Soft drinks are those plants that
are engaged in manufacturing of non alcoholic carbonated juice,
carbonated water, soda, concentrates, fruit juices and syrups. Since
soft drinks or beverages consist of water they prevents dehydration. The
sugar content in the soft drinks and the fruit juices provide essential
energy and vitamins.
Fruit Drinks
Fruit drinks are of two types- one which is consumed immedietly after
opening the bottle and the other that is consumed in different time
intervals. The latter type of fruit drinks need preservation. These
types of drinks are preserved by adding preservatives. The different
types of fruit drinks that are available for consumption are :
- Nectors
- Juices
- Syrups
- Squashes
- Cordials
Fruit Drink Processing
Fruit drink processing involves following steps :
- Pulping
For making soft drinks pulp or fruit juice is the starting
material. Soft fruits are pulped either by hand or through small
equipments like pestle and mortor. Industrially the process is
carried out by pulpers which apply brush through
the sieves and eject the stone and the skin.
- Juice Extraction
Juice are extracted through many ways like fruit pressing, through
juicer, by crushing and pulping and by steaming the fruit.
- Pasteurization and preservation
To increase the shelf life of fruit juices they are pasteurized.
They are first heated and then filled in a sterlized bottles.
Preservatives are also added to maintain the freshness taste and
shelf life of the product.
The other types of beverages and beverage machines that are used
commonly by the people across the world are :
- Carbonated Drink Mixer
The mixer is used for preparing carbonic acid water. Here the
purified chilled water is sprayed and pump into mixing cylinder by a
pump. The water gets mixed with carbon dioxide gas and absorb it
thereby resulting in carbonated water or carbonic acid water.
- Concentrates
Fruit concentrates are made by heating fruit juice to high
temperature and then evaporating off the water. This leaves a thick
syrup that is a small proportion of the original volume. The
bottling stage involves the addition of water to blend the juice up
to its normal strength.
