GB2285578A

GB2285578A - Beverages containing added guaranine

Info

Publication number: GB2285578A
Application number: GB9326214A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leilani Lea
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-12-22
Filing date: 1993-12-22
Publication date: 1995-07-19
Also published as: GB9326214D0

Abstract

Caffeinated or decaffeinated beverages, e.g. tea, coffee, chocolate or cola drinks, contain added guaranine. The guaranine may he added in pure form or as seeds or extracts of the Paullinia Cupana plant (Guarana). The consumer has increased energy, vigour, alertness etc. Optional vitamins or herbal extracts may further included in the beverages e.g. Vitamin B.

Description

IMPROVED BEVERAGE This invention relates to improved caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages, and to formulations for being added to such beverages.

Caffeinated beverages have long been drunk for their stimulant properties and typical examples include tea, coffee and cocoa, as well as carbonated soft drinks such as colas. I have found that some of the qualities of these beverages may be improved, and further stimulating and enduring properties may be added by the incorporation of an amount of guaranine. The consumer may experience a virtually immediate brightening and a sense of alertness and removal of fatigue. They may also experience an improved sense of energy and well-being with a positive frame of mind and enhanced concentration. Mentally demanding tasks and those involving memory and memorising may be easier and less tiring, and this easing may also be found with physically demanding tasks. Also stress and anxiety may be alleviated or reduced. The period for which these effects are experienced may extend for relatively long periods, typically between 4 and 12 hours. It will be understood that the metabolism and responsiveness will vary between individuals but a consumer may reasonably expect to experience at least some of these benefits.

Accordingly, in one aspect of this invention, there is provided an improved caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage wherein the improvement comprises an amount of guaranine.

The term "caffeinated" is used to describe those beverages in which an amount of caffeine is present either naturally or by introduction. The caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage may be any beverage containing caffeine or one from which caffeine has been removed, either from the beverage itself or from a caffeine-containing constituent. Thus, tea, coffee, chocolate and cola drinks are but a few examples.

The guaranine may be introduced in an isolated or purified form, preferably in an amount of from 2.5 mg to 50 mg and preferably about 25mg per serving, but it is preferably present in the form of the seeds of the Paullinia Cusana plant (or Guarana plant) or an extract thereof. The ground seeds are preferably present in an amount of from 50 mg to looomg, and preferably about 500mg per serving, with a typical serving being a cup, mug, can etc, and thus containing between about 100 and 200 ml.

The seeds of the Paullinia CuDana may be incorporated at a suitable stage in the formulation of the beverage, e.g. before, during or after roasting of the coffee (where the beverage contains coffee) and before during or after grinding, drying and so on.

The seeds are preferably subjected to a micellisation process before or after roasting or sun-drying. In this process, the particle sizes of at least some of the constituent substances of the Paullinia Cuana seeds are reduced by grinding or another suitable process so that the particles are of a size compatible with the local geometry of the absorbtion sites where they are absorbed and metabolised in the human body. In this way the particles are absorbed more readily and more efficiently.

With both caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages, there is a significant and unexpected improvement in effect over taking either the caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage alone or guaranine alone. The reasons for the symbiotic effect between the caffeinated/decaffeinated beverage and guaranine are not fully understood but it is thought that in the caffeinated beverages, the guarana reduces the adverse effects of caffeine, particularly gastric irritation/nausea, whilst enhancing its stimulating powers. Also, the saponin content of guarana may provide a longer lasting effect.

Furthermore, the high nicotinic acid content of coffee may liberate or more effectively use the guaranine and fats present in Paullinia CuDana.

With the decaffeinated beverages, similar mechanisms may be involved, because although the caffeine is no longer there, some substances which acted as cofactors or complementary agents with the caffeine in the non-decaffeinated version may fulfil a similar role with guarana.

Preferably the beverage includes one or more amplifying agents for amplifying or enhancing the effect of the guarana or the synergy between the guarana and the caffeinated/decaffeinated beverage. Thus the amplifying agent may be a vitamin or combination thereof, or one or more herbal extracts. The vitamin is preferably one or more of Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, (Vitamin B, (thiamin), B2 (Riboflavin), Bg (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), Bc (folic acid) H (Biotin), B (Choline), Vitamin C, D or E.

The herbal extracts are preferably from plants found naturally in China.

The Vitamin and/or herbal extracts are preferably present in micellised form.

In another aspect, this invention provides an improved caffeinated beverage, wherein the improvement comprises an amplification agent selected from the group comprising vitamins and herbal extracts.

The invention also extends to a coffee beverage in which the various Vitamin B components are present in substantially the same proportion of the R.D.A. or E.A.R.

Thus, the formulation may be standardised to the Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid) content which is relatively high in coffee.

Here the amount of Vitamin B3 present in a typical serving of coffee is determined as a proportion of the R.D.A./E.A.R.

and the other Vitamin B components may be made up to substantially the same proportion typically +25% and ideally +10%. The same may be done with other Vitamins such as A, C and E, but care must be taken to avoid exceeding the R.D.A./E.A.R., particularly where the Vitamins are fat soluble.

