The invention relates to a process for producing a substantially stable
dispersion without manufacturing aids, where the dispersion comprises at
least one hydrophobic plant sterol and an aqueous material, wherein the
plant sterol is selected from plant sterols and plant stanols. The
process comprises mixing the plant sterol with the aqueous material to
form a first dispersion, homogenizing the first dispersion to obtain a
second dispersion of particles wherein the particle size of the
hydrophobic plant sterol particles in the first dispersion and the second
dispersion is from about 0.1 micron to about 100 microns. Optionally, the
process may comprise heating the first dispersion prior to homogenizing,
heating the second dispersion after homogenizing, or heating both. In one
embodiment, the aqueous material comprises a beverage concentrate, which
includes a juice concentrate, such as a citrus juice concentrate, e.g.,
an orange juice concentrate. In one aspect of this invention, in order to
substantially avoid a powdery taste in the dispersion, the particle size
of the plant sterol particles is from about 0.1 micron to about 30
microns and the majority of hydrophobic plant sterol particles within
this range will be from about 0.2 microns to about 10 microns and will
substantially follow a bell curve distribution.