Edible beads comprising a tea extract

2:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the tea extract in the form of a liquid tea extract, infusion, an instant soluble tea extract, spray dried tea extract, freeze dried tea extract, and/or a blend of freeze dried soluble tea extract, preferably a liquid tea extract.

3:

• An edible bead according claim 1, wherein the tea extract is selected from the group consisting of black tea, white tea, fruit tea, green tea, rooibos tea, oolong tea, chamomile tea, peppermint tea, ginger tea, cinnamon tea, lemongrass tea, rosemary tea, pu-erh tea, olive leaf tea, barley tea, liquorice tea, eucalyptus tea, gingko tea, sage tea, raspberry tea, valerian root tea, elderberry flower tea, lavender tea, turmeric tea, purple tea, pine needle tea, echinacea tea, honeybush tea, rose tea, jasmine tea, cranberry tea, dandelion tea, guava tea, thyme tea, matcha tea, chai tea, lemon balm tea.

4:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the at least one soluble fibre is selected from group consisting of inulin, fructooligosaccharide (FOS), levan, polydextrose, kestose, nystose, raffinose, galacto-oligosaccharides, galactotriose, manno-oligosaaccharides, mannotriose, mannotetraose, soy bean oligosaccharides, arabinogalactans, xylo-oligosaccharides, xylotriose, xylotetraose, arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides, arabinotriose, arabinotetraose, milk oligosaccharides, 2′-fucosyl lactose, lacto-n-neotetraose, glucan (i.e., glucose containing) oligosaccharides, cello-oligosaccharides (or cellodextrins), resistant dextrins (e.g., soluble corn fiber, soluble wheat fiber, soluble tapioca fiber, soluble pea fibre), nigero-oligosaccharides, nigerotriose, nigerotetraose, kojitriose, kojitetraose, dextrans, beta glucans, lichenan, isolichenan, and combinations thereof.

5:

• An edible bead according to claim 4, wherein the at least one soluble dietary fibre is selected from the group consisting of inulin, galacto-oligosaccharide, polydextrose, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and combinations thereof.

6:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the at least one soluble dietary fibre is present in an amount of at least 5 wt. % by weight of the filling, preferably in an amount of from 5-40 wt. % by weight of the filling.

7:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the sugars are selected from the group consisting of glucose, sucrose, fructose, galactose, lactose, maltose, isomaltose, sugar hydrates (such as dextrose monohydrate, for example), and combinations thereof.

8:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the filling comprises a tea extract in an amount of at least 1 wt. % by weight of the filling, preferably from 5-20 wt. % by weight of the filling.

9:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the filling is liquid.

10:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is a hydrocolloid.

11:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of alginate, low methoxy pectin, guar gum and combinations thereof, preferably wherein the polysaccharide is an alkaline earth metal alginate, preferably calcium alginate.

12:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the filling does not comprise a hydrocolloid.

13:

• An edible bead according to claim 1, wherein the filling further comprises a flavouring, sweetener, organic acids, nutraceutical, colouring agent and/or thickening agent.

15:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the at least one soluble dietary fibre is selected from the group consisting of inulin, fructooligosaccharide (FOS), galacto-oligosaccharide, polydextrose and combinations thereof.

16:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the metal salt is a calcium metal salt, preferably selected from the group consisting of calcium lactate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate gluconate and combinations thereof.

17:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the polysaccharide is a hydrocolloid, preferably a low methoxy pectin, guar gum and combinations thereof, more preferably sodium alginate.

18:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the first solution does not comprise a hydrocolloid.

19:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the tea extract is in the form of a liquid tea extract, infusion, an instant soluble tea extract, spray dried tea extract, freeze dried tea extract, and/or a blend of freeze dried soluble tea extract, preferably a liquid tea extract, preferably a liquid tea extract.

20:

• A process according to claim 14, wherein the first solution comprises less than 15 wt. % sugar by weight of the first solution.

21:

• A product comprising one or more edible beads according to claim 1.

22:

• A product according to claim 21, wherein the product comprises a beverage liquid, preferably wherein the edible beads are dispersed in the beverage liquid, preferably wherein the beverage liquid is a coffee, tea, infusion of one or more plants, herbs, fruits or spices, chocolate, carbonated liquid, flavoured water, alcoholic liquid and/or juice.

23:

• A product according to claim 21, wherein the product comprises one or more edible beads dispersed in an aqueous solution, preferably wherein the aqueous solution is a preservation solution comprising at least one soluble dietary fibre, a liquid tea extract, a sweetener, organic acid, thickening agent nutraceutical, colouring agent and/or a sugar.

24:

• A product according to claim 23, wherein the preservation solution does not comprise a metal salt.

25:

• A product according to claim 21, wherein the product comprises a food product, preferably wherein the edible beads are disposed on the food product, preferably wherein the food product is a dairy product, confectionery product, savoury product, wholegrain product, frozen product, and/or baked product.

27:

• A container comprising a product according to claim 21.