The invention contemplates the preparation of the beverage in a variety of ways. Thus, for coffee, the beverage may be in ground form for being infused to make the beverage, it may be freeze dried or otherwise concentrated into powder, granular or liquid form. It may be in the form of unground beans, filter bags, individual coffee cup filters and so on. Alternatively, and particularly where the beverage is a soft drink, it may be sold ready to drink in a bottle, can or carton. Similarly a separate formulation of guaranine vitamins and/or herbs may be provided for being added in an appropriate quantity to a serving of caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage. The concentrations and amounts specified herein relate to the beverage when ready for consumption.

The natural composition of the Paullinia Cupana seed will vary according to the plant and the ambient conditions, but the composition is typically as follows: PAULLINIA CUPANA - ANALYSIS Tannin 8.500% Resins 7.000% Amide 5.500% Guarana 5.000% Fats 3.000% Saponin 0.600% Theobromine 0.250% Theophylline 0.125% Adenine small% Guanine small% Xanthine fraction Cholesterine fraction Chatecoline unspecified Additionally, the Paullinia Cupana contains a fairly high percentage of ashes and others, which is typical to this type of plant substance. These are not considered pharmacologically important.

Whilst the invention has been described above it extends to any inventive combination of the features described above or in the following examples.

The invention will be further described by way of the 5 following Examples.

Example 1 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of finely ground decaffeinated coffee with 500 milligrammes of finely ground Paullinia Cupana (Guarana) seed and mixing with 200 ml of boiling water.

The resultant drink was found to have a taste virtually undistinguishable from that of the coffee alone, but, surprisingly, the benefits were found to be of a far greater magnitude than those of the coffee alone and this effect extended over a period of four to twelve hours, and additional stimulating properties were observed.

Example 2 A beverage was made as described in Example 1, however, the following vitamin preparation was incorporated additionally: Preferably in amounts of: Vitamin A Retinol 250iu - 10,000 iu Vitamins B: B1 Thiamin .15mg - 6mg B2 Riboflavin .17mug - 7mg B5 Pantothenic Acid l.Omg - 40mg B6 Pyridoxine 0.2mg - 8 mg B12 .3 Rg - 12 ug Folic Acid 40 Rg - 1600 ug Biotin 30 Rg - 1200 ug Choline 50 mg - 2000 mg Inositol 50 mg - 2000 mg Vitamin C 6 mg - 2000 mg Vitamin D 40 iu - 1200 iu Vitamin E 3 mg - 120 mg The resultant drink was, again, virtually undistinguishable from coffee, however, the effect was further amplified, yielding a significantly improved energy level, a positive mood, a greater ability to concentrate and utilise the intellectual facilities, and a reduction in stress and anxiety.

Example 3 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of finely ground caffeinated coffee with the Vitamin preparation described in Example 2.

Example 4 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of caffeinated coffee with 500mg of Paullinia Cupana (Guarana) and mixing with 200ml boiling water.

The resultant drink was virtually undistinguishable from coffee, but the stimulant effect was found to be of a greater magnitude.

Example 5 A beverage was made as described in Example 4 above, however additionally with the incorporated vitamin formula as described previously in Example 2.

The resultant drink was found to have a taste virtually indistinguishable from that of coffee alone, however the effects were further amplified in both the immediate and longer-term perception.

Example 6 Beverages were made up by combining 500mg Guarana with various types of prepared coffee drinks - using freeze-dried, instant, powdered, ground roast, liquid, and so on. The effects as described were still present in all forms of coffee and caffeinated or decaffeinated beverages.

In each of the following Examples 7 to 10, the substances are calculated in proportion to 5 ml teaspoon of decaffeinated coffee granules, the beverage being made by adding 200ml of boiling water.

Example 7 5ml coffee 50 - 1000mg Guarana - preferably 500mg 6 - l000mg Vitamin C - preferably 50mg -150mg Example 8 5ml coffee 2,500 - 100,000iu Vitamin A Retinol or beta-carotene .15 - 6mg Vitamin B1 Thiamin .17 - 7mg Vitamin B2 Riboflavin 1.0 - 40mg Vitamin B5 Pantothenic Acid 0.2 - 8mg Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine 0.3 - 12ug Vitamin B12 Cobalamin 40 - 1600ug Vitamin Bc Folic Acid 30 - 1200ug Vitamin H Biotin 50 - 2000mg Vitamin B Choline 6 - 1000mg Vitamin C 40 - 1200iu Vitamin D 3 - 120mg Vitamin E Example 9 5ml coffee 50 - lOOOmg Guarana, together with the Vitamin amplification set out in Example 8 above, and the herbal amplification formulation set out in Example 10 below.

