The invention provides an additive for a beverage. The additive comprises a mixture containing one or more normally bitter/cardboard-tasting proteins and trehalose. Although the additive contains at least one normally bitter/cardboard-tasting protein, the additive unexpectedly has a substantially neutral effect on the flavor of the beverage. The invention also provides for the simplicity of processing and storing the mixture in dehydrated form. The mixture is dehydrated, and then rehydrated before or during its addition to a beverage. The dehydration and subsequent rehydration permits processing, preserving, handling, and storing benefits--with substantially no damage to the protein or to the additive. The invention provides the additive and beverages containing the additive. In addition, the invention provides methods for preparing the additive and methods for preparing a flavored beverage.