Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a protein beverages. More particularly to a nutritious plant based and vegan multi-millet protein beverage to be used as supplementary food and a process for preparing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Nutrition is a basic human need and a prerequisite to a healthy life. A proper diet is essential from the very early stages of life for proper growth and healthy development. The current Covid-19 pandemic situation made everyone realize the importance of self-care and has reinforced the need for healthy, transparently sourced, produced sustainable convenience foods for daily nourishment.
A hurdle in feeding cereal-legume-based diets to very young children starts from the low-calorie density of these diets, which could be overcome by the reduction of viscosity of cooked cereal foods, and their calorie density increased by the addition of malted flour which is a source of digestive enzymes.
Millet is very coarse grain and hence it not commonly used in preparation of beverages. In existing millet beverages available in market there is very less or no actual millet particles and does not have the processing of millet bran. Therefore, the obtained finished product does not have the original flavor of millet grains and less nutritional value.
Thus, keeping in mind the above-forgoing challenge the inventors of the present invention have developed a multi-millet protein beverage that serves as a supplementary nutritious food which is 3 – 5 times nutritionally superior to rice and wheat. The millet is all-season crop that provides multiple securities like food, fodder, health, nutrition, and livelihood to millions of households making it cheaper and affordable. It has more nutritive content compared to rice and its ingestion results in a slower release of glucose,. It has a low glycaemic index (GI) and low glycaemic load (GL) thus, their habitual intake reduces the risk of diabetes. Additionally the millets are high in minerals, particularly iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, and potassium. In order to describe the invention hereinafter the multi-millet protein beverage is referred as multi-millet beverage.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-millet beverage with plant-based proteins contents which serves as supplementary food.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved process for the preparation of nutritious multi-millet beverage .
It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-millet beverage which has extended shelf life
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a multi-millet beverage which is completely vegan.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of example.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-millet protein beverage for nutrition supplement suitable for human consumption comprising a caseinate free millet protein base prepared from multiple millet grains, a plant-based milk powder milk prepared from coconut milk, at least one vegan thickening agents, at least one sweetener, at least one flavoring agent and at least one coloring agent an essential vitamin and minerals mixture and a protein isolates of soy and pea.
The multi-millet beverage of present invention in one of the embodiment comprises millet grains are selected from Bajra (Pearl Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kangi (Foxtail Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kodu (Kodo Millet) (0.5-1.0%), and Ragi (Finger Millet) (2.0%-3.0%), the plant based milk powder (0.5-1.0%) is prepared from milk extracted from coconut fruit, the thickening agent is Xanthan Gum (0.05-0.1%) and the said sweetener is jaggery powder (8.0-10.0%). The millet beverage of present invention in an embodiment further comprises a soy protein isolates is 2-3% w/v and pea protein isolate is 2-3% w/v along with the small quantity of a essential vitamin and mineral mixture.
The present invention relates to a improved procedure for the preparation of multi-millet beverage comprising steps wherein the millet grains of different varieties are blended to form a composite flour and then sieved with to obtain the same particle size The composite flour is moistened with potable water to form a dough and then fed to twin screw extruder with pre-conditioned top wherein it passed through 3 barrels set at different tempratures of T1, T2 and T3. The composite millet puff are obtained from the outlet of extruder which undergo oven drying to reduce moisture content in them. The dried puffs are grinded into fine powder. The millet powder is blended with dry ingredients like plant-based milk powder, thickening agent, flavoring agent and coloring agents and a mixtureof vitamins and minerals along with water to form a premix solution. A slurry of water and a sweetener is preparaed separately which is then added to premix solution to form a homogenized solution which is subjected to a high shear homogenizer at 120 barr resulting in a homogenous emulsion. The final product undergoes pasteurization to eliminate any pathogens to extend the desired shelf life of the beverage. The pasteurized beverage is aseptically filled in tetra packs as finished product. The said millet beverage can be used as meal replacement.
The embodiments described herein are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a flow diagram of preparation of multi-millet base for process of making millet beverage of present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates a flow diagram of the method of preparation of the multi-millet beverage of the present invention.
