Process for the preparation of a powdered instant black tea drink mix

A process for the preparation of a tea powder product which comprises:

• treating black tea leaves with water at a temperature of between about 60.degree. and 130.degree. C. for a sufficient time to form a first extract and spent black tea leaves;
• concentrating the first extract to increase the solids content;
• cooling the concentrated first extract to precipitate an insoluble tea cream containing residue that includes a caffeine constituent;
• separating said insoluble tea cream containing residue from said cooled and concentrated first extract to yield a separated first extract;
• mixing the separated residue with the spent black tea leaves to decomplex the caffeine constituent and convert water insoluble tea cream constituents into water soluble ones, thus forming a first mixture;
• treating the first mixture with water at a temperature greater than 70.degree. C. up to about 100.degree. C. for a sufficient time to remove water soluble tea cream constituents and to obtain a second extract;
• separating said second extract from said treated mixture to yield a separated second extract;
• mixing portions of the separated first extract and separated second extract to form an extract mixture;
• and
• drying the extract mixture to form the tea powder product.