diff --git a/sanic/response.py b/sanic/response.py
index 7ab6fc52..d98a9988 100644
--- a/sanic/response.py
+++ b/sanic/response.py
@@ -154,15 +154,32 @@ def json(body, status=200, headers=None, **kwargs):
                         status=status, content_type="application/json")
 
 
-def text(body, status=200, headers=None):
+def text(body, status=200, headers=None,
+         content_type="text/plain; charset=utf-8"):
     """
     Returns response object with body in text format.
     :param body: Response data to be encoded.
     :param status: Response code.
     :param headers: Custom Headers.
+    :param content_type:
+        the content type (string) of the response
     """
     return HTTPResponse(body, status=status, headers=headers,
-                        content_type="text/plain; charset=utf-8")
+                        content_type=content_type)
+
+
+def raw(body, status=200, headers=None,
+        content_type="application/octet-stream"):
+    """
+    Returns response object without encoding the body.
+    :param body: Response data.
+    :param status: Response code.
+    :param headers: Custom Headers.
+    :param content_type:
+        the content type (string) of the response
+    """
+    return HTTPResponse(body_bytes=body, status=status, headers=headers,
+                        content_type=content_type)
 
 
 def html(body, status=200, headers=None):