JP7057986B1 - Tea leaf processing device, tea leaf processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform both inactivation treatment of oxidase and caffeine reduction treatment on green tea leaves while suppressing equipment cost, and even if the amount of hot water is reduced to suppress operating cost. Provided is a tea leaf processing apparatus capable of reducing a large amount of caffeine from tea leaves. SOLUTION: In the tea leaf processing apparatus 1 of the present invention, a supply port 5 for a fresh tea leaf T, a supply port 6 for steam V, and a supply port 7 for hot water H are provided on one end side, and the fresh tea leaf T, A pipe body 2 having a discharge port 8 for steam V and hot water H at the other end, and a stirring means 3 for stirring fresh tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H passing through the pipe body 2. The lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be positioned above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2, or the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is the same as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2. It is possible to position it at the height of. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Description

The present invention relates to a tea leaf treatment apparatus for inactivating an oxidase and performing a caffeine reduction treatment on fresh tea leaves, and a method for treating fresh tea leaves using the same.

Conventionally, for the purpose of inactivating the oxidase in the green tea leaves, a net cylinder rotary stirring type steamer in which a stirring shaft provided with a stirring blade on the outer peripheral surface is provided in the net cylinder has been used. The net cylinder rotary stirring type steamer is adjusted so that the direction is adjusted so that it tilts downward toward the discharge port side, and steam and tea leaves are flowed into the net cylinder while rotating the stirring shaft and the net cylinder. The steam and the fresh tea leaves are brought into contact with each other to inactivate the oxidizing enzyme in the fresh tea leaves (Non-Patent Document 1).

In recent years, in addition to the above-mentioned inactivation of the oxidase, tea leaves that have been treated to reduce caffeine (hereinafter referred to as decaffeinated tea leaves) have been sold. In order to produce this decaffeinated tea leaf, the contact between the fresh tea leaf and hot water is performed to reduce the caffeine in the fresh tea leaf. This caffeine reduction treatment is performed, for example, by spraying hot water ejected from a nozzle onto tea leaves conveyed to a conveyor as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 2.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-296355

Nippon Shokuhin Kagaku Kogaku Kaishi Vol.45 No.4. 273-278 1998 "Tea Making Machine" Hitoshi Yoshitomi Journal of the Japanese Society of Food Engineering Vol.8 No.3 pp-109-116, September 2007 "Effects of" Benifuki "green tea manufactured using a low caffeine treatment machine on chemical composition fluctuations and antiallergic activity Mari Yamada et al.

By the way, in the above-mentioned method for producing decaffeinated tea leaves, it is necessary to separately provide equipment for inactivating oxidase (such as a net cylinder rotary stirring type steamer) and equipment for reducing caffeine. was there. Therefore, the equipment cost was high. Further, in the above-mentioned caffeine reduction treatment, for example, the temperature of the hot water gradually decreases in the process of sending the hot water to the nozzle, so that a large amount of hot water is required and the operating cost is high. For example, in order to process 450 kg of tea leaves per hour, it was necessary to circulate hot water of about 36000 L / hr (Non-Patent Document 2).

The present invention has been made in view of the above matters, and an object thereof is to be able to perform both inactivation treatment of oxidase and caffeine reduction treatment on green tea leaves while suppressing equipment cost. At the same time, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tea leaf processing apparatus and a tea leaf processing method capable of reducing a large amount of caffeine from tea leaves even if the amount of hot water is reduced to reduce the operating cost.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes the subjects described in the following sections.

Item 1. A pipe body having a tea leaf supply port, a steam supply port, and a hot water supply port on one end side, and having the tea leaf, the steam, and the hot water discharge port on the other end.
The tea leaves, the steam, and the stirring means for stirring the hot water passing through the tube are provided.
The lower end of the discharge port can be positioned above the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body, or the lower end of the discharge port is positioned at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body. It is possible to have a tea leaf processing device.

Item 2. The stirring means includes a rotary shaft rotatably provided in the tube, and a plurality of agitating the green tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and passing through the tube. Item 1. The tea leaf processing apparatus according to Item 1, which comprises a stirring blade of the above.

Item 3. The tubular body includes a fixed cylinder on one end side provided with a supply port for fresh tea leaves, a supply port for steam, and a supply port for hot water, and a rotary cylinder on the other end side having the discharge port. , Equipped with
The rotary cylinder is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed cylinder to form the stirring means, and the tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water that pass through the rotating cylinder by rotation are stirred. Or the tea leaf processing apparatus according to 2.

Item 4. Item 2. The tea leaf processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3, wherein the hot water supply port is located on the other end side of the tube body with respect to the tea leaf supply port.

Item 5. Further provided with an adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the tube,
Item 2. The tea leaf according to any one of Items 1 to 4, wherein the adjusting means can adjust the orientation of the tube so that the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of the tube. Processing equipment.

