Using stevioside and rebaudioside a extracted from stevia leaves as a sweetener in fruit drinks and fizzy drinks

In this study, quantities of Stevioside and Rebaudioside A that is obtained from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) grown in our country were determined. Stevia leaves were extracted with hot water and pectinase to recover the sweet compounds and alcohol was used for purifying the compounds. The amounts of Rebaudioside A and Stevioside was measured by HPLC. Furthermore lemonade as a fruit juice which has a large market share in our country in recent days and cola as a fizzy drink were prepared with compounds extracted from Stevia. The effect of sweet compounds on properties such as soluble dry matter, titratible acidity, pH, taste, odour, colour and appearance of lemonade were investigated and compared with properties of lemonade and cola prepared by sugar and artificial sweeteners.At the end of the extraction process of stevia leaves, 1,84 % percentage of stevia extract was obtained from 100 g dry stevia leaves. This extract contained rebaudioside A at a percentage of 51% and stevioside of 49%.Investigation of dry matter, titratible acidity, pH and colour values of cola and lemonade that were prepared with stevioside, rebaudioside A, sugar and aspartame-acesulfam K and stored at 4?C and 40?C, showed no significant storage effect on the variables studied. Also the results of sensible evaluation of these products has shown that the most preferable products were cola with sugar and lemonade with artificial sweetener and the least preferable products were cola and lemonade with stevioside.After storing the lemonade samples at 4?C and 40?C, the amount of ascorbic acid and HMF values were measured. It was found that the highest decomposition value (96.0-97.4%) of ascorbic acid was occurred in the product prepared with artificial sweetener and the lowest value (82-85%) occurred in the product prepared with stevioside and rebaudioside A. Also it was determined that lemonade with sugar contained the highest amount of HMF (0,81 mg/L) and lemonade with stevioside and with artificial sweetener did not contain any HMF.Keywords: Stevia Rebaudiana, Stevioside, Rebaudioside A, Extraction, Beverage