JP6717590B2 - Acidified beverage with high citric acid content packed in containers with reduced off-taste - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, in an acidic beverage containing a high concentration of citric acid, to provide a citric acid-rich acidic beverage with reduced off-taste derived from citric acid, in particular, a high concentration citric acid and a high intensity sweetener and Applied to an acidic beverage containing, citric acid-derived off-taste, and further reduced the off-taste from high-intensity sweeteners, easy to drink and highly palatable container high citric acid-containing acidic beverage, and a method for producing the same. Regarding providing.

In modern society, it is said that most of the normal people feel "fatigue" on a daily basis, and various efforts have been proposed to recover from that fatigue. One of the easiest approaches among them is the intake of healthy food and drink such as nutritional drinks. Many health foods and drinks containing various functional ingredients are on sale, and are gaining popularity with consumers.

Citric acid is known as one of the materials having the function of recovering from fatigue. Citric acid is an organic acid that is often contained in citrus fruits and the like, and is a substance used in many foods and drinks as an acidulant. It has been reported that this citric acid is a metabolic component in the TCA cycle and has an effect on fatigue recovery. In addition, citric acid is a highly safe material that can be ingested in large quantities for a long period of time and is inexpensive, so it is a material with a very high utility value as a raw material for food and drink that has the effect of relieving fatigue. ..

For this reason, many attempts have hitherto been made to utilize this citric acid in foods and drinks, quasi-drugs, etc. for recovery from fatigue. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid agent or tablet containing citric acid as a fatigue-improving agent containing an organic acid having two or more carboxyl groups or salts thereof as an active ingredient. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses an internal solution for physical fatigue, which contains a predetermined concentration of sucrose and citric acid. Further, Patent Document 3 discloses an oral liquid preparation for the purpose of recovering from fatigue, which is obtained by mixing royal jelly with citric acid or one or more salts thereof at a predetermined concentration.

However, since citric acid has a strong sourness in the first place because it is an acidulant, and also has a unique acridity, if the citric acid concentration is increased, the off-taste derived from these citric acids becomes conspicuous and the palatability is low. It becomes a low-drinking beverage. In Patent Document 2 described above, the palatability of the oral liquid preparation is increased by setting the compounding ratio of sucrose, which is a sweet substance, and citric acid within a specific range, but it is premised on the production of a small oral liquid preparation. Therefore, it is difficult to apply it to general soft drinks. Also, regarding Patent Documents 1 and 3, the importance of palatability is relatively low, and it is premised that the oral liquid preparation contains a plurality of functional materials having various tastes. There is no description on the problem of off-taste such as excessive sourness derived from citric acid.

On the other hand, in soft drinks, attempts have been made to utilize the health function of citric acid. Taste is more important, in the field of soft drinks, etc., when a large amount of citric acid is blended to the extent that functional effects can be expected, off-taste derived from citric acid, especially excessive sourness becomes a problem, It is also a cause of reducing the preference. Therefore, various proposals have been made in the past as countermeasures. For example, in Patent Document 4, sodium succinate or sodium fumarate, and in Patent Document 5, sodium hydrogen carbonate is mixed with citric acid in a specified amount in soft drink water, whereby citric acid is contained at a high concentration. However, a method of alleviating the sour taste derived from the citric acid is disclosed. However, along with the influence of the blended component on the taste of beverage, the effect is not yet satisfactory, and further improvement is required at present.

On the other hand, there is a strong need for low-calorie products in the soft drink field. Therefore, there is a demand for a soft drink that uses a high-intensity sweetener having a significantly higher sweetness than sucrose and has a health function. However, the high-intensity sweetener has a taste different from that of sucrose, and there are many consumers who are particularly worried about the taste thereafter. Therefore, many techniques have been disclosed for improving the taste of the high intensity sweetener.

For example, Patent Document 6 selects enzyme-treated isoquercitrin, Patent Document 7 selects D-amino acid, and Patent Document 8 selects α-terbineol, terpinen-4-ol, acetophenone, and p-methylacetophenone. It is disclosed that each of the agents containing one or more of them as an active ingredient has the taste improving effect of the high-intensity sweetener. Further, in Patent Document 9, in a high-juice beverage containing a high-sweetness sweetener and an essential oil and having a fruit juice concentration of 150% or more, the concentration of the high-sweetness sweetener and the concentration of the essential oil (citrus-derived limonene) are within a certain range. It is described that by doing so, the aftertaste of the beverage is improved.