Figure 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the aseptic filling and packaging of multi-millet beverage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-millet beverage compriseing a caseinate free millet protein base prepared from multiple millet grains a plant-based milk powder, at least one vegan thickening agents, at least one sweetener, at least one flavoring agent, at least one coloring agent, an essential vitamin and minerals mixture; and a protein isolats of soy and pea.
In an preferred embodiment of present invention the multi-millet beverage comprisies millet grains selected from varities like Bajra (Pearl Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kangi (Foxtail Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kodu (Kodo Millet) (0.5-1.0%), and Ragi (Finger Millet) (2.0%-3.0%) in 3% to 8% w/v.
The plant-based milk powder prepared from milk extracted from coconut fruit which increases the calorie value of the millet protein. The coconut milk powder is taken 0.5-1.0% w/v for preperation of beverage.
The sweetener either natural or synthetic selected from sucrose, jaggery powder, sucralose, aspartame, and/or acesulfame potassium, neotame, polydextrose, glycerin, sorbitol, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, saccharin, honey, molasses, maple syrup, and xylitol. The present invention in an embodiment uses jaggery powder 8.0-10.0% w/v as sweetener.
The coloring agents are selected from as citric acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, tartaric acid, and in some instances lactic acid may be added to adjust for tartness.
The thickening agent can be selected from starch, xanthan, guar gum, locust bean gum, gum karaya, gum tragacanth, gum arabic and cellulose derivatives. The present invention in an embodiment uses Xanthan Gum 0.05-0.1% w/v as vegan thickening agent and stabilizer.
The flavoring agents are added to beverage are selected from fruit flavor, cola flavor, cinnamon flavor, vanilla flavor, or a chocolate flavor.
The multi-millet beverage of present invention further comprises a plant-based protein sources such as soy protein isolate of 2-4% w/v and pea protein isolate 2-3% w/v.
The multi-millet beverage of present invention in one embodiment comprises a 23 essential vitamins ready-mix and a minerals ready-mix wherein the vitamins are selected from A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, biotin and minerals are selected from Zinc, Iodine, Sodium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Chloride, Copper and is enriched with specific bio-nutrients required for the nourishment attributing to 20% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of protein for a healthy adult.
Example:
The multi-millet beverage of 200 ml in one embodiment comprises a multi-millet four of Bajra (Pearl Millet), Kangi (Foxtail Millet), Kodu (Kodo Millet), and Ragi (Finger Millet) in 3.88% w/v, plant protein isolates of soy and pea in 3.88%, jaggery as sweetener in 10% w/v, xanthum gum as thickenening agent and stabilizer, coconut milk powder, cocoa powder as flavoring agent and vitamin premix of A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B6 and mineral premix of Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Iodine, Potassium, Copper, Magnesium.

The present invention also relates to an improved method for the preparation of multi-millet beverage to be served as nutritional supplement for dietary benefits.
The method is majorly divided into three steps:
Step 1 Preparation of a millet base -
(1) The millet base is prepared using different varities of the millet grains. The millet grains are blended to form a composite flour. The obtained composite flour is sieved using 170-micron size mesh to obtain same particle size.
(2) A dough is prepared from composite flour using potable water. The dough is then fed to a twin-screw extruder equipment having a pre-conditioned top. The dough further passes through extruder barrels set at three different desirable temperature zones of T1 - 30-45 degrees Celcius, T2 – 45 to 60 degree Celcius & T3 - 60 to 85 degrees Celcius to obtain the composite millet puffs. The extruder has an outlet wherein the temperature is maintained below 90 degrees Celcius. The composite millet puffs received from the said outlet are collected and transferred for drying. The drying can be facilitated by multilatered oven drying.
(3) The drying reduces the moisture content of the millet puffs to 11-12%. Such dried millet puffs are then subjected to grinding by micro pulverization equipment to obtain a fine particle dry powder. The powder is collected and stored in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) food-grade woven sacks with polylines in a sealed condition.
Step 2 Formulation of homogenous emulsion of beverage-
(1) The dry ingredients of muti-millet beverage like millet powder, plant-based milk powder, mixture of vitamins and minerals are weighed and blended to form a premix.
(2) The premix is then added with thickening agent, coloring agents, flavoring agents or fruit purees for desired flavor along with measured amount of potable water to prepare a premix solution.
