Process for treating an aqueous extract of a vegetable material

Abstract

An aqueous extract of a vegetable material is treated with a view to reducing its caffeine and/or chlorogenic acid content. The treatment is with a solid ligneous adsorbent of vegetable origin in divided form at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. so as to absorb the caffeine and the chlorogenic acid. Preferably adsorption takes place at a temperature of at most 30.degree. C. and the overall process includes the following subsequent steps: Separating the adsorbent from the aqueous extract, Washing the adsorbent with water at a temperature of from 0.degree. to 30.degree. C. so as to displace the non-specifically associated soluble constituents and combining washing waters with the aqueous extract, Subjecting the adsorbent to lixiviation with hot water at at least 60.degree. C. so as to desorb the caffeine and the chlorogenic acid and to regenerate to adsorbent, Contacting the regenerated adsorbent with the aqueous extract and repeating the preceding cycle until the required decaffeination and/or deacidification level is obtained. Preferably the vegetable material is coffee and the absorbent is found by particles of carob pods. The final extract may be concentrated to a solids content of from 30 to 60% by weight and the liquor obtained dried to obtain a dry product.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.