Example 10 5ml coffee 50 - 1000mg Guarana with all or any combination of the following (by any name or source of origin): 20 - lOOOmg Radix Ginseng (Ren Shen, Panax Ginseng, Pseudo-Ginseng, Ginseng Root, Ginseng by any name and source of origin) 20 - iooomg Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae (Dang Shen, Cordonopsis Root) 20 - lOOOmg Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dang Gui) 20 - looomg Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis (Gan Cao) 20 - 1000mg Astralagi Membranacei (Huang Qi) 20 - 1000mg Semen Gingko Bilobae (Bai Guo) 20 - 1000mg Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (Fu Ling, China Root, Hoelen, Poria, Sclerotium of Tuckhoe) 20 - 1000mg Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Bai Zhu, Atractylodes) 20 - lOOOmg Semen Zizyphi Spinosae (Suan Zao Ren, Sour Jujube seed) 20 - looomg Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae (Jujube Fruit, Red Dates) 20 - lOOOmg Radix Polygalae Tenuifolia (Yuan Zhi, Chinese Senga Root) 20 - 1000mg Radix Aucklandia Lappae (Mu Xiang, Costus Root) 20 - 1000mg Arillus Euphoriae Longanae (Long Yan Rou, Longan Root) 20 - 1000mg Fructus Chizandra Chinensis (Wu Wei Zi, Schisandra Fruit) 20 - 1000mg Rhizoma Polygonati (Huang Jing, Siberian Solomon Seal Rhizome, Polygonati, Polygonatum) Example 11 5ml caffeinated coffee 50 - 1000mg Guarana, together with the Vitamin amplification formulation set out in Example 8, and the herbal amplification formulation set out in Example 10.

Example 12 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of caffeinated coffee with 200ml of boiling water, together with a herbal amplification formulation set out in Example 10.

Example 13 A beverage was made up according to Example 12, but with the addition of the Vitamin amplification formulation set out in Example 8.

Example 14 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of decaffeinated coffee with 200ml of boiling water, and the herbal amplification formulation set out in Example 10. Example 15 A beverage was made up according to Example 14, with the addition of a Vitamin amplification formulation as set out in Example 8.

Example 16 A beverage was made up by combining a 5ml teaspoon of decaffeinated coffee with 200ml of boiling water, and 61000 Vitamin C (preferably Somg - 150mg).

Example 17 A beverage was made up according to Example 16, but using caffeinated coffee instead of decaffeinated.

Example 18 A beverage was made up combining a 5ml teaspoon of caffeinated coffee with 200ml of boiling water with 50 1000mg guarana and the herbal amplification formulation of Example 10.

Example 19 A beverage was made up by combining 5ml of caffeinated coffee with 200ml of boiling water, 50 - 1000mg guarana, and 6 - 1000mg Vitamin C (preferably 50mg to 150mg).

Example 20 A beverage was made up by adding 50-1000mg guarana (preferably 500mg) and 6 to l000mg Vitamin C (preferably 50mg - 150mg) to l00ml of a cola drink.

Example 21 A beverage was made up according to Example 20, but with the addition of the herbal amplification formula set out in Example 10.

Claims

1. This invention relates to improved caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages and to formulations for being added to such beverages.

2. Caffeinated beverages have long been drunk for their stimulant properties and typical examples include tea, coffee, chocolate and cocoa, as well as carbonated soft drinks such as colas.

3. Caffeinated and de-caffeinated beverages can be improved in a significant and unexpected way by the addition of formulations containing plant and herb extracts and vitamins.

4. When consumed, the flavour of the new beverage is virtually indistinguishable from coffee but yields an effect of far greater magnitude than either the coffee alone or the augmenting agents alone, with an unexpected synergistic potency.

5. The coffee enhances the action of the formulation or formulations, whilst the formulationis amplifies the effects of the coffee. The reasons for the symbiotic effect between the caffeinated/decaffeinated beverage and the formulations is not fully understood.

6. The consumer may experience a virtually immediate brightening of the senses with improved energy and vigour, alertness and removal of fatigue.

7. They may also experience an improved sense of energy and well-being with a positive frame of mind and enhanced concentration.

8. Mentally demanding tasks and those involving memory and memorising may be easier and less tiring, and this easing may also be found with physically demanding tasks.

9 Also stress and anxiety may be alleviated or reduced.

10 The formulations are believed to reduce the adverse effects of caffeine, particularly gastric irritation/nausea.

ii. The period for which these effects are experienced may extend for relatively long periods, typically between 2 and 12 hours. It will be understood that metabolism and responsiveness will vary between individuals but a consumer may reasonably expect to experience at least some of these benefits.

12. Accordingly, in one aspect of this invention, there is provided an improved caffeinated or decaffeinated beverage wherein the improvement comprises an amount of Paullinia Cupana, also known as Guarana, which contains guaranine.

13. The invention also extends to an improved coffee beverage in which the various Vitamin B components are present in substantially the same proportion to the Vitamin B3 (Nicotinic Acid) content which is relatively high in coffee, and proportionately standardised according to the RDA/EAR This also gives an unusual effect.

14. In another aspect, this invention provides an improved caffeinated/decaffeinated beverage, wherein the improvement comprises any one or any combination from the group comprising herbal extracts.

15. In another aspect, this invention provides an improved caffeinated/decaffeinated beverage, wherein the improvement comprises an amplification agent or agents selected from the group comprising vitamins and herbal extracts.

16. Also, the vitamins and herbal extracts may provide additional synergies.

17 The special effects and features may be enhanced if the improving agents are subjected to micellization.