Steeped cocoa compositions and functional cocoa beverages made from them

Abstract

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of producing a cocoa-containing beverage, or a nutritionally fortified or energy-sustaining cocoa beverage, containing beneficial cocoa polyphenols. Ready-to-drink compositions, concentrates, primary beverage components, and packets for producing the beverages are specifically disclosed and prepared from a cocoa water composition made from steeping a cocoa-containing product in water or an aqueous solution. A number of vitamins, minerals, supplements, and nutriceutical compositions can be added.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims full priority benefit of prior U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 717,163 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,919,135), and Ser. No. 11 / 717,165 (now), both of which claim priority to U.S. Provisional applications 60 / 781,327, filed Mar. 13, 2006, and 60 / 872,515, filed Dec. 5, 2006. The entire contents of each of these documents are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND INTRODUCTION

[0002] The invention relates to new beverage products made from water steeped in a cocoa product or powder as well as combinations of this beverage with one or more functional or healthful ingredients, such as energy-producing, stimulating, immune-defense, heart health, detoxifying, muscle recuperating, cognition enhancing, or relaxing ingredients or supplements, for example. In general, the beverages contain a percentage of a cocoa water ingredient having beneficial or significant levels of cocoa antioxidants, o...