Development and quality evaluation of Ready-to-serve (RTS) beverage and tablet prepared from wild pomegranate (Punica granatum) 

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate wild pomegranate based functional food products i.e. RTS beverage and tablet with respect to nutritional composition, sensory acceptability and microbiological parameters at different storage intervals i.e. fresh, 3, 6 and 9 months. Focusing attention on this neglected and underutilized fruit is an effective way to help maintain a diverse and healthy diet. From the study, it was found that the fruit had high amounts of fibre (5.58 %), anthocyannin (21.38 mg/100g), vitamin C (17.00 mg/100g), pectin (1.86 % as calcium pectate), potassium (155.00 mg/1 OOg) and phosphorous content (86.66 mg/1 00g). The results for wild pomegranate beverage blended with cultivated pomegranate in different ratios (0:100, 25:75, 50:50,75:25 and 100:00) and pomegranate tablet showed that the TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, total and non-reducing sugars decreased significantly while reducing sugars increased significantly with the increase of storage interval. The TSS, acidity and reducing sugars increased from 17.49-17.86, 0.37-0.51 and 4.72-5.49 while pH, ascorbic acid, total and non -reducing sugars decreased from 3.94-3.89, 2.17-1.75, 15.27-12.61 and 9.99-6.70, respectively. The prepared food products viz., RTS beverage and tablet were subjected for sensory evaluation to a panel of 15 members at different storage intervals and the products were found to be acceptable in terms of colour, taste, consistency/texture up to storage interval of 6 months.