JP2004313124A - Tea extract solution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide tea extract solution where coagulation of insoluble components contained in tea extract solution is suppressed and a precipitation phenomenon is mitigated, and redispersibility of the precipitation is improved without increasing viscosity of the extract. <P>SOLUTION: The tea extract solution comprises a dispersible cellulose complex containing micro cellulose and a hydrophilic polymer so as to suppress coagulation of insoluble components existing in the tea extract solution, mitigate the precipitation phenomenon and improve redispersibility of the precipitation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&amp;NCIPI

Description

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【発明の効果】
茶類抽出液にセルロース複合体を含有させることによって、粘度を上げることなく、茶類抽出液に含まれる不溶性成分の凝集を抑制することができる。不溶性成分の凝集抑制により、密で固着した沈殿物ではなく疎な沈降層を形成させることができるので、沈殿の再分散性を改善できる。またセルロース複合体添加による顕著な増粘は無いので、喉ごしの良い茶類飲料を提供することができる。[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a tea extract which is a raw material for use in a beverage after dilution.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Tea extracts such as black tea, green tea, and oolong tea are obtained by extracting tea leaves with hot water, and this tea extract contains tannins, caffeine, proteins, polysaccharides, amino acids, and the like. . However, tannins in the tea extract form insoluble components with proteins, polysaccharides, and the like due to changes in temperature, changes over time, and the like, causing a phenomenon in which precipitation occurs. In particular, these phenomena tend to be more likely to occur in a tea extract having a higher concentration, such as a diluted tea beverage. Such precipitation of insoluble components is a problem because it impairs the appearance of the beverage and significantly lowers the commercial value.
[0003]
Although it is technically possible to remove precipitates of insoluble components by filtration, centrifugation, or the like, tannins, proteins, polysaccharides, and the like are partially removed, thereby impairing the original flavor of tea. Also known as the effects of tannin, antioxidant action, antibacterial action, improvement of intestinal bacteria, deodorant action, active oxygen scavenging action, cholesterol rise suppression action, blood sugar rise suppression action, blood pressure rise suppression action, antiallergic action, etc. Effect is also reduced.
As a method of preventing the occurrence of precipitation without removing insoluble components, a method of adding carrageenan to a tea extract to prevent the occurrence of precipitation (Patent Document 1) has been proposed. However, the method of adding a thickening stabilizer such as carrageenan sometimes shows a remarkable thickening tendency depending on conditions.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2000-316475 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention includes a cellulose complex in a tea extract, suppressing the aggregation of insoluble components contained in the tea extract, increasing the viscosity, reducing the sedimentation phenomenon, and redispersing the precipitate without increasing the viscosity. An object of the present invention is to provide a tea extract having improved properties.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention suppresses the aggregation of the insoluble components contained in the tea extract, alleviates the precipitation phenomenon, improves the redispersibility of the precipitate, and provides a low-viscosity and tasteful tea extract. As a result of intensive studies, they have found that the problem can be solved by blending a specific cellulose composite, and have accomplished the present invention based on this finding. That is, the present invention is a tea extract characterized by containing at least a cellulose composite comprising fine cellulose and a hydrophilic polymer.
[0007]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. The cellulose composite used in the present invention is a composition containing at least 20 to 98% by mass of fine cellulose and 2 to 80% by mass of a hydrophilic polymer, and gives a stable suspension using water or the like as a medium. For example, when mechanically stirred in water, the particles are dispersed in fine cellulose particles having an average particle size of 20 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or less, as measured by the method described below. As the dispersible cellulose composite of the present invention, known ones can be used, for example, those described in JP-B-40-14174, JP-B-62-43661, and JP-A-6-335365. Things can be used.
[0008]
The dispersible cellulose composite used in the present invention was obtained by subjecting a cellulose-based material such as wood pulp, refined linter, grain or fruit-derived dietary fiber to depolymerization treatment by acid hydrolysis, alkali oxidative decomposition, explosion, enzymatic decomposition, or the like. Thereafter, it is obtained by mixing with a hydrophilic polymer, wet co-milling and drying. Alternatively, after a cellulose-based material is depolymerized, a hydrophilic polymer may be uniformly mixed with fine cellulose obtained by grinding to form a homogeneous slurry, and the slurry may be dried.
