Extraction process and equipment for preparing mesona herbal tea by adopting steam permeation distillation method

Abstract

The invention relates to an extraction process for preparing mesona chinensis herbal tea by adopting a steam permeation distillation method. The raw materials comprise mesona chinensis, selfheal, momordica grosvenori and honeysuckle. According to the extraction process link of the mesona chinensis herbal tea beverage, an innovative extraction technology is adopted according to the characteristics of different plant organic matters, volatile aromatic hydrocarbon and terpenoid substances in herbaceous plants can be extracted and completely recycled, and the extraction efficiency of the mesona chinensis herbal tea beverage can be improved on the premise that plant cell tissues are not damaged to the greatest extent. According to the preparation method, water-soluble micromolecular polyphenols are dissolved out, meanwhile, other macromolecular organic matters which are not beneficial to flavor and taste, especially mesona chinensis polysaccharide gum, and residues of plant fiber tissues which influence the appearance of the herbal tea are avoided, and a large amount of subsequent filtration and ultrafiltration separation work is reduced, so that the herbal tea product with good fragrance, flavor and taste is prepared.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of herbal tea preparation, and in particular to an extraction process and equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by adopting a steam percolation method. Background Art

[0002] Existing extraction technologies applied to food basically use water as a solvent for extraction. Usually, various herbal tea herbs are mixed with water, and the plant cell wall fiber tissue is destroyed by heating the water to boiling, so that various water-soluble substances in the plant body are dissolved in the water. This includes not only aromatic hydrocarbons and terpenes that help to improve the aroma of herbal tea, and polyphenols that improve the flavor and taste of herbal tea, but also a large number of other substances are dissolved at the same time according to the organic matter content of various herbs, such as alkaloids, polysaccharides (plant starch, polysaccharides, cellulose, pectin) and other macromolecular organic substances, as well as many water-insoluble impurities (mostly small plant fiber tissues). Some of these macromolecular substances are insoluble or slightly soluble in water. Like other impurities, these substances need to be removed through multiple precision filters in the production process of herbal tea.

[0003] Some of these macromolecular substances, such as alkaloids and polysaccharides, which are soluble in water, are also detrimental to the taste of herbal tea. For example, alkaloids themselves or their salts are mostly bitter, and some are extremely bitter and pungent. There are also polysaccharides such as pectin. In particular, herbal jelly contains a large amount of herbal jelly polysaccharides, which are easy to flocculate and precipitate. If these substances are not removed, it will not only affect the flavor and taste of the herbal tea, but also cause the herbal tea to slowly produce trace amounts of flocculated precipitation during long-term storage, affecting its appearance. Therefore, in the production process of herbal tea, it is often necessary to add ultrafiltration membranes to separate these water-soluble substances, thereby improving the taste of the herbal tea. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention provides an extraction process and equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation, the main purpose of which is to solve the above-mentioned problem.

[0005] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0006] An extraction process for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation, wherein the characteristic steps are as follows:

[0007] 1. The raw materials of the herbal tea are 9-11 parts of grass jelly, 1-3 parts of selfheal, 0.5-1.5 parts of monk fruit and 0.5-1.5 parts of honeysuckle in parts by weight;

[0008] 2. Sterilize the raw materials at high temperature;

[0009] 3. Introduce steam to allow the raw materials to be fully mixed with the steam, and then perform distillation extraction.

[0010] Furthermore, in step 2, the high temperature is 120° C.-135° C. and the time is 10-20 minutes.

[0011] Furthermore, the step three is also provided with a condenser, and during the distillation, the volatile aroma substances are condensed through the condenser on the top and finally collected together with the distillation extraction.

[0012] An extraction device for preparing herbal tea of ​​grass jelly by steam distillation; comprising a distillation tank, a condenser and a collecting tank; a hanging cage, a steam pipe, a steam separation pipe, a water vapor separation device and a liquid collecting tray are arranged in the distillation tank, the steam pipe is connected to the bottom of the distillation tank, the liquid collecting tray is arranged above the steam pipe, the water vapor separation device is located at the upper end of the liquid collecting tray, the hanging cage is located above the water vapor separation device, and the steam separation pipe is inserted in the hanging cage; one end of the condenser is connected to the distillation tank through an exhaust pipe, and the other end of the condenser is connected to the collecting tank; the distillation tank is connected to the collecting tank, and the liquid collecting tray is connected to the collecting tank through the extract collecting tube that penetrates the distillation tank.

[0013] The hanging cage is a 300-mesh screen hanging cage.

[0014] An online concentration detection instrument is arranged in the collection tank.

[0015] A liquid level detector is arranged in the collecting tank.

[0016] The steam separation tube is a stainless steel 300-mesh screen tube.

[0017] A herb pressing plate is also provided on the top of the hanging cage.

