Dynamic rheological characterization of salep glucomannan/galactomannan-based milk beverages

The steady flow and viscoelastic properties of glucomannan (salep) and galactomannans (locust bean gum, LBG and guar gum, GG) in milk beverages were investigated at 25 and 50 °C. The consistency index (K), flow behavior index (n), yield stress and thixotropic area were measured as functions of steady shear; elastic modulus (G′), loss modulus (G′′), tan δ and complex viscosity (η*) parameters were derived from oscillatory shear experiments. The steady flow behavior of mannan-based milk beverages was observed to be shear-thinning and thixotropic. Galactomannans exhibited greater shear-thinning and thixotropy than glucomannan in milk beverages. The synergistic effect was detected between salep and LBG with highest thixotropy. Increasing the temperature decreased Casson yield stresses of GG but not salep and LBG samples. Similar viscoelastic behavior was observed between salep and LBG, they could be classified as concentrated solutions but GG showed gel-like structure. At low frequencies, high tan δ values were observed for the salep and LBG samples indicating viscous character. On the other hand, GG sample had nearly the same tan δ values through the frequency sweep. Cox–Merz rule was tested to correlate the steady and dynamic viscosities of samples. It was found that Cox–Merz rule was applicable only to LBG–milk beverage among the studied samples.