As described above, citric acid and components such as high-intensity sweeteners are tried to be used in the preparation of beverages aiming for a health function, and citric acid which becomes a problem when the components are used. Although measures for improving the off-taste derived from the ingredients and the off-taste derived from the high-intensity sweeteners have also been studied, they are not necessarily effective improvement measures for soft drinks and the like that are aimed at the health function. When providing a soft drink or the like that aims for a health function such as low calorie, it is necessary to use these components or to use them in combination, but while avoiding the influence of the flavor of the beverage itself, the off-flavor derived from the components It is necessary to provide a technology for improving the above in order to provide a health functional beverage having a palatability.

JP-A-10-175856. JP-A-2000-333651. JP 2001-226272 A. JP-A-2005-261395. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-182973. JP-A-2015-91270. JP-A-2014-93981. JP, 2014-30379, A. JP-A-2015-12847.

An object of the present invention is to provide an acidic beverage containing a high concentration of citric acid, a citric acid-rich acidic beverage in which the off-taste derived from citric acid is reduced, and in particular, a high concentration of citric acid and a high-potency sweetener. To provide an acidic beverage containing citric acid, which is applied to an acidic beverage containing and reducing the off taste derived from citric acid and the sweetness derived from a high-intensity sweetener, which is easy to drink and has high palatability. is there.

The present inventors, while diligently examining various materials to be added to the citric acid-rich acidic beverage for reducing the taste derived from citric acid in order to solve the above problems, by adding theanine, taste caused by citric acid Can be effectively reduced, further, in high-citric acid-rich acidic beverages, high-intensity sweeteners were added, when theanine was added to acidic beverages, citric acid-derived off-taste and high-sweetness sweeteners were derived. It was found that a beverage with a high palatability and in which the off-flavor of the above was simultaneously reduced can be prepared, and the present invention has been completed.

That is, in the present invention, in a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, theanine is added, and the citric acid-derived taste is different. Consists of a reduced containerized high citric acid content acidic beverage. Furthermore, the container-packaged high-citric acid-content acidic drink comprises a high-sweetness sweetener, a theanine added, and a container-rich citric acid-rich acid drink. The present invention, by adopting the constituents, in a citric acid-rich acidic beverage containing citric acid at a high concentration, it is possible to effectively reduce the off-taste derived from citric acid, and further citric acid-rich acidity In a beverage, a high-sweetness sweetener is contained, and even in an acidic beverage, a taste derived from citric acid and a taste derived from a high-sweetness sweetener are simultaneously reduced, and it is possible to provide a highly palatable beverage. it can.

In the container-packed acidic beverage having a high citric acid content of the present invention, the content concentration of theanine in the acidic beverage having a high citric acid content can be 0.03 to 0.5% by weight.

In the container-packed citric acid-rich acid drink of the present invention, the citric acid concentration in the container-packed citric acid-rich acid drink is 0.3 to 0.8% by weight, and a high-potency sweetener is added, It is possible to obtain a container-filled acidic beverage with a high citric acid content. In the citric acid high content acidic beverage, as the high-intensity sweetener contained in the container-packed citric acid high content beverage, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, stevia extract and the like can be mentioned, and particularly preferably sucralose and Acesulfame potassium may be mentioned. In addition, the concentration of the high-intensity sweetener in the container-packed beverage containing high content of citric acid may be in the range of 0.003 to 0.1% by weight.

As the solid content concentration (Brix.) of the container-packed high citric acid-containing beverage, a solid content concentration in the range of 0.2 to 6°Bx can be adopted.

The present invention, in the production of a packaged citric acid-rich acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, theanine in a citric acid-containing acidic beverage and theanine in a citric acid-rich acidic beverage. The method for producing a packaged citric acid-rich acidic beverage in which the off-taste derived from citric acid is reduced, characterized in that the content concentration of citrate is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight. The invention of

In addition, the present invention adjusts the citric acid concentration of a citric acid-rich acidic beverage to 0.3 to 0.8% by weight, a high-intensity sweetener in the beverage solution, and a container-packed citric acid-rich beverage. The invention includes a method for producing a container-packed high-citric acid-containing acidic beverage, wherein the high-sweetness sweetener is added and contained at a concentration of 0.003 to 0.1% by weight.

Furthermore, in the present invention, in the production of a packaged citric acid-containing acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage, theanine is added to the citric acid-rich acidic beverage. Invention of the method of reducing the off-taste derived from citric acid in a container-packed acidic beverage containing a high content of citric acid, characterized in that the theanine content concentration is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight. Includes.