[0018] It can be seen from the above description of the present invention that, compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0019] The extraction process of the herbal tea beverage adopts an innovative extraction technology based on the characteristics of different plant organic matter. It can not only extract and completely recover the volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and terpenes in the herbs, but also dissolve the small molecular polyphenols that are easily soluble in water without destroying the plant cell tissue to the greatest extent. At the same time, it avoids other large molecular organic matter that is not conducive to the flavor and taste, especially the herbal tea polysaccharide gum, and the residue of plant fiber tissue that affects the appearance of the herbal tea, reducing the subsequent large amount of filtration and ultrafiltration separation work, thereby making a herbal tea product with excellent aroma, flavor and taste. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 The figure is a schematic diagram of the principle of an extraction device for preparing herbal tea using steam distillation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Embodiment 1

[0022] An extraction process for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation, wherein the characteristic steps are as follows:

[0023] 1. The raw materials of the herbal tea are 9 parts of grass jelly, 1 part of selfheal, 0.5 parts of monk fruit and 0.5 parts of honeysuckle in parts by weight;

[0024] 2. Sterilize the raw materials at high temperature; the high temperature is 120℃ and the time is 10 minutes;

[0025] 3. Introduce steam to fully mix the raw materials with the steam, and then perform distillation extraction. A condenser is also provided. During the distillation, the volatile aroma substances are condensed through the condenser on the top and finally combined with the distillation extraction.

[0026] Embodiment 2

[0027] This embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment, with the main differences being that: in step one, the raw materials for the herbal tea are 11 parts of grass jelly, 3 parts of selfheal, 1.5 parts of monk fruit and 1.5 parts of honeysuckle in weight; and in step two, the high temperature is 135° C. and the time is 20 minutes.

[0028] Embodiment 3

[0029] This embodiment is the optimal embodiment, which is substantially the same as the first embodiment, with the main differences being that: in step one, the raw materials for the herbal tea are 10 parts of grass jelly, 2 parts of selfheal, 1 part of monk fruit and 1 part of honeysuckle by weight; in step two, the high temperature is 127° C. and the time is 15 minutes.

[0030] An extraction device for preparing herbal tea using steam distillation; Figure 1 As shown, it includes a distillation tank 1, a condenser 2 and a collecting tank 3; a hanging cage 11, a steam pipe 12, a steam separation pipe 13, a water vapor separation device 14 and a liquid collecting tray 15 are arranged in the distillation tank 1, the steam pipe 12 is connected to the bottom of the distillation tank 1, the liquid collecting tray 15 is arranged above the steam pipe 12, the water vapor separation device 14 is located at the upper end of the liquid collecting tray 15, the hanging cage 11 is located above the water vapor separation device 14, and the steam separation pipe 13 is inserted in the hanging cage 11; the hanging cage 11 is a 300-mesh screen hanging cage; the steam separation pipe 13 is a stainless steel 300-mesh screen pipe, and a herbal pressing plate 17 is also arranged on the top of the hanging cage 11; one end of the condenser 2 is connected to the distillation tank 1 through the exhaust pipe 21, and the other end of the condenser 2 is connected to the collecting tank 3; the distillation tank 1 is connected to the collecting tank 3, and the liquid collecting tray 15 passes through the distillation tank 1 and is connected to the collecting tank 3 through the extract collecting pipe 16; an online concentration detection instrument 31 and a liquid level detector 32 are arranged in the collecting tank 3.

[0031] The specific process of the present invention is as follows: 1. The cleaned herbal tea herbs (herb jelly, herbaceous cypress, monk fruit, honeysuckle) are placed in a 300-mesh screen hanging cage 11 at a ratio of 10:2:1:1. The hanging cage 11 is interspersed with a steam separation pipe 13. The steam separation pipe 13 is a stainless steel 300-mesh screen pipe, and there are multiple cylindrical hollow pipes made of the same 300-mesh screen. The entire hanging cage 11 is placed above the distillation tank 1.

[0032] 2. Purified water is first introduced into the distillation tank 1, and then steam is introduced through the steam pipe 12 to heat the purified water, so that the purified water turns into steam.

[0033] 3. The distillation tank 1 is sealed and heated to 127°C for 15 minutes. The purpose of this is to kill all the bacteria in the Chinese herbal medicine first, to avoid the subsequent use, due to untimely filling or sterilization, resulting in microbial reproduction affecting the flavor and taste of the soup. At the same time, it softens the fiber tissue of the herbal medicine, which is conducive to the subsequent static steam distillation.

[0034] 4. After sterilization, continue to heat it and start distillation to collect the extract (at this time, a part of the sterilization extract is already there).

