JP2006197920A - Method for producing tea extracted solution - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing tea extracted solution having no rough taste and high transparency, capable of stably passing liquid through without blocking at the time of producing tea extracted solution using a shower type column extractor, and having high extraction efficiency of non-polymeric catechins. <P>SOLUTION: This method for producing the tea extracted solution comprises preparing tea leaves and water or hot water in the column type extractor so as to bring the ratio of a tea leaf height (A) to a liquid level (B) of B/A of water or hot water to 0.8-3.3, supplying water or hot water from a column upper part, and adjusting the ratio of a liquid level C to a tea leaf height (A) at the time of preparing of C/A to 0.8-3.3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an efficient method for producing a tea extract having a high concentration of catechin and having a good flavor, and to a packaged tea beverage using the tea extract.

  Conventionally, as a tea extract used for preparing a packaged tea beverage, a method has been adopted in which tea leaves and heated extracted water are put into an open type extraction tank generally called a kneader, and the extract is taken out after stirring. However, this method has a problem that the tea leaves are finely broken by stirring, and the extract has a lot of miscellaneous taste, low transparency and poor appearance.

As means for solving these problems, a method (Patent Documents 1 to 3) of extracting tea using a shower-type column extractor used for coffee extraction is known. However, when this method is applied to tea leaves, the tea leaves are more likely to swell and clog than coffee beans, and the extraction speed of the extract may be greatly reduced, making it difficult to operate stably. is there.
JP 2000-50799 A JP-A-6-178651 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-23714

  An object of the present invention is to provide a non-polymer catechin that can be stably passed without lowering or blocking the extraction rate of the extract when producing a tea extract using a shower type column extractor. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for producing a tea extract having high extraction efficiency, no taste, and high transparency.

  Therefore, the present inventors put tea leaves and water or hot water in the column type extractor so that the ratio B / A of the tea leaf height A and the liquid level height B of water or hot water is within a specific range. Charge, then supply water or hot water from the upper part of the column, and extract the extract from the lower part of the column under certain conditions, or put the tea leaf mass D (kg) and water or heat above the mesh in the column type extractor When tea leaves and water or hot water are charged so that the ratio E / D of the water volume E (L) is constant, then water or hot water is supplied from the top of the column while extracting the extract from the bottom of the column. The present invention was completed by finding that a tea extract liquid that can be stably passed without blocking, has high extraction efficiency of non-polymer catechins, is free of miscellaneous taste, and has high transparency.

That is, in a column type extractor, tea leaves and water or hot water are charged so that the ratio B / A of tea leaf height A and water or hot water level B is 0.8 to 3.3, While extracting the extract from the lower part of the column, water or hot water is supplied from the upper part of the column, and the ratio C / A of the liquid surface height C to the tea leaf height A at the time of charging is adjusted to 0.8 to 3.3. A method for producing a tea extract is provided.
In the column type extractor, the present invention provides tea leaves such that the ratio E / D of tea leaf mass D (kg) and water or hot water volume E (L) above the mesh is 1.5 to 7.5. And a method for producing a tea extract in which water or hot water is supplied from the upper part of the column while the extract is taken out from the lower part of the column.
Furthermore, this invention provides the packaged tea drink which filled the tea extract manufactured with the said manufacturing method as it is, or its dilution liquid.

  The method for producing a tea extract according to the present invention does not cause compaction even when the tea leaves swell, so that the extraction speed of the extract is not reduced or clogged, stable liquid extraction operation can be performed, and non-polymer catechins Extraction efficiency is high, and there is no miscellaneous taste, and a highly transparent tea extract is obtained.

  Non-polymer catechins in the present invention are non-epimeric catechins such as catechin, gallocatechin, catechin gallate, and gallocatechin gallate, and epicatechins such as epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin gallate. It is a generic name that includes

  The tea leaves used in the present invention include Camellia genus such as C.I. sinensis and C.I. green teas such as Sencha, Gyokuro, Tencha, etc. made from tea leaves obtained from assaimica, Yabukita seeds or their hybrids; Semi-fermented tea; tea leaves of fermented tea such as Darjeeling, Assam, Sri Lanka and so on called black tea. Of these, green tea leaves are particularly preferred.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the column type extractor used in the present invention is preferably provided with a wire mesh inside the column, having a supply port for water and the like at the top, and a supply port for water and the like at the bottom and an outlet. . For example, Mitsui Equipment Co., Ltd. coffee extractors SK-EXT10, SK-EXT-15, Izumi Food Machinery Co., Ltd. multifunction extraction devices TEX1512, TEX2015, etc. can be used. As the wire mesh (mesh) for holding tea leaves, a flat, conical, pyramidal or other shape can be used.

