Guar Gum Replacement for Instant Beverages

NEW ORLEANSA new ingredient, by TIC Gums, replaces guar gum on a one to one basis for instant or powdered beverages. Ticaloid® GE 306 is a blend that reduces the overall use of guar gum. This is accomplished while also improving the thickness of the finished beverage, a function that guar gum alone cannot provide. Ticaloid GE 306 is for instant beverages like lemonade and other powdered drinks.

Demand for guar gum is up over 200% compared to 2010 and tight availability will continue in the immediate future. The guar gum supply challenge in 2011 was shaped by both raw material availability and the industrys production capacity to manage such a sudden and significant increase in demand, said Gregory C. Andon, president of TIC Gums.  There is a bottleneck around the overall guar industrys manufacturing capacity, which will remain a challenge no matter what happens to the availability of guar seeds. The bottom line is that without a reduction in demand, 2012 supply limits and historically high prices are still expected."

Ticaloid GE 306 improves the overall mouthfeel of instant beverages because the thickness is slightly greater than that accomplished using only guar gum. This blend of ingredients, still containing reduced levels of guar gum, is cold water soluble and has comparable qualities of 100% guar gum. Ticaloid GE 306 provides a clean flavor profile and improved mouthfeel.

Beverages were also evaluated for the overall textural effects. According to food scientists at TIC Gums, the guar gum beverage contained a noticeable beany flavor." The texture was thick up front but cleared from the mouth quickly. Ticaloid GE 306 had a cleaner flavor profile. The low thickness made it easy to swallow with slightly slower mouth clearing, allowing the flavors to linger in the mouth longer.