[0009]
The hydrophilic polymer used in the present invention means a polymer having a high affinity for water, which swells, gels and dissolves in water or cold water. Examples include gum arabic, arabinogalactan, alginic acid and its salts, curdlan, guttie gum, carrageenan, karaya gum, agar, xanthan gum, guar gum, enzymatically degraded guar gum, quince seed gum, gellan gum, gelatin, tamarind seed gum, indigestible Dextrin, tragacanth, furcellane, pullulan, pectin, locust bean gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and the like.
These hydrophilic polymers may be used alone or a plurality of them may be selected and used. Preferred as the hydrophilic polymer are carrageenan, karaya gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, indigestible dextrin, pectin, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. Particularly preferred are karaya gum, xanthan gum, resistant dextrin and sodium carboxymethylcellulose.
[0010]
If necessary, a hydrophilic substance may be contained in the cellulose composite in addition to the fine cellulose and the hydrophilic polymer. Hydrophilic substances are organic substances that are highly soluble in cold water and are hardly viscous and are solid at 25 ° C., starch hydrolysates, dextrins, sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, Sugars, coupling sugars, palatinose, neosugar, reduced starch saccharified candy, water-soluble sugars such as xylose, sorbose, lactulose and polydextrose, and sugar alcohols such as maltitol, mannitol, xylitol and sorbitol. Preferred are starch hydrolysates, dextrins, glucose, fructose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, polydextrose, mannitol and sorbitol. These hydrophilic substances may be used alone or in combination. Further, other components such as oils and fats, emulsifiers and the like can be freely added in addition to the fine cellulose, the hydrophilic polymer and the hydrophilic substance as long as the dispersion of the cellulose composite is not hindered.
[0011]
The amount of the dispersible cellulose complex in the tea extract of the present invention is preferably 0.01 to 1.0% by mass. More preferably, it is 0.1 to 0.8% by mass. These dispersible cellulose composites may be used alone, or a plurality of cellulose composites may be used at the same time. For example, when a plurality of cellulose composites are used at the same time, a cellulose composite containing fine cellulose and a naturally derived hydrophilic polymer and a cellulose composite containing fine cellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose may be used in combination.
[0012]
The concentration of the tea extract of the present invention is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a concentration such that the tea extract is provided as a beverage by being diluted at a dilution ratio of 1.2 to 10 times.
As the type of tea leaves used for extraction, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, sencha, white tea, ten tea, puer tea, guava tea, turmeric tea, herbal tea, and the like can be used.
In the method for producing a tea extract of the present invention, first, tea leaves are extracted with hot water or tea leaves are boiled in hot water to obtain a tea extract. This extract may be concentrated if necessary.
[0013]
The tea extract of the present invention can be obtained by dispersing and mixing the cellulose complex in the obtained tea extract. The liquid temperature at the time of dispersion is preferably 60 ° C. or higher in order to temporarily dissolve the insoluble components formed by tannin with proteins and polysaccharides. In the dispersion step, a pH adjuster, a thickener, a stabilizer, an emulsifier, an antifoaming agent, a foaming agent, milk, cream, whole milk powder, skim milk powder, condensed milk, soy milk, sugars, salts, flavors, pigments, acidulants, Addition of fats and oils, protein, fruit juice, vegetable juice and the like is not particularly limited.
[0014]
The dispersion treatment of the dispersion is performed using a high-pressure homogenizer such as a Manton-Gaulin type homogenizer, and the treatment pressure is preferably 5 MPa or more. Particularly preferably, it is 15 MPa or more. If necessary, an ultra-high pressure homogenizer may be used. Examples of commercially available ultrahigh-pressure homogenizers include a Nanomizer (manufactured by Nanomizer Co., Ltd.) and a microfluidizer (manufactured by Microfluidics). This processing may be performed a plurality of times as necessary.
As a method for sterilizing the tea extraction method of the present invention thus obtained, there are HTST sterilization, UHT sterilization, retort sterilization, hot pack sterilization, and the like. Choose a sterilization method.
[0015]