Item 6. It is a method for treating fresh tea leaves by inactivating the oxidase of the fresh tea leaves with steam and reducing caffeine with hot water.
The pipe body having the tea leaf supply port, the steam supply port, and the hot water supply port on one end side and the tea leaf, the steam, and the hot water discharge port on the other end is described above. The lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body, or the lower end of the discharge port is set to the same height as the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body. The step of supplying the tea leaves, the hot water, and the steam into the tube,
A step of stirring the green tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water while passing them to the other end side in the tube.
The step of separating the tea leaves discharged from the discharge port and the hot water, and
The step of cooling the tea leaves separated from the hot water and
A method for treating fresh tea leaves, which comprises a step of drying the fresh tea leaves after cooling the fresh tea leaves.

Item 7. Item 6. The method for treating fresh tea leaves, which comprises a step of kneading the fresh tea leaves between the step of cooling the fresh tea leaves and the step of drying the fresh tea leaves.

Item 8. The amount of the hot water supplied to the hot water supply port with respect to the amount of the tea leaves supplied to the tea leaf supply port is 10 parts by weight or more of the hot water with respect to 1 part by weight of the tea leaves. 19 parts by weight or less,
Item 6. The method for treating fresh tea leaves according to Item 6 or 7, wherein the temperature of the hot water mixed with the steam in the tube is 96 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower.

Item 9. Item 6. The method for treating fresh tea leaves according to any one of Items 6 to 8, wherein the time for transferring the fresh tea leaves from the supply port of the fresh tea leaves to the discharge port is 20 seconds or more and 50 seconds or less.

According to the present invention, it is possible to perform both the oxidase inactivating treatment and the caffeine reduction treatment on the green tea leaves while suppressing the equipment cost, and the amount of hot water is reduced to suppress the operating cost. However, much caffeine can be reduced from fresh tea leaves.

It is a side view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located lower than the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st modification of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st modification of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of a discharge port is located at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on the 1st modification of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located lower than the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. (A) is a schematic vertical sectional view of a tea leaf processing apparatus according to a second modification of the present invention, and (B) is a schematic vertical sectional view of a green tea leaf processing apparatus according to a third modification of the present invention. Yes, (A) and (B) indicate a state in which the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of the tubular body. (A) is a schematic vertical sectional view of a tea leaf processing apparatus according to a fourth modification of the present invention, and (B) is a schematic vertical sectional view of a tea leaf processing apparatus according to a fifth modification of the present invention. Yes, (A) and (B) indicate a state in which the lower end of the discharge port is located at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on the 6th modification of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a schematic vertical sectional view of the tea leaf processing apparatus which concerns on the 7th modification of this invention, and shows the state which the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of a tube body. It is a table which shows the condition and result of the test which confirmed the effect of the Example and / or the comparative example of this invention. It is a table which shows the condition and result of the test which confirmed the microorganisms present in the tencha obtained in Examples 9 and 10 and Comparative Examples 8 and 9. It is a table which shows the result of the test which scored the bitterness and umami of the tencha of Examples 9 and 10.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tea leaf processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 to 4 are vertical cross-sectional views of the tea leaf processing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The green tea leaf processing apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can simultaneously perform both the inactivation treatment of the oxidase and the caffeine reduction treatment on the green tea leaf T. The tea leaf processing device 1 includes a tube body 2, a stirring means 3, and an adjusting means 4.

The tube body 2 is provided with a supply port 5 for fresh tea leaves T, a supply port 6 for steam V (FIGS. 2 to 4), and a supply port 7 for hot water H on one end side. The inside of the tube 2 forms a flow path for the tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H, and the tube 2 has a discharge port 8 for discharging the tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H. At the other end.

The structure of the tubular body 2 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the tubular body 2 includes a fixed cylinder 9 and a rotary cylinder 10.

The fixed cylinder 9 constitutes one end side of the tubular body 2. The supply port 5 for the fresh tea leaves T, the supply port 6 for the steam V, and the supply port 7 for the hot water H are provided on the fixed cylinder 9, and the fresh tea leaves T and the hot water H are provided from these supply ports 5, 6 and 7, respectively. Steam V and hot water H can be supplied into the fixed cylinder 9.

A hot water pipe (not shown) is connected to the hot water H supply port 7. The hot water pipe is a pipe that supplies hot water H stored in the water tank to the supply port 7. The hot water pipe is provided with, for example, a pump, an on-off valve, and a hot water flow meter. In this case, the hot water H stored in the water tank is pumped toward the supply port 7, the amount of the hot water H supplied to the supply port 7 by the on-off valve is adjusted, and the hot water flow meter is used. It is possible to measure the amount of hot water H supplied to the supply port 7.

The steam V supply port 6 is configured by the opening of the steam pipe 11. The steam pipe 11 penetrates the wall of the fixed cylinder 9 and supplies the steam V generated by the boiler to the supply port 6.

