Green tea extract subjected to cation exchange treatment and nanofiltration to improve clarity and color
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorsAthula Ekanayake, John Robert Bunger, Marvin Joseph Mohlenkamp, Jr.
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Abstract
Green tea extracts having improved clarity and color. These extracts are obtained by treating the green tea extract with an amount of a food grade cation exchange resin effective to remove metal cations present in the extract. The treated extract is then contacted nanofiltration membrane while the treated extract is at a temperature of from about 100.degree. to about 140.degree. F. (from about 37.8.degree. to about 60.degree. C.) to provide a filtered green tea extract as the permeate. These green tea extracts can be included in a variety of beverages and are especially useful in suppressing the characteristic aftertaste of aspartame in diet beverages.
Claims15
A process for obtaining a green tea extract having improved clarity and color, which comprises the steps of:
- a. providing a green tea extract;
- b. treating the green tea extract with an amount of a food grade cation exchange material effective to remove metal cations present in the extract;
- and
- c. contacting the treated extract with a nanofiltration membrane while the treated extract is at a temperature of from about 100.degree.to about 140.degree. F. to provide an extract permeate having, on a 1% soluble solids basis:
- (1) a mixture of catechins comprising:
- (a) at least about 130 ppm of epicatechins;
- (b) at least about 300 ppm of epigallocatechins;
- (c) at least about 350 ppm of epigallocatechingallates;
- (d) at least about 60 ppm of epicatechingallates;
- (2) at least about 50 ppm of theanine;
- (3) about 10 ppm or less each of calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, zinc and iron ions;
- (4) an absorbance of about 0.06 or less when measured at 600 nm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.