The tea extract of the present invention is filled in, for example, a paper pack, a tetrapack, a PET container, a can, a bottle, and the like, and is refrigerated or distributed and stored at room temperature. The filled tea extract is used as a beverage in ordinary households, restaurants and the like by diluting the tea extract at a dilution ratio of 1.2 to 10 times. Liquids used for dilution include water, milk, soy milk, fruit juice, vegetable juice, and the like, and the temperature is not particularly limited. At this time, other substances such as sugars, salts, cream, whole milk powder, skim milk powder, fats and oils, and proteins can be freely added.
[0016]
Next, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of examples. The evaluation of various physical properties of the substance according to the present invention was based on the following methods.
(A) Measurement of average particle diameter of dispersed particles: 3 g of a dried cellulose composite sample in terms of solid content was added with pure water to make the total amount 300 g, and then 5 minutes at 15000 rpm using an Excel Auto Homogenizer (manufactured by Nippon Seiki Co., Ltd.). Disperse. This dispersion was subjected to ultrasonic dispersion for 1 minute using a laser diffraction particle size distribution analyzer [LA-910, manufactured by Horiba, Ltd.], and then the integrated volume of 50% when measured at a relative refractive index of 1.20 was obtained. The particle size was taken as the average particle size.
(B) Measurement of viscosity of tea extract: After storage at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 7 days and 31 days, a B-type viscometer (manufactured by Tokyo Keiki Co., Ltd.), a BL adapter, and a rotor rotation speed of 60 rpm. It was measured.
[0017]
(C) Visual observation of the precipitate in the tea extract: After storage at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 7 days and 31 days after the production, the precipitate of the insoluble component deposited on the bottom of the container was visually observed as follows. evaluated.
：: No precipitation at the bottom of the container.
：: A small amount of precipitation is observed at the bottom of the container.
Δ: Precipitation is observed at the bottom of the container.
X: A densely adhered precipitate is observed at the bottom of the container.
[0018]
(D) Aggregation state of insoluble components in tea extract: After storage at 5 ° C. for 31 days after production, insoluble components were collected from the bottom of each container with a dropper and observed with an optical microscope. The observation magnification was 40 times and evaluated as follows.
A: No aggregation of insoluble components. (There is no aggregate of 10 μm or more.)
：: Weak aggregation of insoluble components. (There are few small aggregates of 10 μm or more and less than 20 μm, but no large aggregates of 20 μm or more.)
X: Strong aggregation of insoluble components. (A plurality of large aggregates of 20 μm or more exist.)
[0019]
(E) Number of redispersions: After storage at 5 ° C and 37 ° C for 7 days and 31 days, the number of redispersions was counted. The number of times of redispersion is defined as counting the operation of inverting and returning the 200 mL glass container containing the preserved high-concentration black tea extract to one time, and repeating the operation of inverting and returning the insoluble component deposited on the bottom of the container. This is the number of times required for the precipitation to be resolved.
The present invention will be described based on examples.
[0020]
[Example 1]
(1) Preparation of black tea extract: 160 g of commercially available black tea leaves were added to 2000 g of boiling water, and after boiling for 5 minutes, the black tea leaves were obtained by filtering the black tea leaves while maintaining the liquid temperature at 70 ° C. or higher. The concentration of this black tea extract is four times that of what is usually served as a beverage.
(2) Preparation of cellulose composite A: Commercial DP pulp (average degree of polymerization: 850) was cut, hydrolyzed at 105 ° C. for 20 minutes in 7% hydrochloric acid, filtered and washed with pure water, and wet cake was removed. Obtained. Karaya gum and dextrin were blended with the wet cake in a ratio of cellulose / karaya gum / dextrin = 80/10/10, and kneaded and milled in a kneader. Next, the mixture was loosened by hand, dried with hot air, and pulverized with a hammer mill to obtain a cellulose composite A. The average particle size of the dispersed particles of the cellulose composite A measured by the method (a) was 7.5 μm.
[0021]
(3) Preparation of black tea extract treated with cellulose complex: 1996 g of the black tea extract obtained in (1) was heated to about 70 ° C., 4 g of cellulose complex A was added, and about 10 minutes while maintaining the liquid temperature The mixture was dispersed by stirring with a propeller. Subsequently, the dispersion was treated with a Menton-Gaulin type homogenizer at a pressure of 19.6 MPa, and then sterilized with an HTST sterilizer at 135 ° C. for 30 seconds to obtain a black tea extract containing a cellulose complex. . This black tea extract was dispensed into a 200 mL glass container, the container was inverted 10 times, and then stored at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 31 days.