The positional relationship between the supply port 5 of the fresh tea leaves T, the supply port 6 of the steam V, and the supply port 7 of the hot water H is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of preventing the tube clogging of the fresh tea leaves T, FIGS. As shown in 4, it is preferable to position the hot water H supply port 7 on the other end side (rotary cylinder 10 side) of the tube body 2 with respect to the tea leaf T supply port 5.

The rotary cylinder 10 constitutes the other end side of the tubular body 2. The rotary cylinder 10 is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed cylinder 9, and includes a continuous cylinder 12 connected to the fixed cylinder 9 and a net cylinder 13 attached to the continuous cylinder 12. In the rotary cylinder 10, the inside of the net cylinder 13 forms a flow path through which the tea leaves T, the hot water H, and the steam V flow, and the discharge port 8 of the tea leaves T, the hot water H, and the steam V is connected to the pipe. It is provided at the opposite end of the fixed body 9 as the other end of the body 2.

The net body 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape by using a ventilation plate such as a wire mesh or a punching metal, and is fixed to the inside of the continuous body 12 by using a known fixing tool.

The continuous cylinder 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape using metal or the like, and prevents the hot water H and the steam V from spilling through the mesh of the net cylinder 13.

The stirring means 3 is a means for stirring the fresh tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H passing through the tube body 2. The stirring means 3 is composed of the rotary cylinder 10, the rotating shaft 14, and a plurality of stirring blades 15.

The rotary shaft 14 is rotatably provided in the tubular body 2. The plurality of stirring blades 15 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 14.

According to the above-mentioned stirring means 3, the rotating cylinder 10 agitates the tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H passing through the tube 2, and the rotating shaft 14 rotates. , The fresh tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H passing through the tube body 2 are also stirred by the plurality of stirring blades 15.

The rotating means for rotating the rotary cylinder 10 and the rotating shaft 14 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the motor 20, the gear 21, the tooth ring 22, and the power transmission mechanism 23 are brown as the above-mentioned rotating means. It is provided in the fresh leaf processing device 1 (FIG. 1). The gear 21 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of one end side (fixed body 9 side) of the continuous body 12. The tooth ring 22 is provided so as to mesh with the gear 21. The power transmission mechanism 23 transmits the power of the motor 20 to the tooth ring 22 and the rotating shaft 14 by using means such as a pulley or a belt. According to the above-mentioned rotating means, the power of the motor 20 is transmitted to the tooth ring 22 via the power transmission mechanism 23, and the tooth ring 22 rotates, so that the rotary cylinder 10 rotates together with the gear 21. Further, the power of the motor 20 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 14 via the power transmission mechanism 23, so that the rotating shaft 14 also rotates. In order to stably rotate the rotary cylinder 10, the rotary cylinder 10 is positioned by a plurality of pulleys 24. A plurality of pulleys 24 are provided in the vicinity of the gear 21 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary cylinder 10, and each of the pulleys 24 is the other end of the fixed cylinder 9 (the end on the rotary cylinder 10 side). It is rotatably supported by the saliva portion 25 provided in the.

The net cylinder 13 may be omitted from the rotary cylinder 10, and the rotary cylinder 10 may be composed of only the continuous cylinder 12. In this case, the continuous cylinder 12 (rotary cylinder 10) is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed cylinder 9, so that the continuous cylinder 12 (rotary cylinder 10) constitutes the stirring means 3. Even in the above case, the continuous cylinder 12 (rotary cylinder 10) and the rotating shaft 14 rotate to allow the tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H to pass through the tubular body 2 to be continuously connected. It can be stirred by 12 (rotary cylinder 10) and a plurality of stirring blades 15.

Further, a power source (motor or the like) for rotating the rotary cylinder 10 and a power source (motor or the like) for rotating the rotating shaft 14 may be separately provided in the tea leaf processing device 1.

The adjusting means 4 is a means capable of adjusting the orientation of the tubular body 2 so that the tubular body 2 is in the following states (1) to (3). When both the oxidase inactivating treatment and the caffeine reduction treatment are performed on the tea leaves T, the orientation of the tube 2 is set to the following state (1) or (2).

(1) A state in which the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2 (see FIG. 2).
(2) A state in which the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located at the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2 (see FIG. 3).
(3) A state in which the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located below the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2 (see FIG. 4).

The structure of the adjusting means 4 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the adjusting means 4 includes a frame 30, a machine frame 31, and a hinge mechanism 32. The tube body 2, the motor 20, and the power transmission mechanism 23 are supported by the frame 30. The frame 30 is supported by the machine frame 31 so as to be tiltable. The hinge mechanism 32 includes a first node 33 and a second node 34. One end of the first node 33 is connected to the frame 30 via the first hinge 35 in the vicinity of the other end of the rotary cylinder 10 (near the discharge port 8). The other end of the first node 33 is connected to one end of the second node 34 via the second hinge 36. The other end of the second node 34 is connected to the machine frame 31 via the third hinge 37.

