Present investigation was undertaken to prepare carbonated beverage from pomegranate juice. Fruits of Ganesh variety were used in investigation. The yield of pomegranate juice obtained on whole fruit basis was 43percent while it was 68percent on aril weight basis. The carbonated beverage was prepared with 5,10,15,20 percent pomegranate juice with blending of ginger juice at 1, 2, 3percent by maintaining the TSS at 15 Brix and acidity 0.32percent. Based on the organoleptic evaluation, carbonated beverage with 10 per cent pomegranate juice and ginger juice 1percent was best among all the levels.

Keywords: pomegranate, carbonated beverage, pomegranate juice, ginger juice

Pomegranate Fruit Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is one of the most important fruit crops in India because of its adaptable nature, high profitability and being cultivated on a commercial scale in temperate, tropical and subtropical regions of country.¹ Its fruits are good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, mainly anthocyanins which exhibit strong chemo-preventive activities such as antimutagenicity, anti hypertension, antioxidative potential and reduction of liver injury.^2‒4 The edible part of the pomegranate is called aril which constitutes about 52% of total fruit (w/w), comprising 78% juice and 22% seeds.^5‒7

Joseph Priestly (1767) invented carbonation process in which carbonated water was made by passing pressurized carbon dioxide through water. The pressure increases the solubility and allows more carbon dioxide to dissolve than would be possible under standard atmospheric pressure. When the bottle was opened, the pressure is released allowing the gas to come out of the solution, thus forming the characteristic bubbles. A method of preparation of carbonated RTS beverages using pomegranate syrup was described. Preparation and storage of carbonated ready to serve (RTS) pomegranate beverage. The pomegranate syrup consisted of 100% fruit juice, 0.5% citric acid and brix was maintained at 65%. The syrup was diluted to 5times and then carbonated.

Carbonated RTS beverage from acidic tamarind pulp was developed by exposing the pulp to mixture of food enzymes .Tamarind RTS beverage was prepared using 12.5% tamarind extract, 0.4% acidity and adjusting to 16 °brix. It was demonstrated that carbonated coconut beverages packed in glass bottles with crown cork seal can be safely preserved for 6months period at an ambient temperature range of 28- 32°C.

Fruits like pomegranate, orange, amla and lemon because of high acidity and sharp taste are not palatable for direct consumption. To make them fit for human consumption and available throughout the year in the form of beverage, a reliable, controllable and reproducible technology has been developed for production of carbonated beverage with preservation of all the nutrients of the fruit. Compared to fruit juices the formulations of carbonated fruit beverage offers more variety of flavors nutrients long shelf life and other physiological benefits with a greater margin of safety in drink with a lower inherent cost. In the present study carbonated pomegranate beverage was successfully prepared from the pomegranate juice and physicochemical properties with sensory evaluation were studied.

Pomegranate fruits

Pomegranate fruits of ganesh variety were obtained from koyambedu anna fruit market from Chennai. The fruits of uniform size, color, and maturity were used for investigation.

Moisture: The moisture contents of the fruits were determined according to standard method. (Method 934.06 of AOAC, 1990).

Titratable acidity: Acidity of juice was determined by titration with 0.01 N sodium hydroxide Ranganna.⁸ The percent acidity was expressed in terms of anhydrous citric acid.

Ash

The sample (5g) was kept in a muffle furnace and ashed at a temperature not exceeding 525˚C for 6 hours. The ash was then cooled in a desiccator and weighed. The ash content was recorded as g per 100 g-fresh weights (g/100g-fw) (method 940.26 of AOAC, 1990).

Sugars and soluble solids: Total sugars, reducing sugars and total soluble solids content in the pomegranate fruits were estimated by following the procedures of 932.12 of AOAC (1990).⁷

Total Soluble Solids (T.S.S): Total Soluble Solids were determined by using Abbes refractometer (0-32˚Bx) and expressed in degree brix (˚Bx).

