig. 5, the sweetness temporal
profile of neotame in water is close to that of aspartame, with a slightly slower
onset but without significantly longer linger.
Like other intense sweeteners, the temporal profile for neotame is application
specific. In confectionery applications such as sugar-free chewing gum, neotame’s
sweet linger positively extends both sweetness and flavor. In other applications
such as powdered soft drinks, the temporal parameters for neotame,
specifically its onset and linger, are similar to those of sucrose. The onset and
linger of sweetness can be modified by combining neotame with small amounts
of commonly used flavorings or additives such as emulsifiers or acids. The ability
to modify onset and extinction of sweetness by formulation is a distinct advantage
and unique characteristic of neotame.
Neotame can be used as a sweetener either alone or blended with other
sweeteners in foods and beverages. Sensory evaluations in carbonated soft drinks,
powdered soft drinks, cakes, yogurt, hot-packed lemon tea, chewing gum, and
as a tabletop sweetener in hot coffee and iced tea demonstrate the functionality
of neotame in different food and beverage matrices.
C. Flavor-Enhancing Property
Flavor enhancers are substances that can be added to foods to supplement, enhance,
or modify the original taste and/or aroma of a food without imparting a
characteristic taste or aroma of its own (6). Sensory testing demonstrated flavor
enhancement for neotame at very low subsweetening concentrations.
Flavor-enhancing properties combine with intense sweetness to provide
unique functionality to neotame as a food additive. The flavor synergy of neotame
in fruit-based drinks reduces the amount of juice required to maintain the mouth-