According to the above adjusting means 4, the pipes as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are adjusted by adjusting the inclination of the frame 30 by changing the bending angle between the first node 33 and the second node 34. The lower end A of the discharge port 8 may be positioned above the inner lower end B of one end of the tubular body 2 by inclining the body 2 upward toward the other end side (discharge port 8 side) (FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 3, the pipe body 2 is made horizontal so that the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is positioned at the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2, and the pipe body is as shown in FIG. The lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be positioned below the inner lower end B of one end of the tubular body 2 by inclining the 2 toward the other end side (the discharge port 8 side).

When both the inactivation treatment of the oxidizing enzyme of the tea leaf T by the steam V and the caffeine reduction treatment by the hot water H are performed by using the above-mentioned tea leaf processing apparatus 1, first, "supply of the tea leaf T". A tube body 2 having a port 5, a steam V supply port 6, and a hot water H supply port 7 on one end side, and a tea leaf T, steam V, and a hot water H discharge port 8 on the other end. The lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2 (as shown in FIG. 2), or the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is the inner lower end of the inner end of the pipe body 2. With the same height as B (in the state shown in FIG. 3), the raw tea leaf T and the steam are taken from the raw tea leaf T supply port 5, the steam V supply port 6, and the hot water H supply port 7, respectively. V and hot water H are supplied into the tube 2 (supply step). Then, the agitating means 3 (rotary cylinder 10, rotary shaft 14, and a plurality of stirring blades 15) allows the fresh tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H to pass through the tubular body 2 to the other end side of the tubular body 2. Stir (stirring step). By carrying out the above supply step and stirring step, the green tea leaves T are transferred from the supply port to the discharge port 8 by the flow of hot water H in the tube body 2. During this transfer, the tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H in the tube 2 are agitated, and the tea leaves T come into contact with the steam V and hot water H to oxidize the tea leaves T. The enzyme is inactivated. Further, when the fresh tea leaves T come into contact with the hot water H, caffeine is extracted from the fresh tea leaves T, and the amount of caffeine in the fresh tea leaves T is reduced.

Then, the fresh tea leaves T discharged from the discharge port 8 and the hot water H are separated by using a net-like conveyor or the like (separation step). Then, the fresh tea leaves T separated from the hot water H are cooled with cold water or the like (cooling step), and after the fresh tea leaves T are cooled, the fresh tea leaves T are dried (drying step). As a result, tea leaves in which the oxidase is inactivated and the amount of caffeine is reduced can be obtained. In the case of producing sencha, a step of kneading the fresh tea leaves T is carried out between the step of cooling the fresh tea leaves T and the step of drying the fresh tea leaves T.

According to this embodiment, the green tea leaf T can be brought into contact with both the steam V and the hot water H in the tube body 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide the equipment for inactivating the oxidase and the equipment for reducing caffeine, and it is possible to perform both the inactivation treatment of the oxidase and the caffeine reduction treatment on the green tea leaves T. can. Therefore, both the inactivating treatment of the oxidase and the caffeine reduction treatment can be performed on the green tea leaf T while suppressing the equipment cost.

Further, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2, or the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is at the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2. By adjusting the orientation of the tube body 2 so as to be so, the residence time of the green tea leaf T in the tube body 2 can be lengthened. Therefore, the contact time between the tea leaves T and the hot water H can be lengthened. Further, the temperature of the hot water H can be maintained at a high temperature by mixing the steam V with the hot water H. For the above reasons, even if the amount of hot water H is reduced to reduce the operating cost, a sufficient amount of caffeine can be extracted from the fresh tea leaves T.

The amount of hot water H supplied to the supply port 7 of the hot water H with respect to the amount of the fresh tea leaves T supplied to the supply port 5 of the fresh tea leaves T is 10 for 1 part by weight of the fresh tea leaves T. It is preferable that the temperature of the hot water H mixed with the steam V in the tube 2 is 96 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower so that the temperature is not less than 19 parts by weight. By doing so, it is possible to extract 60% or more of the caffeine contained in the fresh tea leaves T while keeping the amount of hot water H small.

Further, it is preferable that the time for transferring the fresh tea leaves T from the supply port 5 to the discharge port 8 is 20 seconds or more and 50 seconds or less. In this way, while a sufficient amount of caffeine can be reduced from the fresh tea leaves T, a large amount of useful components of tannin, theanine, and free amino acids can remain in the fresh tea leaves T. Further, by setting the above time to 50 seconds or less, discoloration of the fresh tea leaves T can be prevented. The transfer time of the fresh tea leaves T is set to the above time by adjusting the amount of hot water H supplied from the supply port 7 into the tube body 2, the inclination of the tube body 2, and the like.

