Preparation of tea extracts

A process for continuously preparing a tea extract which comprises continuously feeding an aqueous tea slurry at a temperature of at least about 90.degree. C through a first zone at a predetermined rate while continuously feeding an aqueous extraction liquid at a temperature of at least about 90.degree. C through a second zone at a predetermined rate concurrently with feed through said first zone and in contact with a barrier separating said two zones, said barrier being permeable to tea soluble solids flow therethrough but impermeable to tea insolubles flow therethrough to permit diffusion of tea solubles from the aqueous tea slurry into the aqueous extraction liquid, the volume of the slurry being about 0.5 to 2.5 times the volume of the aqueous extraction liquid, continuously removing aqueous slurry and extraction liquid from the respective two zones, the extraction liquid being removed from the second zone at a greater rate than at which it is supplied thereto, the aqueous slurry being removed from the first zone at a lesser rate than that at which it is supplied thereto with the aqueous slurry having a residence time in said first zone of at least about 2 minutes, and thereafter combining at least a part of the tea solubles diffused into the extraction liquid with tea solubles remaining in the aqueous slurry.