That is, specifically, the present invention is characterized in that [1] a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, with the theanine added and contained therein. The content concentration of theanine in a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage with reduced off-taste derived from citric acid and [2] citric acid-rich acidic beverage is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight. The citric acid concentration in the container-packed high citric acid-containing beverage according to the above [1] or [3] container-packed high citric acid-containing beverage is 0.3 to 0.8% by weight, and A high-sweetness sweetener is added and contained in the container-packed citric acid-rich acid beverage according to the above [1] or [2], and [4] container-packed citric acid-rich drink. The high-intensity sweetener to be used is sucralose and/or acesulfame potassium, and the high-concentration citric acid-containing acidic beverage according to [3] or [5] high citric acid-containing beverage packed in a container. Degree of sweetness The concentration of the sweetener is 0.003 to 0.1% by weight, and the container-packed acidic beverage containing high citric acid according to the above [3] or [4], or the [6] container The packed citric acid-rich beverage according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the beverage has a solid content concentration (Brix.) of 0.2 to 6°Bx. Consists of acidic drinks.

[7] In the production of [7] a citric acid-containing acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, which has a high citric acid content, theanine is contained in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage at a high citric acid content. A high content of citric acid packed in a container, in which the anomalous taste derived from citric acid is reduced, wherein the theanine content in the acidic beverage is added or contained so that the theanine content is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight. [8] A method for producing an acidic beverage, and [8] adjusting the citric acid concentration of an acidic beverage containing a high content of citric acid to 0.3 to 0.8% by weight, and adding a high-intensity sweetener to the beverage solution. The high-sweetness beverage with a high citric acid content as described above [7], wherein the high-sweetness sweetener has a high-concentration sweetener concentration of 0.003 to 0.1% by weight. Or [9] a citric acid-containing acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage, theanine is added to the citric acid-rich acidic beverage. The content of theanine in the solution is added and contained so that the content of theanine is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight, and a method for reducing the off-taste derived from citric acid in a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage. Consists of.

According to the present invention, in an acidic beverage containing a high concentration of citric acid, it is possible to provide a citric acid-rich acidic beverage with reduced off-taste derived from citric acid, and in particular, a high concentration of citric acid and a high-potency sweetener. It is possible to provide a highly packaged citric acid-rich acidic beverage that is easy to drink and has high palatability, which is applied to an acidic beverage containing and reducing the off-flavor derived from citric acid and further reducing the off-flavor from a high-intensity sweetener. it can. The method for producing a container-filled citric acid-rich acidic beverage of the present invention is applied to a low-calorie acidic beverage having a health function containing citric acid and a high-potency sweetener, and is derived from citric acid and a high-potency sweetener. A low-calorie acidic beverage having a healthy function with reduced off-flavor is provided, and the container-rich citric acid-rich beverage having high palatability and easy to drink is a condition in which the influence on the taste of the acidic beverage is avoided as much as possible. The method of manufacturing and providing can also be provided.

The present invention is characterized in that in a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage having a citric acid concentration of 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, theanine is added and contained, and the off-taste derived from citric acid is reduced. A container-packed high-citric-acid content acidic beverage, and further, in the container-high-citric acid content acidic beverage, a high-intensity sweetener is contained, and theanine is added and contained. Providing a packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage. Here, the taste derived from citric acid is the taste that is felt when drinking a beverage containing a high concentration of citric acid, such as excessive sourness or acridness, and the taste derived from a high-intensity sweetener is the taste of the tongue. The distinctive aftertaste that remains when you drink a beverage containing a high-intensity sweetener. The combination of these two different tastes causes the taste of the beverage to be synergistically lowered.

<citric acid>
As the citric acid used in the present invention, either citric acid anhydride or citric acid hydrate may be used, and citric acid salts such as sodium citrate salt and citric acid potassium salt may be used. Furthermore, as a source of citric acid, natural products such as fruit juice or fermented products of microorganisms, which are rich in citric acid, may be used, but normally, food additive grade citric acid used as an acidulant is used. It is preferable to do so because the quality is stable and the effect of the present invention becomes clear. The citric acid is adjusted to be 0.3 to 1.5% by weight, preferably 0.3 to 0.8% by weight in the acidic beverage. If the amount of citric acid is less than that, it is necessary to ingest a large amount of beverage in order to sufficiently exert the effects such as the anti-fatigue effect of citric acid. Becomes too strong, the effects of the present invention cannot be fully exerted, and a beverage with high palatability cannot be produced. The amount of citric acid contained in each packaged beverage is adjusted to 2 to 7.5 g, preferably 2 to 5 g. The “citric acid concentration” in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage of the present invention is displayed by converting the citric acid and citrate in the beverage into “citric acid”.