  Tea extraction from the tea leaves of the present invention is carried out so that the ratio B / A of tea leaf height A and water or hot water level B is 0.8 to 3.3 in a column type extractor, or Tea leaves and water or hot water are charged so that the ratio E / D of tea leaf mass D (kg) and water or hot water volume E (L) above the mesh is 1.5 to 7.5. Water or hot water is supplied to extract the extract from the bottom of the column. A method of supplying water or hot water in an upward flow from the bottom of the column after charging the tea leaves into the column is particularly preferred.

The tea extraction from the tea leaves is carried out in detail as follows. Here, a method of supplying water or hot water after preparing tea leaves will be described.
Tea leaves are fed into a column type extractor equipped with a metal mesh (mesh), leveled, and the height from the mesh to the top surface of the tea leaf layer is defined as tea leaf height A at the time of preparation. If the mesh is not horizontal, use the average height. When the tea leaves are charged after supplying water or hot water into the column, the height A when only the tea leaves are charged is measured in advance, and this value is used. Next, water or hot water is supplied from the bottom of the column into the column in an upward flow. Since the tea leaves swell upward, they do not become compacted.
The temperature of water or hot water is preferably 0 to 95 ° C, more preferably 35 to 95 ° C, particularly 45 to 90 ° C. Moreover, you may add organic acids or organic acid salts, such as sodium ascorbate, and inorganic acids or inorganic acid salts, such as sodium hydrogencarbonate, to water or hot water.

  The linear velocity (= flow rate / column cross-sectional area) of the rising fluid when supplying water or hot water is 10 to 120 mm / min, preferably 30 to 100 mm / min, and more preferably 40 to 90 mm / min. If it is too fast, the tea leaves will swell unevenly. If it is too slow, the operation time becomes longer and the productivity becomes lower.

  When the ratio B / A of the liquid surface height B to the tea leaf height A at the time of charging reaches 0.8 to 3.3, preferably 0.9 to 3.0, more preferably 0.95 to 2.9. Stop supplying water or hot water from the bottom of the column. If this ratio is too low, the tea leaf layer will not swell sufficiently, and the extraction speed of the extract will decrease during showering and will be clogged. When this ratio is too high, the extraction efficiency of non-polymer catechins is low. The liquid level is the height from the mesh to the liquid level. If the mesh is not horizontal, use the average height.

  Next, water or hot water is supplied from the upper part of the column type extractor, and the extract is extracted from the lower part of the column. The extraction speed of the extract from the lower part is such that the ratio C / A of the liquid level height C at the time of extraction and the tea leaf height A at the time of preparation is 0.8 to 3.3, preferably 1.1 to 2.5. The supply amount of water or hot water from the top of the column and the extraction liquid extraction rate are adjusted so as to be within the range. As a result, stable extraction can be performed. If this ratio is too low, the tea leaf layer becomes thicker and the extraction liquid extraction speed decreases, resulting in blockage. When this ratio is too high, the extraction efficiency of non-polymer catechins is lowered. When extraction is performed so that the ratio C / A is within this range, tea leaves are not unnecessarily swollen and a tea extract with high catechin extraction efficiency is obtained.

Also, when the supply of water or hot water from the lower part of the column is stopped, the supply amount of water or hot water is such that the tea leaf charge mass D (kg) in the column and the water or hot water volume E (L ) Ratio E / D (L / kg) may reach 1.5 to 7.5, preferably 1.7 to 7.0, more preferably 2.0 to 6.6. . If the time when the supply of water or hot water is stopped is within this range, the tea leaf layer swells sufficiently, an adequate extraction rate of the extract is obtained, and the extraction efficiency of non-polymer catechins is good. The water or hot water volume E (L) above the mesh is obtained by subtracting the volume below the mesh in the column from the total water or hot water volume supplied to the column. This time substantially coincides with when the ratio B / A between the liquid level height B and the liquid level height A at the time of preparation reaches 0.8 to 3.3.
In this case, the supply of water or hot water from the bottom of the column is stopped, and then the same amount of water or hot water as that from the bottom is supplied from the top of the column while extracting the extract from the bottom of the column. preferable.