Ascorbic acid: Determination of ascorbic acid was done by 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol dye method suggested by Ranganna.⁸

Sugars: Reducing, non-reducing and total sugars were determined by the methods of Lane and Eynon⁹ with slight modifications suggested by Ranganna.⁸

Anthocyanin content: The total anthocyanin pigments were measured by the method of Flueki and Francis (1986) with slight modification suggested by Khurdiya and Roy.¹⁰

Organoleptic evaluation: It has been long recognized that enjoyment of Food product is essential for good health. Enjoyment would mean choice, acceptance, nutrition and whole sameness. The 9 point hedonic scale for sensory evaluation has been used extensively since, its developments with a wide variety of products and with considerable success.

Development and characterization of a carbonated pomegranate beverage

The pure pomegranate extract was blended with food additives mentioned above in accordance with standard set by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The resulting solution is a pomegranate soft drink. Carbonation was done in carbonation pilot plant. To carbonate the product, it was first absorption of CO₂, which was then added to the pomegranate soft drink with the aid of carbonator. The temperature and pressure of the carbonator gauge varied at 100 to 120 psi and three different stages to vary the volume of CO₂ in the pomegranate soft drink represented as sample A (Used 10% pomegranate juice), B (Used 12% pomegranate juice), C (Used 15% pomegranate juice) was carbonated. The product was then bottled and sealed immediately for freshness. The product (carbonated pomegranate drink) was then analysed to determine the chemical content, pH, titratable acidity, brix, carbohydrate, protein and etc.

Storage of the carbonated beverage: Storage of carbonated beverage was done at two different condition viz., ambient storage (12.2- 33.1˚C) and cool storage (5-8˚C) for a period of three months.

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis of the results during storage of carbonated beverage of pomegranate juice was done according to the Factorial Completely Randomized Design (FCRD).

Physico-chemical characteristics of pomegranate fruit and juice

Fruits of pomegranate cv. Ganesh used in present investigation were having following physical as well as chemical properties (Table 1).

The values of physico-chemical characteristics of pomegranate fruits and juice used in present investigation are comparable with those reported by Swaminathan Sood,¹¹ Jagtap,⁵ Waskar,¹² Vaidya et al.¹³

Chemical composition of carbonated beverage prepared (Table 2)

Carbonated beverages of various compositions have been reported by several workers. The values of various chemical parameters of carbonated beverage prepared from 10% pomegranate juice and 1% ginger juice are comparable with those reported by Khurdiya,⁶ Shelar et al.,¹⁴

Effect of ambient storage condition on chemical composition of carbonated beverage (Table 3)

Effect of cool storage condition on chemical composition of carbonated beverage (Table 4)

The carbonated beverage prepared from pomegranate juice could be stored for two months in ambient condition storage and three months in cool storage condition.

During storage of the carbonated beverage slight changes in chemical composition were recorded. Increase in T.S.S., pH, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars as well as decrease in titrable acidity, ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content was recorded in all treatments irrespective of storage condition. The rate of increase in T.S.S., pH, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars and total sugars as well as decrease in titrable acidity, ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content was higher in ambient condition than cool storage condition. Similar findings were reported by Khurdiya,¹⁰ Shelar et al.,¹⁴

Effect of ambient storage condition on organoleptic composition of carbonated beverage (Table 5)

Effect of cool storage condition on organoleptic composition of carbonated beverage (Table 6)

The score for all sensory attributes decreased gradually during storage period. The decrease in score for taste, flavor, colour and overall acceptability was rapid in ambient storage condition than cool storage condition Similar findings were reported by Khurdiya,¹⁰ Shelar et al.,¹⁴ Khurdiya DS,^15,16 Kulkarni AP,¹⁷ Lansky E,¹⁸ Lopez-Rubira V et al.¹⁹ More TA,²⁰ Sood DR²¹

None.

Author declares that there is no conflict of interest.