<High intensity sweetener>
In the present invention, a high-intensity sweetener can be used for an acidic beverage containing high citric acid. The high-intensity sweetener refers to a sweetener having a sweetness several hundred to several thousand times that of sucrose. By using a high-intensity sweetener, it is possible to produce a low-calorie product having the same sweetness. Examples of high-potency sweeteners include acesulfame potassium, aspartame, stevia extract, sucralose, and the like. Among them, sucralose or acesulfame potassium is preferably used in terms of taste.

It is known that when an ordinary sweetener such as sucrose or isomerized sugar is used in an acidic beverage with a high content of citric acid, the off-taste derived from citric acid is reduced to some extent due to the body feeling of the sweetness. (See Patent Document 2). However, when a high-intensity sweetener is used, the solid content concentration (Brix.) is relatively low, and not only the effect cannot be expected, but conversely, the off-taste derived from the high-intensity sweetener is added, It will have an unpleasant taste. The method for producing a container-filled citric acid-rich acidic beverage of the present invention is applied to a low-calorie acidic beverage having a health function containing citric acid and a high-potency sweetener, and is derived from citric acid and a high-potency sweetener. It is possible to provide a low-calorie acidic beverage having a healthy function with reduced off taste.

The content of the high-intensity sweetener can be appropriately set depending on the flavor characteristics of the product, but is usually about 0.003 to 0.1% by weight, preferably about 0.005 to 0.05% by weight. High-intensity sweeteners can be used in combination with usual sweeteners such as sucrose and isomerized sugar, or with sweeteners derived from fruit juice and the like, but sweeteners and sweeteners other than high-intensity sweeteners The mixing ratio of the components is preferably 70% or less, more preferably 50% or less, further preferably 30% or less, and particularly preferably 10% or less in terms of sweetness.

<Theanine>
Theanine is a kind of amino acid contained in tea leaves in a large amount, and is a component that can be expected to have physiological function effects such as a relaxing effect on the mind and body. A plant extract containing theanine may be used as a raw material, but it is particularly preferable to use a purified tea leaf extract, which is available as a theanine-rich raw material. The addition amount is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight, preferably 0.03 to 0.3% by weight, and more preferably 0.03 to 0.15% by weight.

<Solid content concentration (Brix.)>
The solid content concentration of the beverage of the present invention is preferably 0.2 to 6°Bx, more preferably 0.5 to 5°Bx. Therefore, as described above, as the sweetener, in addition to the high-intensity sweetener, the amount of the raw material having a high solid content concentration such as fruit juice may be limited.

<Acid beverage>
The high citric acid-containing acidic beverage of the present invention is a soft drink having a pH of 1.5 to 6.0, preferably 2.0 to 5.0, and more preferably 2.5 to 4.6. .. In addition to citric acid, it is possible to contain an acidic substance, but in order to sharply exert the effects such as the anti-fatigue effect of citric acid and to facilitate the flavor design of beverages, citric acid is used. It is preferred that it is substantially the only acidic substance. Here, "substantially only" means that 0.01% by weight or more of another acidic substance is not contained in the beverage. For the same reason, it is desirable that the beverage does not contain fruit vinegar or grain vinegar.

As raw materials for the beverage of the present invention, various crude drugs, vitamins, royal jelly, ginseng extract, polyphenols, various materials that can be expected to have physiological functions such as dietary fiber, as long as the effects of the present invention can be exhibited. Can be added. In addition, fruit juice, vegetable juice, tea extract and the like can be added.

Notwithstanding the above description, the raw material of the beverage of the present invention is preferably a "non-caffeine beverage" to which caffeine is not added. A "non-amino acid beverage" containing no amino acid other than theanine, particularly no basic amino acid other than theanine, and no arginine is preferable. On the other hand, "non-vitamin beverages" that do not contain vitamins, especially niacin and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12 are preferred, and "non-tea beverages" that do not contain tea extract. Is preferred.

In addition to the citric acid-rich acidic beverage of the present invention, other flavors, coloring agents and the like used in ordinary container-packed acidic beverages can be used. As the flavor to be used, citrus flavors such as lemon, grapefruit, yuzu and orange are preferable from the viewpoint of compatibility with the flavor of citric acid.

