The present invention provides a sweetening or sweetened composition comprising sucrose, rubusoside or a rubusoside derivative, and a tannin. Moreover, the invention is about a process for preparing a be-Nerage according to the present invention. The invention further pertains to the use of the composition according to the present invention for sweetening beverages as well as for preparing a syrup as a precursor in the preparation of beverages and also as flavoring substance with modifying properties and for reducing the sucrose content in beverages without essentially exhibiting a reduced sweetness sensation. Finally, the invention relates to the use of a combination comprising rubusoside or a rubusoside derivative and a tannin for shortening the lingering sweetness of artificial sweeteners and for shifting the onset of the temporal sweetness sensation of said artificial sweetener towards that of natural sugars.
