Development and Quality Evaluation of Ready to Serve (RTS) Beverage from Banana Pseudo Stem

Vegetable beverage was part of a balanced diet that make sure the vigor and healthy body. Vegetable juices were rich in fiber content which was quickly inducing the feeling of satiety and also improve digestion. The objective of this study was to formulate and prepare ready to serve (RTS) banana pseudo stem beverage. Two banana varieties were selected viz., ottu vazhai (syn Mupaddai) (V1), vayal vazhai (V2). Banana pseudo stem beverage was developed from banana tender core, natural flavorings (lemon, mint)extracts, 2% citric acid as a anti-browning agent, KMS (70ppm) as preservative and CMC (0.1%) as a stabilizer. The proximate composition, physico- chemical analysis, sensory evaluation and microbial study of the pseudo stem beverage was evaluated using standard procedures. The beverages were evaluated at 15 days interval period. During storage conditions the quality of juice with minimum significant changes in chemical properties was observed with the addition of KMS. Based on the sensory evaluation, lemon juice flavored pseudo stem beverage was highly accepted by consumer than mint flavored beverage. Storage study for the pseudo stem beverage was also carried out and significant difference was noticed in beverage. Compare to vayal vazhai (V2), the yield of juice (87.0%) content was higher in ottu vazhai (syn Mupaddai) (V1).The maximum desirable results were obtained from (V1) lemon flavored beverage stored at refrigeration condition. The results were showed that pH (3.28 to 4.75), TSS (12 to 14.0° brix), Acidity (0.35 to 0.26) and vitamin C (0.77 to 0.59). From the storage studies, the lemon flavored pseudo stem beverage (Mupaddai variety V1) was found to be the best in nutrient retention and sensory evaluation than mint flavour beverage and it was accepted up to 45 days.