  The temperature of water or hot water supplied from the top of the column is preferably 0 to 95 ° C, more preferably 35 to 95 ° C, and particularly preferably 45 to 90 ° C. Moreover, you may add organic acids or organic acid salts, such as sodium ascorbate, to water or hot water. It is preferable to use a shower to supply water or hot water from the top of the column.

The extraction is preferably performed so that the average contact time between water or hot water and tea leaves is 1.5 to 7.0 minutes. Here, the average contact time is R (mL / min) for the supply flow rate of water or hot water supplied from the top of the column, S (cm ² ) for the cross-sectional area of the column, and C (cm) for the liquid level during extraction. The following formula

(Equation 1)
Average contact time = C / (R / S)

The numerical value calculated by.
When the average contact time is short, the extraction efficiency of non-polymer catechins is low, and the flow rate is fast, so that clogging is likely to occur. If the average contact time is long, the extraction time becomes long and the productivity becomes low.

  By taking such a manufacturing process, compared with the case where water or hot water is supplied in the downward flow from the beginning, the tea leaf layer can be uniformly swollen without being consolidated, and there is no blockage by the tea leaves, which is stable. Non-polymer catechins can be extracted efficiently by liquid-flowing extraction, and a transparent and tasteless tea extract can be produced.

  If the extraction ratio in the tea extract production method of the present invention (the mass of the extract extracted from the column / the mass of the tea leaves) is too large, the extraction rate of the non-polymer catechins increases, but the non-extraction in the obtained tea extract If the concentration of the polymer catechins is low, on the other hand, if the concentration is too small, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the tea extract obtained is high, but the extraction rate of non-polymer catechins is low. The extraction magnification is preferably 10 to 70, preferably 10 to 60, and particularly preferably 12 to 50 from the viewpoint of obtaining a flavorful tea extract containing a high concentration of non-polymer catechins.

  The extraction treatment time in the method of the present invention is determined by the concentration of non-polymer catechins, but is preferably 2 to 60 minutes, more preferably 3 to 48 minutes, and particularly preferably 4 to 28 minutes.

  Before charging the tea leaves, it is preferable to supply water or hot water into the column until part or all of the mesh is hidden. Thereby, non-polymer catechins and flavor components can be efficiently extracted from the entire tea leaf layer. This is particularly preferable when the mesh shape in the column is not horizontal, such as a conical shape.

In the method of the present invention, a tea extract having a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.05 to 0.7% by mass is obtained. When the concentration of non-polymer catechins is less than 0.05% by mass, it cannot be used for the production of a beverage containing high concentration catechins. Moreover, if the non-polymer catechin concentration exceeds 0.7 mass%, the flavor is lowered even if diluted to a low concentration.
As a method for adjusting the catechin concentration, the tea extract and the concentrate of the tea extract can be used in combination. Examples of the medium for dissolving the concentrate of tea extract include water, carbonated water, tea extracts containing commercially available levels of catechins, and the like. The concentrate of tea extract referred to here is a concentrate obtained by concentrating an extract extracted from tea leaves with hot water or a water-soluble organic solvent, and disclosed in JP-A-59-219384 and JP-A-4- It is prepared by the method exemplified in detail in No. 20589, JP-A-5-260907, JP-A-5-306279, and the like. Commercially available Mitsui Norin Co., Ltd. “Polyphenone”, ITO EN Co., Ltd. “Theafranc”, Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. “Sunphenon”, Suntory Co., Ltd. “Sun Oolong” and the like. In addition, catechins can be used from other raw materials, column purified products, and chemically synthesized products. As a form of the concentrate of a tea extract here, various things, such as solid, aqueous solution, and a slurry form, are mentioned.

  The tea extract thus obtained contains non-polymer catechins at a high concentration of 0.05 to 0.7% by mass, and has no miscellaneous taste and good taste. It can be set as a packaged tea beverage. At this time, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the packaged tea beverage obtained is 0.05 to 0.5% by mass, preferably 0.092 to 0.4% by mass, more preferably 0.11 to 0.3% by mass. Particularly preferably, the adjustment to 0.12 to 0.3% by mass is preferred from the viewpoint of flavor without the miscellaneous taste of the packaged beverage.

  Moreover, the ratio in the total non-polymer catechins of the generic gallate body consisting of catechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate in the packaged tea beverage of the present invention is 35 to 100% by mass, 35-98 mass%, especially 35-95 mass% is more preferable on the effectiveness of the physiological effect of non-polymer catechins.

