CLARITY & CLEAN TASTE:

PROTEIN DRINK
CASE STUDY
 Drink Features High Protein
With Clean, Neutral Taste
SITUATION:
Grande Custom Ingredients Group was asked by a well-known beverage manufacturer to help develop a completely
clear, high-protein beverage that featured a clean, neutral taste that would complement the beverage’s Strawberry
Lemonade flavor. Coupled with the clarity and taste required, the beverage could not possess the astringency that
can be left by some high-pH ingredients. The manufacturer’s goal was a beverage with 10g of protein per 8 oz.
serving at a pH of 3.5.

PROCESS:
For confidentiality purposes, the applications staff at Grande Custom Ingredients Group was not provided the
specifics of the proposed formulation but was able to use their experience with whey proteins and flavors to develop
several options which included the use of Grande Ultra® 9100 and Grande Ultra® 9150 whey protein isolates
specifically because of Ultra’s combination of clarity and taste over a wide pH.

SOLUTION:
After analyzing and taste-testing the options provided, the customer determined that the formulation using Grande
Ultra 9150 was their best choice based on their stated goals. The beverage with Grande Ultra 9150 Acidified WPI
had the most appealing flavor, remained clear, provided the desired protein level and was less astringent than
competitive alternatives because no additional acid was needed for the product to reach the desired pH of 3.5.

RESULTS:
The customer developed and launched a great-tasting beverage in a clear application that had a very clean flavor
and was not astringent at pH 3.5. They met their stated objectives of 10g of protein in a 16 oz. bottle.
Bravo 500 Standard WPC
Grande Ultra® features these characteristics:
• Superior clarity and stability in RTD beverages
• Stable up to pH 3.5 in RTD beverage applications
• Clean flavor
• Available instantized and acidified

Certifications & Labeling

• Product Patent 8,431,174
• USPH Grade A
• USDA/FDA
• Kosher Dairy
• EU
• Ingredient Statement: “Whey Protein or Whey Protein Isolate. Contains Milk.”
• Derived from natural whey protein

Turbidity vs. pH
(5g Protein per 8oz. serving)
1200

1000

800
Turbidity (NTU)

Grande Ultra 9100

600 Competitor A
Competitor B

400

200

6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3

pH

Call us at 800.772.3210 or send an e-mail to gcig@grande.com © 2015 Grande Cheese Company