<Beverages packed in containers>
The citric acid-containing acidic beverage of the present invention can be prepared as a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage. After preparation of the raw materials, heat sterilization necessary for long-term storage is performed, and then, according to a conventional method, it is filled in a container such as a PET bottle or a can to obtain a packaged beverage that can be stored for a long time. The container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage of the present invention, within the best-before period, the effect of the present invention is maintained to reduce the off-taste such as excessive sourness and a unique aftertaste, and the change in flavor is small, and Since it does not cause precipitation or turbidity in terms of appearance and is stable, it is also useful as a packaged beverage that can be stored for a long period of time.

<Manufacture of packaged beverages>
The production of a beverage with a high citric acid content packed in a container according to the present invention is carried out by adding other raw materials such as citric acid, a high-intensity sweetener and theanine to ion-exchanged water and mixing them to prepare a mixed solution, and mixing the raw materials. It can be produced by sterilizing the liquid under predetermined conditions and then packaging it in a container, or by packaging the raw material preparation liquid in a container and then sterilizing it under predetermined conditions. There is no particular change in the production method of the beverage containing a high content of citric acid in the production method thereof, except for the point of blending the predetermined raw materials specified in the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

<Preparation example of acid drink containing high citric acid in container>
The raw materials were added to ion-exchanged water in the mixing ratios shown in Table 1 to obtain a total of 5 kg of a citric acid-rich acidic beverage preparation liquid. In test group 1 and test group 2, the amount of theanine added was 0% by weight and 0.05% by weight, and in test group 3, 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.07, 0.10, 0.15. , 0.30, and 0.50% by weight were prepared. The obtained prepared liquid was filled in a 190 g can for trial production of a beverage, and then sterilized by a pasterizer to obtain a container-packed acidic beverage having a high citric acid content. The citric acid used was citric acid (anhydride) and citric acid 3Na dihydrate, and the theanine was L-theanine.

<Example of sensory evaluation>
Five trained panelists were selected, the prepared test beverages were presented to these panelists, and evaluated for "citric acid-derived off taste". For the evaluation, the evaluation criteria shown in Table 2 were used, and the individual evaluation results were discussed among the panelists and used as the final evaluation results. The results are shown in Table 3.

When the solid content concentration was 7°Bx or more, the addition effect of theanine was not observed, but at 5°Bx, when 0.03 to 0.50% by weight of theanine was added, it was derived from citric acid and a high-potency sweetener. It was possible to reduce the unpleasant taste, and it became a beverage with high palatability and easy to drink.

The present invention provides an acidic beverage containing a high concentration of citric acid, which has a high citric acid-rich acidic beverage with reduced off-taste derived from citric acid. In particular, even in an acidic beverage containing a large amount of citric acid and a high-potency sweetener, the off-taste derived from the citric acid and the high-potency sweetener is reduced, and in addition to having a health function, a low-calorie The present invention provides a beverage with high citric acid content, which has high palatability and is easy to drink, and which has a high palatability and is packed in a container.

Claims (4)

The citric acid concentration is 0.3 to 0.8 % by weight, the high-potency sweetener concentration is 0.003 to 0.1% by weight, and the solid content concentration (Brix.) is 0.2 to 6 In a container-packed acidic beverage having a high citric acid content of °Bx, theanine was added and contained so that the concentration of theanine contained in the beverage was 0.03 to 0.5% by weight. A container-packed acidic beverage with a high content of citric acid that has reduced off-taste. The container-rich citric acid-containing acidic beverage according to claim 1 , wherein the high-sweetness sweetener contained in the container-rich citric acid-containing beverage is sucralose and/or acesulfame potassium. The citric acid concentration is 0.3 to 0.8 % by weight, the high-potency sweetener concentration is 0.003 to 0.1% by weight, and the solid content concentration (Brix.) is 0.2 to 6 In the production of a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage having a temperature of °Bx, theanine is contained in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage, and the theanine content concentration in the citric acid-rich acidic beverage is 0.03 to 0.5 wt% As described above, a method for producing a container-packed high-content citric acid-containing acidic beverage, in which the off-taste derived from citric acid is reduced, which is characterized by being added and contained. The citric acid concentration is 0.3 to 0.8 % by weight, the high-potency sweetener concentration is 0.003 to 0.1% by weight, and the solid content concentration (Brix.) is 0.2 to 6 In the production of a container-packaged citric acid-containing acidic beverage having a temperature of °Bx, the theanine content in the citric acid-containing acidic beverage is 0.03 to 0.5% by weight in the citric acid-rich acidic beverage. As described above, a method for reducing both the off-taste of citric acid and the off-taste of a high-potency sweetener in a container-packed citric acid-rich acidic beverage, which is characterized by being added and contained.