A GUM BASE COMPOSITION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a natural gum base composition which provides soft and elastic chewing, and comprises "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum the flavoring ability of which is enhanced.

Background of the Invention

"Gundelia Tournefortii" gum is obtained from root of a plant naturally growing in the nature by drying a milk-like fluid under the sun and it is sold in its natural form. The chewing properties of "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum in the mouth differ according to the region where it is picked. "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum can damage stoppings in teeth when it is chewed first due to its hard structure or it can cause weak teeth to break. For this reason, unprocessed, natural "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum should be softened and its chewing properties should be enhanced.

In a standard gum base production, raw materials with rubber properties (SBR rubber, polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, etc.) and dietary vinyl polymers are used. These raw materials are hydrophobic. "Gundelia Tournefortii" exhibit more hydrophilic properties relative to these materials due to its polysaccharide property. By means of this feature, it is possible to produce a base which tastes better in mouth, has more quality and can give useful ingredients to be added when necessary by being used in gum base production. Due to chemical structure of "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum having polysaccharide characteristics, it has more humectant features since it is easier to be fixed with other saccharides relative to the polymers used in standard gum base. Besides, it has better chewing and flavoring features in the mouth with saliva.

In the state of the art, gum with "Gundelia Tournefortii" having polysaccharide and hydrocolloid structure with these features has not been defined yet.

By means of this invention, "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum which is still being chewed in its natural form and exhibits various tastes in mouth and chewing features is made a component of gum base, and thus a natural ingredient is included into the base and the petroleum product content of the base is reduced.

The Problems Solved with the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a gum base composition the petroleum derivative raw materials of which are reduced, which comprises "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum and which is more natural.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a gum base composition with "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum which provides soft and elastic chewing. A further objective of the present invention is to provide a gum base composition with "Gundelia Tournefortii" the flavor releasing ability of which is increased.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The gum composition which is developed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention essentially comprises

glycerol esters of natural tree resin,

hydrogenated vegetable oils,

hydrogenated vegetable oil based mono/diglycerides,

natural waxes, and resins

- Gundelia Tournefortii. The inventive gum base composition comprises glycerol esters of natural tree resin in range of 2.50-40% by weight, hydrogenated vegetable oils in range of 2.50-15.00% by weight, hydrogenated herbal oil based mono/diglycerides in range of 2.00-10.00% by weight, natural waxes in range of 1.00-10.00% by weight, "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum in range of 1-15% by weight. Preferably, the inventive gum base composition comprises glycerol esters of natural tree resin and natural resins Chicle, Jelutong , Balata in range of 15-30% by weight.

The inventive gum base composition comprises the 2 ^nd esters of hydrogenated vegetable oil based mono/di glycerides. It comprises 2 ^nd esters of hydrogenated vegetable oil based mono/diglycerides preferably in range of 0.50-10.00% by weight, more preferably in range of 4-5%.

The inventive gum base composition comprised filling material as auxiliary raw material. It preferably comprises talc and/or calcium carbonate as filling material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the gum base composition comprises filling material in ratio of 50% maximum, by weight. In one embodiment of the invention, the gum base composition comprises Shea, Candelila and/or Carnauba as natural wax.

The inventive gum base composition comprises antioxidant material as additive such that it will not exceed 350 ppm per gum in accordance with Food additives Regulation. Preferably it comprises BHA, BHT and/or tocopherol materials as antioxidant.

The reason for the raw material ratios used in the inventive gum base composition being in a broad band is that each raw material in the composition mixes with other raw materials differently. When "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum is used with emulsifiers, it can be mixed with more hydrogenated oil relative to rubber and vinyl polymers thanks to its hydrophilic structure. Furthermore, soft and elastic chewing can be provided by adding water in ratios to the mono/diglycerides with emulsifier characteristics and raw materials with gum characteristics present in the composition together with the "Gundelia Tournefortii.

Two "z" blade mixers, a standard mixing machine, were used while using "Gundelia Tournefortii" in the base. "Gundelia Tournefortii" gum is included into the composition together with other raw materials. Mixing temperature is approximately 110 °C.

If it is wanted, the base which is obtained can be mixed with sweeteners in certain ratios and conventional gum with sugar or sweetener can be made, or it can also be produced without using any sugar and/or sweetener. Furthermore, it can also be produced as sugar free gum with enhanced chewing properties by reducing the density by aerating.