CAESAREA, Israel – A company called Lampados International Ltd. (Caesarea, Israel) has launched a new stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) sweetener, called Liteez, which has a meringue-like appearance and is designed to dissolve into a foam in hot beverages.
Formulating the company’s meringue-like “kiss” sweetener with stevia was a challenge due to stevia’s acidity and isoelectric point of the mixture changes relative to using other high-intensity sweeteners like sucralose, the company says.
The company says that it was ultimately able to create a sweetener that is soluble enough to dissolve in hot drinks and that will settle into a delicate foam.
“Changing the physical characteristics of the product changed the texture and manufacturing parameters,” explained Noam Kaplan, CEO, Lampados in a press release.
“After dozens of lab trials, we successfully overcame all these challenges, maintaining the desired texture, form, flavor, color—and functionality—of the kisses.”
Stevia is also known to have off-notes. The company says that Liteez contains prebiotic fibers that build sweetness, act as a bulking agent, function as a nutraceutical, and that mask stevia’s off-notes.
“Liteez, is much more than just another sweetener,” explained Kaplan. “It’s a fun, 3D, easy-to-use sugar replacer that doubles as a sweet treat. You can eat it as a treat when drinking tea or coffee or, if you need sweetness in the drink, just stir it right in. It will completely dissolve in about half a minute.”
Kaplan continued: “This is a true breakthrough, 3D solution for consumers seeking plant-based, low-calorie sweeteners.”
Jennifer Prince
