Development of Synbiotic Litchi Juice Drink and its Physiochemical, Viability and Sensory Analysis

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the viability, physicochemical analysis and sensory analysis using fuzzy logic of synbiotic litchi juice drink containing probiotic L. casei 359 microencapsulated by spray drying using whey protein concentrate powder (WPCP) as wall material along with prebiotics inulin, gum acacia and oligofructose. The viable cell counts showed promising results for WPCP in combination with inulin, although, the cell count was higher than 10 6 cfu/ml for all the juice drink samples. The microcapsules showed similar morphologies with partially collapsed spherical shape with concavities but no surface fissures. There was reduction in pH for the sample containing gum acacia as prebiotic. Rheological properties showed a non-Newtonian behaviour and Herschel-Buckley model was fitted best. Fuzzy analysis showed higher acceptance for the sample containing inulin as prebiotic based on the parameters of color, taste, aroma and mouthfeel.