Incorporation of Bael (aegle marmelos L.) Pulp and Stevia (stevia rebaudiana) Powder in Value Added Sweet Products

Bael is a medicinal plant with known therapeutic properties. Stevia is a natural, zero calorie sweetener which is 300 times sweeter than sugar. Keeping in view, the properties of these two plants, value added milk based sweet products i.e., kheer and kulfi, were developed using different proportions of bael pulp and stevia. One gram of sugar was substituted by 5 mg of stevia powder in all the products. Organoleptic evaluation of the products was done by the semi-trained and diabetic panel. Incorporation of bael pulp in kheer and kulfi at 40 and 20 percent respectively was found highly acceptable and resulted in significant increase in their fibre, vitamin C, beta carotene and potassium content. Percentage of sugar reduced in kulfi and kheer using stevia powder was 75 and 67 percent, respectively, resulting in decrease in their energy content. Use of bael and stevia need to be encouraged in sweet products as they are natural, safe and possesses therapeutic benefits.