  The container-packed beverage of the present invention is preferably mixed with a bitter and astringent taste suppressant because it is easy to drink. As the bitter and astringent taste inhibitor to be used, cyclodextrin is preferable. As the cyclodextrin, α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrin and branched α-, β-, γ-cyclodextrin can be used. The cyclodextrin is contained in the beverage in an amount of 0.005 to 0.6% by mass, preferably 0.01 to 0.4% by mass. In the container-packed tea beverage of the present invention, antioxidants, fragrances, various esters, organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic acids, inorganic acid salts as components that may be added in accordance with the ingredients derived from tea , Inorganic salts, pigments, emulsifiers, preservatives, seasonings, sweeteners, acidulants, gums, oils, vitamins, amino acids, fruit juice extracts, vegetable extracts, nectar extracts, pH adjusters, quality stabilizers, etc. You may mix | blend an additive individually or in combination.

  The pH of the packaged tea beverage of the present invention is preferably 3 to 7, preferably 4 to 7, particularly 5 to 7 at 25 ° C. from the viewpoint of taste and catechin stability.

As for the physiological effect of catechin, specifically, anti-obesity effect and visceral fat reduction effect have been confirmed by ingesting 483 mg, 555 mg, 900 mg and the like per beverage (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-326932).
The daily intake amount for adults for promoting accumulation fat burning promotion, dietary fat burning promotion and liver β-oxidation gene expression promotion is 300 mg or more, preferably 450 mg or more, more preferably as non-polymer catechins. 500mg or more is considered good. Therefore, also in the packaged tea beverage of the present invention, from the viewpoint of ensuring the necessary daily intake, 300 mg or more, preferably 450 mg or more, more preferably 500 mg per one packaged beverage (350 to 500 mL) of the present invention. What is the above compounding quantity is good.

  The container used for the container-packed tea beverage of the present invention is a molded container mainly composed of polyethylene terephthalate (so-called PET bottle), a metal can, a paper container combined with a metal foil or a plastic film, like a general beverage, It can be provided in a normal form such as a bottle. The term “packaged beverage” as used herein means a beverage that can be drunk without dilution.

  The container-packed tea beverage of the present invention is manufactured under the sterilization conditions stipulated in the Food Sanitation Law if it can be sterilized by heating after filling the container like a metal can. For those that cannot be sterilized by retort, the same sterilization conditions as described above, for example, a high-temperature and short-time sterilization using a plate heat exchanger or the like, followed by cooling to a certain temperature and filling into a container are adopted. Moreover, you may mix | blend another component with the filled container under aseptic conditions. Furthermore, after sterilization by heating under acidic conditions, the pH can be returned to neutrality under aseptic conditions, or after sterilization by heating under neutral conditions, the pH can be returned to acidic conditions under aseptic conditions.

  EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

Example 1
A 376 g green tea leaf was charged into a column type extractor having an inner diameter of 97 mm equipped with an 80 mesh wire netting, and the top surface of the tea leaf was flattened so that the height was uniform. Next, ion-exchanged water heated to 55 ° C. is supplied from the bottom of the column, and hot water from the bottom of the column is supplied when the ratio B / A of the liquid surface height B to the tea leaf height A at the time of charging becomes 2.00. Stopped. Next, ion-exchanged water heated to 55 ° C. was supplied from the shower nozzle at the top of the column, and at the same time, the extract was extracted from below the column. The average contact time during shower extraction was 4.1 minutes. When the mass of the extracted extract reached 20 times the charged tea leaf mass, the flow was terminated, and the extract was uniformly mixed for analysis. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

Example 2
In the same column type extractor as in Example 1, 376 g of green tea leaves were charged, and hot water at 55 ° C. was supplied so that the B / A ratio was 1.00. A double tea extract was produced. The average contact time during shower extraction was 3.5 minutes. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

Example 3
In the same column type extractor as in Example 1, 260 g of green tea leaves were charged, and hot water at 55 ° C. was supplied so that the B / A ratio was 2.82. A double tea extract was produced. The average contact time during shower extraction was 4.0 minutes. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

Example 4
A column type extractor with an inner diameter of 100 mm equipped with a conical wire mesh (80 mesh) having a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm is charged with 480 g of green tea leaves, and a 55 ° C. hot water has a B / A ratio of 1.97. Thus, hot water was supplied from the bottom of the column in the same manner as in Example 1 to obtain an extract having a tea leaf mass of 15 times. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