Further, according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the pipe body 2 is inclined downward so as to be on the other end side (discharge port 8 side), and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is inside one end of the pipe body 2. Since it can be located below the lower end B, it is possible to perform only the inactivation treatment of the oxidase on the tea leaf T, as in the application of the conventional net body rotary stirring type tea leaf processing device. be. In this case, the tube body 2 is tilted downward toward the other end (state in FIG. 4), and the tea leaf T is provided from the tea leaf T supply port 5 and the steam V supply port 6, respectively. And steam V are supplied into the pipe body 2 (supply step). Then, the green tea leaf T is passed through the tube body 2 to the other end side of the tube body 2 and stirred by the stirring means 3 (net cylinder 13, rotating shaft 14, and a plurality of stirring blades 15) (stirring step). When the above supply step and stirring step are carried out, the tube body 2 is inclined downward and the steam V flows in the tube body 2, so that the tea leaves T are generated in the tube body 2. It is transferred from the supply port toward the discharge port 8. Then, during this transfer, the tea leaf T stirred by the stirring means 3 comes into contact with the steam V, so that the oxidase in the tea leaf T is inactivated.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be variously modified.

For example, instead of the adjusting means 4 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the adjusting means 40 shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 may be provided in the tea leaf processing device 1. The adjusting means 40 includes two support members 41 and 42 that can be moved up and down. One support member 41 is arranged on the lower side (for example, the lower side of the fixed cylinder 9) on one end side of the tubular body 2. The other support member 42 is arranged on the lower side of the other end side (discharge port 8 side) of the pipe body 2. When the above adjusting means 40 is provided in the tea leaf processing device 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the support member 41 is moved downward and the support member 42 is moved upward, whereby the tubular body 2 is formed. The lower end A of the discharge port 8 is positioned above the inner lower end B of one end of the tubular body 2 so as to be inclined upward toward the other end side (discharge port 8 side). Further, as shown in FIG. 6, by making the upper end of the support member 41 and the upper end of the support member 42 at the same height, the pipe body 2 becomes horizontal, and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is one end of the pipe body 2. It has the same height as the inner lower end B. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, by moving the support member 41 upward and the support member 42 downward, the pipe body 2 is inclined downward so as to be on the other end side (exhaust port 8 side). Therefore, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located below the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2. A motor is used, for example, as a drive source for moving the support members 41 and 42 up and down.

Further, the adjusting means provided in the tea leaf processing device 1 is that the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of the inner end of one end of the pipe body 2, and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is one end of the pipe body 2. Of the means of making the height the same as the inner lower end B of the above, at least one of them may be a feasible means (that is, the pipe body 2 is inclined downward so as to be on the other end side (exhaust port 8 side). It is not an essential condition that the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located below the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2).

Further, it is not always necessary to provide the tea leaf processing device 1 with an adjusting means separate from the tube body 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, a first leg portion 50 projecting downward is provided on one end side of the tubular body 2, and the other end side of the tubular body 2 is longer and downward than the first leg portion 50. A protruding second leg 51 may be provided to support the first leg 50 and the second leg 51 on the support surface S. Even in this state, the pipe body 2 is inclined upward so as to be on the other end side (discharge port 8 side), and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2. Can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the leg portion 52 may be provided only on the other end side of the tubular body 2 so as to project downward, and the leg portion 52 may be supported by the support surface S. Even in this state, the pipe body 2 is inclined upward so as to be on the other end side (discharge port 8 side), and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2. Can be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, a first leg portion 53 projecting downward is provided on one end side of the tubular body 2, and a lower portion having the same length as the first leg portion 53 is provided on the other end side of the tubular body 2. A second leg portion 54 projecting to the side may be provided to support the first leg portion 53 and the second leg portion 54 on the support surface S. Even in this way, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be made horizontal and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be set to the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the tube body 2 itself may be supported by the horizontal support surface S. Even in this way, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be made horizontal and the lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be set to the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, even if an annular saliva portion 60 projecting inward in the diameter of the tubular body 2 is provided at the other end of the tubular body 2, the discharge port 8 is configured by the opening inside the annular saliva portion 60. good. By doing so, not only the state in which the pipe body 2 is tilted upward so as to be on the other end side (exhaust port 8 side), but also the state in which the pipe body 2 is horizontal and the pipe body 2 is on the other end side (exhaust). The lower end A of the discharge port 8 can be positioned above the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe body 2 even in a state of being inclined downward toward the outlet 8 side). Alternatively, by providing the above-mentioned annular saliva portion 60, as shown in FIG. 10, even in a state where the tube body 2 is tilted downward so as to be on the other end side (discharge port 8 side), the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is provided. , It is possible to position the pipe body 2 at the same height as the inner lower end B at one end. Although FIG. 10 shows an example in which the annular saliva portion 60 is provided at the other end of the continuous cylinder 12, the annular saliva portion protruding inward in the diameter of the tubular body 2 is also provided at the other end of the net cylinder 13. It may be provided.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the stirring means 3 is composed of a rotary cylinder 10, a rotating shaft 14, and a plurality of stirring blades 15 is shown, but the rotating shaft 14 and the plurality of stirring blades 15 are omitted, and the stirring means is omitted. 3 may be composed of only the rotary cylinder 10. In this case, the inside of the rotary cylinder 10 forms a flow path for the tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H, and the rotary cylinder 10 is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed cylinder 9, so that the rotary cylinder 10 is rotatably provided. Consists of the stirring means 3. In this case, the rotation of the rotary cylinder 10 agitates the tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H passing through the tube 2, and the tea leaves T come into contact with the steam V and the hot water H. As a result, the oxidase in the fresh tea leaves T is inactivated. Further, when the fresh tea leaves T come into contact with the hot water H, caffeine is extracted from the fresh tea leaves T, and the amount of caffeine in the fresh tea leaves T is reduced.

