A process for preparing a beverage comprises: providing a liquid carrier supplying a flavouring ingredient to the liquid carrier optionally heating the liquid carrier and agitating the liquid carrier to promote dissolution and/or dispersion of the flavouring ingredient therein. The flavouring ingredient is supplied in the form of a self-sustaining body (2) to the liquid carrier, the self-sustaining body (2) having at least one surface (3) from which the flavouring ingredient is dissolved and/or dispersed into the liquid carrier. The liquid carrier is agitated in a controlled manner to circulate on this surface so as to achieve a controlled dissolution and/or dispersion of the flavouring ingredient into the liquid carrier.