Example 5
To the column type extractor equipped with the same wire mesh as in Example 4, ion exchange water heated to 55 ° C. was supplied to the height of the apex of the cone wire mesh to hide all the cone wire mesh. Next, 480 g of green tea leaves were charged, and the top surface of the tea leaves was flattened. Next, ion-exchanged water heated to 55 ° C. was heated from the bottom of the column so that the B / A ratio was 2.56, and an extract with 15 times the tea leaf mass was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

Comparative Example 1
The same column type extractor as in Example 1 was charged with 376 g of green tea leaves, and the top surface of the tea leaves was flattened so that the height was uniform. Next, ion-exchanged water heated to 55 ° C is supplied from the bottom of the column, and hot water supply from the bottom is stopped when the ratio B / A between the liquid level height B and the tea leaf height A at the time of charging reaches 0.55. did. Subsequently, ion exchange water heated to 55 ° C. was supplied from a shower nozzle above the column, and at the same time, the extract was extracted from the bottom of the column. Table 1 shows the operating conditions and the liquid flow state at this time.

Comparative Example 2
The same column type extractor as in Example 1 was charged with 260 g of green tea leaves, hot water at 55 ° C. was supplied so that the B / A ratio was 3.50, and in the same manner as in Example 1, 20 times the charged tea leaf mass. A tea extract was prepared. The average contact time during the shower extraction was 4.9 minutes. Table 1 shows the operating conditions, the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the extract, and the liquid flow state.

  In Examples 1 to 5, a liquid extraction state was good and a stable extraction operation was possible, and an extract with a high non-polymer catechin concentration and high transparency was obtained. In Comparative Example 1, the tea leaves were consolidated, and the extraction speed of the extract was drastically decreased, resulting in clogging in the column. In Comparative Example 2, the liquid passing state was good, but the concentration of non-polymer catechins in the obtained extract was low.

  Moreover, after diluting the tea extract obtained in Examples 1-5 so that it might become a non-polymer catechin density | concentration of 0.18 mass%, it sterilized and obtained PET bottled tea drink. All the obtained beverages were tea beverages with no green taste and good green tea flavor.

It is a figure which shows the state which prepared the tea leaf in the column type extractor. It is a figure which shows the state which is supplying hot water by the upward flow from the column lower part. It is a figure which shows the state which is extracting the extract from the lower part, showering hot water from the upper part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Column type extractor 2 Valve for hot water supply 3 Shower nozzle 4 Valve for extracting liquid extract 5 Mesh holding tea leaves 6 Tea leaves

Claims (8)

  In a column type extractor, tea leaves and water or hot water are charged so that the ratio B / A of tea leaf height A and water or hot water level B is 0.8 to 3.3, and then the column While extracting the extract from the bottom, water or hot water is supplied from the top of the column to adjust the ratio C / A between the liquid level height C and the tea leaf height A at the time of charging to 0.8 to 3.3. Liquid manufacturing method.   In the column type extractor, tea leaves and water or hot water are added so that the ratio E / D of tea leaf mass D (kg) and water or hot water volume E (L) above the mesh is 1.5 to 7.5. A method for producing a tea extract in which water or hot water is supplied from the top of the column while charging and then extracting the extract from the bottom of the column.   After the tea leaves are charged into the column type extractor, water or hot water is supplied from the bottom of the column, and the ratio B / A between the liquid surface height B and the tea leaf height A at the time of charging reaches 0.8 to 3.3. The water or hot water from the bottom of the column is stopped, and then the water or hot water is supplied from the top of the column while extracting the extract from the bottom of the column. The method for producing a tea extract according to claim 1, wherein the ratio C / A of A is adjusted to 0.8 to 3.3.   After the tea leaves are charged into the column type extractor, water or hot water is supplied from the bottom of the column, and the supply amount of water or hot water is the tea leaf charge mass D (kg) in the column and the water or hot water above the mesh. When the volume E (L) ratio E / D reaches an amount of 1.5 to 7.5, stop supplying water or hot water from the bottom of the column, and then withdraw the extract from the bottom of the column, The method for producing a tea extract according to claim 2, wherein water or hot water is supplied from above the column.   The method for producing a tea extract according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a shower is used to supply water or hot water from the top of the column.   The method for producing a tea extract according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tea leaves are green tea leaves.   A packaged tea beverage in which the tea extract produced by the production method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is filled as it is or a diluted solution thereof.   The packaged tea beverage according to claim 7, wherein the concentration of non-polymer catechins is 0.05 to 0.5 mass%.

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