Further, the stirring means 3 may be composed of only the rotating shaft 14 and the plurality of stirring blades 15. In this case, the rotating shaft 14 is rotatably provided in the tubular body 2, and a plurality of stirring blades 15 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 14. In this case, as the rotation shaft 14 rotates, the tea leaves T, steam V, and hot water H passing through the tube 2 are stirred by the plurality of stirring blades 15, and the tea leaves T are steamed. Contact with V and hot water H inactivates the oxidase in the fresh tea leaves T. Further, when the fresh tea leaves T come into contact with the hot water H, caffeine is extracted from the fresh tea leaves T, and the amount of caffeine in the fresh tea leaves T is reduced.

When the stirring means 3 is composed of only the rotating shaft 14 and the plurality of stirring blades 15 as described above, the continuous cylinder 12 and the net cylinder 13 are not rotated. Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the tube body 2 is a series of single tubes. In this case, the single tube (tube body 2) is provided with a supply port 5 for fresh tea leaves T, a supply port 6 for steam V, and a supply port 7 for hot water H on one end side, and the fresh tea leaves T and steam V are provided. , And the hot water H discharge port 8 is provided at the other end. The rotary shaft 14 passes through the single pipe (tube body 2) and is rotatably provided, and the plurality of stirring blades 15 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 14. Then, as the rotation shaft 14 rotates, the tea leaves T, the steam V, and the hot water H passing through the single tube (tube body 2) are stirred by the plurality of stirring blades 15.

Further, the members constituting the stirring means 3 are not limited to the above-mentioned net body 13, the rotating shaft 14, and the plurality of stirring blades 15, and the stirring means 3 includes the green tea leaves T, steam V, and heat in the tube body 2. The water H can be configured by various means capable of stirring.

Even when the green tea leaf processing device 1 is changed as described above, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located above the inner lower end B of one end of the tube body 2, or the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is located. The tea leaf T, steam V, and hot water H passing through the tube 2 are stirred by the stirring means 3 in a state of being located at the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the tube body 2, and the tea leaf T is agitated. Can be brought into contact with steam V and hot water H. Therefore, for the same reason as in the above embodiment, the tea leaf T is subjected to the treatment for inactivating the oxidase and the treatment for reducing a sufficient amount of caffeine while suppressing the equipment cost and the operating cost. Can be done.

The inventors of the present application conducted six tests to confirm the effect of the present invention. Hereinafter, this test will be described.

FIG. 12 is a table showing the conditions and results of the first to sixth tests (in the table of FIG. 12, the pipe body 2 is tilted upward toward the other end side (discharge port 8 side) to be discharged. The state in which the lower end A of the outlet 8 is positioned above the inner lower end B of the inner end of one end of the pipe body 2 is described as "upward", and by making the pipe body 2 horizontal, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is made into the pipe body 2. The state in which the pipe body 2 is positioned at the same height as the inner lower end B of one end of the pipe is described as "horizontal", and the pipe body 2 is tilted downward toward the other end side (the discharge port 8 side) so that the discharge port 8 is located. The state in which the lower end A is located below the inner lower end B of one end of the tubular body 2 is described as "downward").

In Examples 1 to 10 of the 1st to 6th times and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 of the 1st, 2nd, and 4th tests, the following operations 1 to 5 are sequentially performed.

Work 1: Tea leaves T, hot water H, and steam V are supplied into the tube 2 and stirred.
Work 2: The fresh tea leaves T discharged from the discharge port 8 of the tube body 2 and the hot water H are separated by using a net-like conveyor.
Work 3: Cool the fresh tea leaves T separated from the hot water H.
Work 4: Tencha is obtained by drying the fresh tea leaves T after cooling.
Work 5: Measure the caffeine content, caffeine residual rate, tannin content, tannin residual rate, theanine content, theanine residual rate, free amino acid content, and free amino acid residual rate of tencha after drying.

In Comparative Example 8 of the 5th test and Comparative Example 9 of the 6th test, the following operations 6 to 9 were sequentially performed (in Comparative Examples 8 and 9, the hot water H was piped in the operation 6). Did not supply within 2).