(4) Evaluation of tea extract: The black tea extract prepared in (3) was evaluated for physical properties by the methods (b) to (e) described above. The results are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0022]
[Example 2]
(1) Preparation of Cellulose Composite B: To the wet cake prepared in Example 1, sodium carboxymethylcellulose was added so that the ratio of fine cellulose / sodium carboxymethylcellulose was 89/11, and kneaded and milled in a kneader. Was done. Next, the mixture was loosened by hand, dried with hot air, and pulverized with a hammer mill to obtain a cellulose composite B. The average particle size of the dispersed particles of the cellulose composite B measured by the method (a) was 8.1 μm.
[0023]
(2) Preparation of Cellulose Composite C: Pure water was added to the wet cake prepared in Example 1, and an aqueous dispersion was prepared so that the depolymerized product of the cellulosic material was 10% by mass in terms of solid content. . This was subjected to a crushing treatment twice with an ultrahigh pressure homogenizer at a pressure of 127.4 MPa to obtain paste-like fine cellulose. Xanthan gum and dextrin were blended with this paste so that the ratio of fine cellulose / xanthan gum / dextrin was 75/5/20, and pure water was added to prepare a dispersion having a total solid content concentration of 7% by mass. This dispersion is spread on a smooth aluminum plate to a thickness of about 3 mm, and dried at 80 ° C. for 60 minutes using a hot-air drier. Complex C was obtained. The average particle size of the dispersed particles of the cellulose composite C measured by the method (a) was 3.2 μm.
[0024]
(3) Preparation of cellulose complex-treated black tea extract: 1996 g of black tea extract prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 was heated to about 70 ° C., and 1.8 g of cellulose complex B and 2.2 g of cellulose complex were obtained. C was added and dispersed by stirring with a propeller for about 10 minutes while maintaining the liquid temperature. Subsequently, the dispersion was treated with a Menton-Gaulin type homogenizer at a pressure of 19.6 MPa, and then sterilized with an HTST sterilizer at 135 ° C. for 30 seconds to obtain a black tea extract containing a cellulose complex. . This black tea extract was dispensed into a 200 mL glass container, the container was inverted 10 times, and then stored at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 31 days.
(4) Evaluation of tea extract: The black tea extract prepared in (3) was evaluated for physical properties by the methods (b) to (e) described above. The results are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0025]
[Comparative Example 1]
(1) Preparation of black tea extract: 2000 g of black tea extract prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 was heated to about 70 ° C. and stirred with a propeller for about 10 minutes while maintaining the liquid temperature. Subsequently, the dispersion was treated at a pressure of 19.6 MPa using a Manton-Gaulin homogenizer, and then sterilized at 135 ° C. for 30 seconds using an HTST sterilizer to obtain a black tea extract. This black tea extract was dispensed into a 200 mL glass container, the container was inverted 10 times, and then stored at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 31 days.
(2) Evaluation of tea extract: The black tea extract prepared in (1) was evaluated for physical properties by the methods (b) to (e). The results are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0026]
[Comparative Example 2]
(1) Preparation of black tea extract: 1999 g of black tea extract prepared in the same manner as in Example 1 was heated to about 70 ° C., 1.0 g of carrageenan was added, and the propeller was stirred for about 10 minutes while maintaining the liquid temperature. And dispersed. Subsequently, the dispersion was treated with a Menton-Gaulin type homogenizer at a pressure of 19.6 MPa, and then sterilized with an HTST sterilizer at 135 ° C. for 30 seconds to obtain a black tea extract containing a cellulose complex. . This black tea extract was dispensed into a 200 mL glass container, the container was inverted 10 times, and then stored at 5 ° C. and 37 ° C. for 31 days.
(2) Evaluation of tea extract: The black tea extract prepared in (1) was evaluated for physical properties by the methods (b) to (e). The results are shown in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4.
[0027]
[Table 1]

[0028]
[Table 2]

[0029]
[Table 3]

[0030]
[Table 4]

[0031]
【The invention's effect】
By including the cellulose complex in the tea extract, it is possible to suppress aggregation of insoluble components contained in the tea extract without increasing the viscosity. By suppressing aggregation of the insoluble component, a sparse sedimentary layer can be formed instead of a dense and fixed sediment, so that the redispersibility of the sediment can be improved. In addition, since there is no remarkable thickening due to the addition of the cellulose complex, a tea beverage having a good throat can be provided.

Claims (1)

A tea extract comprising at least a cellulose composite comprising fine cellulose and a hydrophilic polymer.