Preparation and characteristics of chia seeds-cranberry beverage powder: Taguchi design and antioxidant activity evaluation

Chia seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber. Cranberry is wealthy in nutrients and phytochemicals that are beneficial for maintaining human health. In this study, chia seeds-cranberry beverage powder (SC-B) were obtained by wet granulation method, and its optimal ratio was 17.4% chia seeds powder, 17.4% cranberry powder, 34.9% maltodextrin, 29.1% xylitol, and 1.2% xanthan gum. The sensory score of the powder was 90.18, the molding rate was 96.05%, the dissolving time was 45.71s, the moisture absorption rate was 4.10%, and the setting volume ratio was 97.48%. The odor of beverage powder was evaluated by electronic nose combined with principal component analysis and Loading analysis before and after dissolution. It was found that the volatile substances of SC-B mainly included broad-methane and inorganic sulfides. The difference in odor was related to whether chia seeds powder is added or not before dissolution, while the difference was decided by cranberry powder after dissolution. The total flavonoids, phenols, and procyanidin contents of SC-B were 2.7, 1.1, and 3.4 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidant capacity to the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was 97.3% for SC-B at the concentration of 15.0 mg/mL. This study could provide the development and application of chia seeds-cranberry beverage powder.