Abstract: The subject invention relates to a natural sweetening composition comprising:(a) sweet juice derived from the botanical genus/species Siraitia grosvenorii, S. siamensis, S. silomaradjae, S. sikkimensis, S. africana, S. borneensis, S. taiwaniana or mixtures thereof; and(b) sugar, wherein said sugar is selected fructose, sucrose, glucose or mixtures thereof; and wherein the ratio of the sweet juice to the sugar is from about 1:1 to about 1:5. An edible acid and/or an edible salt can be added to the composition to improve the flavor. A beverage comprising an effective amount of a flavoring system and a sweetening composition is also claimed. These beverages are reduced calorie and can be supplemented with vitamins and minerals.

Abstract: The present invention involves processes preparation of a sweet juice from fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family comprising the following steps of separating peels and seeds from the juice; optionally acidifying the juices; removing off-flavor precursors from the juice; and removing a methylene chloride extractable volatiles fraction containing off-flavor materials from the juice. The present invention also involves sweet juices from the fruit of the Cucurbitaceae family comprising less than about 100 ppm (dry basis) methionine, and from about 0.1% to about 15% (dry basis) sweet terpene glycoside.