(3) A slurry is prepared by mixing a sweetener and water.
(4) The premix solution is then mixed with the slurry resulting in formation of a homogenous solution.
(5) The homogenous solution is then subjected to the high shear homogenizer at 120 Barr to form homogenous emulsion of multi-millet beverage of present invention.
Step 3 Aseptic filling and packaging of beverage-
The aseptic filling and packaging of the muti-millet beverage involves Pasteurization of homogenized emulsion at ultra high temperature (UHT) plant to eliminate any microrganisms. The pasteurization helps in increasing the shelf life of the beverage by eliminating all microrganisms. The final product is packed in tetra-packages. The entire process of preparation of millet base to final packaging is carried out in a closed-loop environment to prevent the exposure of the process and product to the external environment at any stages. The shelf life of the final product is about 12 to 18 months long.
The foregoing description explains the structure and the principles of operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and the modifications may be made of course, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In an embodiment, the millet base is prepared using different varieties of millet grains selected from Bajra (Pearl Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kangi (Foxtail Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kodu (Kodo Millet) (0.5-1.0%), and Ragi (Finger Millet) (2.0%-3.0%). , Claims:We claim:
1. A multi-millet beverage comprising –
a caseinate free millet protein base prepared from multiple millet grains, a plant-based milk powder prepared from coconut milk, at least one vegan thickening agent, at least one sweetener, at least one flavoring agent, at least one coloring agent, an essential vitamin and minerals mixture and a protein isolates of soy and pea.
2. The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the millet grains in one embodiment comprise Bajra (Pearl Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kangi (Foxtail Millet) (0.5-1.0%), Kodu (Kodo Millet) (0.5-1.0%), and Ragi (Finger Millet) (2.0%-3.0%) in in 3% to 8% w/v.
3. The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sweetener can be either natural or synthetic selected from sucrose, jaggery powder, sucralose, aspartame, and/or acesulfame potassium, neotame, polydextrose, glycerin, sorbitol, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, saccharin, honey, molasses, maple syrup, and xylitol.
4. The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the the thickening agent can be slected from starch, xanthan, guar gum, locust bean gum, gum karaya, gum tragacanth, gum arabic and cellulose derivatives.
5. The The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the flavoring agents may selected from fruit flavor, cola flavor, cinnamon flavor, vanilla flavor, or a chocolate flavor.
6. The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vitamins ready-mix comprises vitamins selected from a group of vitamins like A, C, D, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12.
7. The multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mineral ready-mix comprises minerals selected from group of minerals like Zinc, Iodine, Sodium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Chloride, Selenium, and Copper.
8. A method of preparation of a multi-millet beverage comprising steps of-
a. preparation of multi-millet base by blending of different varieties of millet grains into a composite flour;
b. subjecting the composite flour obtained in step (a) to sieving to obtain a flour of uniform particle size;
c. preparation of dough by adding potable water;
d. feeding the dough obtained in step (c) to twin screw extruder with a pre-conditioned top wherein the moist flour undergoes through three barrels set at different temperature zones (T1, T2, & T3) to obtain composite millet puffs;
e. subjecting the composite millet puffs obtained in step (d) to drying;
f. grinding of dried millet puffs to obtain fine powder;
g. mixing of dry ingredients like multi-millet powder obtained in step (f) and plant-based milk powder 0.5-1.0%;
h. addition of vitamins and minerals mixture to blended powder obtained in step (g) to form a premix;
i. addition of vegan thickening agent 0.05-0.1%, flavoring agent, and coloring agent along with water to a premix obtained in step (h) to form a premix solution;
j. preparation of slurry sweetener and water;
k. preparation of homogenous solution by mixing the premix solution obtained step (i) and slurry obtained in step (j); and
l. passing of homogenous solution through a high shear homogenizer to form a homogenous emulsion;
9. The method of preparation of a multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 6, wherein whole the process of beverage making is carried out in closed-loop and aspetic environment to prevent the exposure of the external environment at any stages.
10. The method of preparation of a multi-millet beverage as claimed in claim 6, wherein the shelf life of the multi-millet beverage has shelf life up to 12-18 months.