The American company creating flavours and fragrances International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has been granted a patent for sugarcane leaf essence that can improve the taste of flavoured foods, beverages, and supplements. The process increases, enhances or imparts flavour or taste of food items by adding to the end product a "tastand" composition obtained from saccharium officinarum leaves. The word "tastand" means that the composition effects flavour improvement, imparts flavours, effects sweetness enhancement, effects removal of bitter tastes and aftertastes, effects removal of metallic tastes and metallic aftertastes, and can also minimise the "chalky" flavour and mouthfeel of a calcium supplement. IFF's ingredient is intended for use in foodstuffs, chewing gums, beverages, oral care products and calcium supplements. Source: US Patent & Trade Office