Work 6: Tea leaves T and steam V are supplied into the tube body 2 and stirred.
Work 7: The fresh tea leaves T discharged from the discharge port 8 of the tube body 2 are cooled.
Work 8: Tencha is obtained by drying the fresh tea leaves T after cooling.
Work 9: Measure the caffeine content, tannin content, theanine content, and free amino acid content of the dried tencha.

In the tea leaf processing device used in the first to sixth tests, the tube body 2 is provided with a fixed cylinder 9 and a rotating cylinder 10, and the stirring means 3 is provided with a rotating cylinder 10, a rotating shaft 14, and a plurality of rotating cylinders 10. It is composed of the stirring blade 15.

In the apparatus used in the first and second tests, a supply port (not shown) for supplying both the fresh tea leaves T and the hot water H and a steam V supply port are provided on the fixed cylinder 9. (The supply port for tea leaves T and hot water H was common).

The devices used in the 3rd to 6th tests are those in which the net body 13 is omitted from the devices 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the rotary body 10 is composed of only the continuous body 12. In the device used in the 3rd to 6th tests, the supply port 5 for the fresh tea leaves T, the supply port 7 for the hot water H, and the supply port 6 for the steam V are separately provided on the fixed cylinder 9, and the hot water H is provided. The supply port 7 was located on the other end side (rotary cylinder 10 side) of the tea leaf T supply port 5.

In the first test, the fresh leaves for Yabukita seed Ichibancha Tencha (40 kg, covered for 16 days) were used, and in the second test, the fresh leaves for Yabukita seed Ichibancha Tencha (40 kg, covered for 21 days) were used. In the third test, Yabukita seed second tea leaves T (40 kg each, 14 days covered) were used, and in the fourth test, Yabukita seed second tea tencha fresh leaves (30 kg each, 14 days covered) were used. In the 5th test, fresh tea leaves for autumn tea (30 kg in Comparative Example 8, 2,008 kg in Example 9) were used, and in the 6th test, fresh leaves for autumn tea (30 kg in Comparative Example 9, Example 10) were used. Then 798 kg) was used.

In Comparative Examples 1 and 2 of the first and second tests, the tea leaf T was clogged in the fixed cylinder 9. On the other hand, in the examples in which the hot water H was supplied into the tube 2 in the 3rd to 6th tests (Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 3 to 7), the tea leaf T did not get clogged in the fixed cylinder 9. rice field. For this reason, the supply port 5 for the fresh tea leaves T and the supply port 7 for the hot water H are separately provided as in the apparatus for the third to sixth test, and the supply port 7 for the hot water H is the supply port for the fresh tea leaves T. It was confirmed that the tea leaves T could be prevented from being clogged by locating the tube 2 on the other end side (rotary cylinder 10 side) of the mouth 5.

Comparing Examples 1 to 10 and Comparative Examples 1 to 7 in which the hot water H was supplied into the pipe body 2, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 was positioned at the same height as the inner lower end B of the pipe body 2. In Examples 1 and Examples 2 to 10 in which the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is positioned above the inner lower end B of the inner end of the pipe body 2, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is below the inner lower end B of the inner end of the pipe body 2. The caffeine residual rate (%) was smaller than that of Comparative Examples 1 to 7 located in. Therefore, by locating the lower end A of the discharge port 8 above the inner lower end B of the pipe body 2, or by setting the lower end A of the discharge port 8 to the same height as the inner lower end B of the pipe body 2. It was confirmed that a large amount of caffeine can be reduced from the raw tea leaves T.

Comparing Examples 1 and Examples 2 to 6 using the same fresh tea leaves T (fresh leaves for second tea tencha (30 kg, coated for 14 days)), the caffeine residual rate of Example 1 was 39.5%. On the other hand, since the caffeine residual rate of Examples 2 to 6 is 23.5% or more and 34.9%, the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is above the inner lower end B of the pipe body 2. (Examples 2 to 6), the lower end A of the discharge port 8 is set to the same height as the inner lower end B of the pipe body 2 (Example 1), and the caffeine is more. It was confirmed that many can be reduced.

Further, in each of Examples 1 to 10, the hot water H supplied to the hot water H supply port 7 is supplied to 1 part by weight of the tea fresh leaf T supplied to the tea leaf T supply port 5. In this example, the amount of hot water H mixed with steam V in the fixed cylinder 9 is set to 96 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower. In Examples 1 to 10, the caffeine residual rate was as low as 40% or less. From this, if the temperature of the hot water H is 96 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower, the amount of hot water H is at least 60% or more of the caffeine contained in the fresh tea leaves T as in the value of the weight portion described above. It was confirmed that it could be reduced.

