GB354771A - Process for treating tea and coffee - Google Patents

Abstract

Tea and coffee are detoxicated by treatment with a solution of "lipoid tannic acids." The solution stated to effect the detoxicating effect is prepared as follows: Vegetable matter, such as tea leaves or unfermented (green) coffee beans is subjected to extraction with boiling water until the colour reaction with ferric chloride is almost negative. The solid is then filtered off and the filtrate mixed with lead acetate in excess. The precipitate is washed with distilled water, treated with an acid to separate the lead, and the filtrate therefrom concentrated to powder form, extracted with alcohol, filtered, and concentrated. The product is stated to be "lipoid tannic acids." A 1 per cent solution in distilled water is made and sprayed over coffee beans after the beans have been roasted and during the cooling operation, the solution penetrating into the beans and the "lipoid-tannic acids" combining with the caffeine to produce the detoxicating effect. As starting materials the leaves and bark portions of the coffee shrub may be used. Specifications 8270/93, 5598/02, and 10471/12, [all in Class 129, Tea &c.], are referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) comprises "fixing poisonous substances" in tobacco and alkaloid-containing substances such as "morphine combinations" by treatment with aqueous "cellularly dispersive solutions" of lipoids, fats, resins, or artificially prepared or naturally occuring tannic acids, singly or mixed together, and the addition of substances "peculiar to the animal or human body," particularly blood, serum, gall, urine, singly or mixed, is referred to. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.