Development and Quality Evaluation of Ready to Serve (RTS) Beverage from Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

This study aimed to develop a process for the development of ready to serve (RTS) beverages from enzyme liquefied (pectinase) Cape gooseberry juice with additives and preservatives. Storage stability of the RTS beverage at both refrigerated temperature (LT: 4 ± 1 °C) and room temperature (RT: 27 ± 2 °C) were evaluated for 90 days for microbial, sensorial and physicochemical quality parameters. The stability of RTS beverage stored at LT (4 ± 1 °C) was excellent with a retention of the primary quality attributes ascorbic acid (15.44 mg/100 mL), total phenolic content (15.50 mg GAE/100 mL), total carotene (1.07 mg/100 mL), β-carotene (0.78 mg/100 mL), high viscosity (30.29 cp), and with high sensory scores of the product (8.3) up to 90 days as compared to the overall acceptability (6.5) of RT stored RTS for 60 days. Additionally, both the LT and RT stored RTS beverages had microbial counts within the permissible limits. Therefore, both beverages were safe to consume at the end of storage duration. In conclusion, the RTS beverage developed from Cape gooseberry could be served as functional health drink alternative to synthetic soft drinks due to its unique features (high nutritive values, high organoleptic values and high stability) of the product.