Further, in Examples 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 9 in which the time for transferring the green tea leaves T from the supply port to the discharge port 8 is 20 seconds or more and 50 seconds or less, the above time is set to 75 seconds. Compared with 4 and Example 10 in which the above time was 55 seconds, the tannin residual rate, theanine residual rate, and free amino acid residual rate were higher. From this, it was confirmed that by setting the above time to 20 seconds or more and 50 seconds or less, a large amount of useful components of tannin, theanine, and free amino acids can remain in the tea leaves T.

In addition, the inventors of the present application conducted a test for confirming the microorganisms present in the tencha obtained in Examples 9 and 10 and Comparative Examples 8 and 9. FIG. 13 shows the conditions and results of this test. From the results shown in FIG. 13, it was confirmed that the viable cell count of the fresh tea leaves T can be reduced by treating the fresh tea leaves T with the fresh tea leaf processing apparatus of the present invention.

In addition, a test was conducted in which the bitterness and umami of Tencha in Comparative Examples 8 and 9 were set to 0 points, and the bitterness and umami of Tencha in Examples 9 and 10 were scored. This test was conducted by a specialized panel of 9 people, and the specialized panel gave a negative score when the bitterness and umami were reduced compared to the tencha of Comparative Examples 8 and 9, and the panel of Comparative Examples 8 and 9 gave a negative score. He was instructed to give a positive score when the bitterness and umami increased compared to Tencha. FIG. 14 shows the results of this test. From the results shown in FIG. 14, it was confirmed that by treating the fresh tea leaves T with the fresh tea leaf processing apparatus of the present invention, the bitterness and astringency can be reduced without reducing the umami of the fresh tea leaves T.

1 Fresh tea leaf processing device 2 Tube 3 Stirring means 4, 40 Adjusting means 5 Fresh tea leaf supply port 6 Steam supply port 7 Hot water supply port 10 Rotating cylinder 12 Continuous cylinder 13 Net cylinder 14 Rotating shaft 15 Stirring blade A The lower end of the discharge port B The inner lower end of one end of the tube H Hot water T Tea leaves V Steam

Claims (9)

A tea leaf supply port, a steam supply port, and a hot water supply port are provided on one end side, and the tea leaf, the steam, and the hot water discharge port are provided at the other end, and the hot water is provided. And a tube that can prevent the steam from escaping ,
The tea leaves, the steam, and the stirring means for stirring the hot water passing through the tube are provided.
The lower end of the discharge port can be positioned above the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body, or the lower end of the discharge port is positioned at the same height as the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body. It is possible to have a fresh leaf processing device. The stirring means includes a rotary shaft rotatably provided in the tube, and a plurality of agitating the green tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water attached to the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft and passing through the tube. The tea leaf processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stirring blade of the above. The tube has a fixed cylinder on one end side provided with a supply port for fresh tea leaves, a supply port for steam, and a supply port for hot water, and a rotation on the other end side having the discharge port. With a torso,
A claim that the rotary cylinder is rotatably provided with respect to the fixed cylinder to form the stirring means, and agitates the tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water that pass through the rotating cylinder by rotation. The tea leaf processing apparatus according to 1 or 2. The tea leaf processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hot water supply port is located on the other end side of the tube body with respect to the tea leaf supply port. Further provided with an adjusting means capable of adjusting the orientation of the tube,
The tea according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adjusting means can adjust the orientation of the pipe so that the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of the pipe. Fresh leaf processing equipment. It is a method for treating fresh tea leaves by inactivating the oxidase of the fresh tea leaves with steam and reducing caffeine with hot water.
The hot water has a supply port for the fresh tea leaves, a supply port for the steam, and a supply port for the hot water at one end, and has a discharge port for the fresh tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water at the other end. And the pipe body capable of preventing the dissipation of the steam, the lower end of the discharge port is located above the inner lower end of one end of the pipe body, or the lower end of the discharge port is the pipe. The step of supplying the tea leaves, the hot water, and the steam into the tube so that the height is the same as the inner lower end of one end of the body.
A step of stirring the green tea leaves, the steam, and the hot water while passing them to the other end side in the tube.
The step of separating the tea leaves discharged from the discharge port and the hot water, and
The step of cooling the tea leaves separated from the hot water and
A method for treating fresh tea leaves, which comprises a step of drying the fresh tea leaves after cooling the fresh tea leaves. The method for treating fresh tea leaves according to claim 6, further comprising a step of kneading the fresh tea leaves between the step of cooling the fresh tea leaves and the step of drying the fresh tea leaves. The amount of the hot water supplied to the hot water supply port with respect to the amount of the tea leaves supplied to the tea leaf supply port is 10 parts by weight or more of the hot water with respect to 1 part by weight of the tea leaves. 19 parts by weight or less,
The method for treating fresh tea leaves according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the temperature of the hot water mixed with the steam in the tube is 96 ° C. or higher and 100 ° C. or lower. The method for treating fresh tea leaves according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the time for transferring the fresh tea leaves from the supply port of the fresh tea leaves to the discharge port is 20 seconds or more and 50 seconds or less.

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