[0035] 5. While heating the purified water at the bottom of the distillation tank 1, allow the heated steam to enter the space of the cage through the water vapor separation device 14, and evenly enter the herbs through the bottom of the cage 11 and multiple stainless steel 300-mesh screen tubes, fully mix with the herbs, and then condense. Finally, the condensed water falls into the liquid collection tray 15 at the bottom of the cage 11 and enters the collection tank 3 through the extract collection tube 16.

[0036] 6. During the distillation, the volatile aroma substances enter the condenser 2 through the top exhaust pipe and are condensed. After condensation, they are finally collected in the extract collection tank 3.

[0037] 7. The extract collection tank 3 is provided with an online concentration detector 31 and a liquid level detector 32 for online calculation of the extraction rate. In order to achieve the best flavor and taste, the extraction rate of this process is set to 10%-12% according to the filling amount of the herbal medicine. When this extraction rate is reached, the distillation is stopped.

[0038] The main technical descriptions are as follows:

[0039] (1): Herba Immortalis, Herba Prunellae, Herba Monk Fruits, and Herba Honeysuckle, the effects of each of these four herbs are as follows:

[0040] ① Since ancient times, fairy grass has been an important medicinal and edible plant resource, with the functions of relieving heat, clearing away heat, cooling blood and detoxifying;

[0041] ② The whole plant of Prunella Vulgaris is used as medicine, which has the effects of clearing the liver and purging fire, improving eyesight, dispersing nodules and reducing swelling;

[0042] ③ Monk fruit is sweet and cool in nature, and belongs to the lung and large intestine meridians. It has the effects of moistening the lungs and relieving coughs, promoting fluid production and quenching thirst. It is suitable for coughs caused by lung heat or dryness, whooping cough, and thirst caused by summer heat.

[0043] ④ Honeysuckle is sweet and cold in nature, and can clear away heat, detoxify, reduce inflammation and swelling. It is effective for bacterial dysentery and various suppurative diseases.

[0044] According to the efficacy descriptions of the above-mentioned herbs, grass jelly is the most neutral and suitable as the main ingredient of herbal tea, followed by selfheal. Monk fruit and honeysuckle are both sweet and cool and should be used in small amounts. Therefore, after many experiments and comparisons, a combination of grass jelly, selfheal, monk fruit and honeysuckle in a ratio of 10:2:1:1 was adopted.

[0045] (2): All kinds of herbal tea components are steam sterilized before distillation. The purpose is to kill various microorganisms in the herbs first, so as to avoid the subsequent use of the herbs, which may affect the flavor and taste of the soup due to untimely filling or sterilization. At the same time, it has the effect of softening the fiber tissue of the herbal plants, which is conducive to the subsequent steam distillation. The sterilization temperature and time are 127 degrees and 15 minutes.

[0046] (3): Various herbal teas are uniformly placed in a 300-mesh stainless steel cage 11, which has several hollow spaces to facilitate the uniform penetration of steam into the herbs. During the entire distillation and extraction process, various herbs are in a static state, and the effective soluble substances are extracted completely by the penetration of steam and hot water. This method can avoid the dissolution of polysaccharide gum macromolecules and the generation of fibrous tissue brittle blocks to the greatest extent. In particular, the dissolution of the herbal jelly in the formula is prevented.

[0047] (4): Steam and condensed water after distillation are separated in the water vapor separation device 14 and the liquid collection tray 15 under the hanging cage 11, and volatile aroma substances are collected at the top and finally collected together in the extract collection tank 3.

[0048] (5): According to the comparative data of many experiments, taking into account the cost, according to the actual ratio of the current herbal tea formula, the optimal extraction rate is controlled at 10-12%. At this time, its flavor and taste are optimal, without the bitter taste of herbs and other miscellaneous flavors.

[0049] The above method can make the herbal tea beverage of jelly grass reach the best herbal tea flavor and taste, not only extracting volatile aromatic hydrocarbons and terpenoid flavor substances and polyphenol small molecular flavor substances, but also avoiding other useless macromolecular substances, especially a large amount of herbal polysaccharide gum contained in the herbal grass, and other insoluble impurities (fibrous tissue fragments). The herbal tea made by this technical process can achieve the best flavor and taste.

[0050] The invention has unique design, novel conception, strong practicability and broad market prospect.

[0051] The above is only a specific implementation of the present invention, but the design concept of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any non-substantial changes to the present invention using this concept shall be deemed as an infringement of the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An extraction process for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation, wherein the steps are as follows:

1. The raw materials of the herbal tea are 9-11 parts of grass jelly, 1-3 parts of selfheal, 0.5-1.5 parts of monk fruit and 0.5-1.5 parts of honeysuckle in parts by weight; 2. Sterilize the raw materials at high temperature; 3. Introduce steam to allow the raw materials to be fully mixed with the steam, and then perform distillation extraction.

2. The extraction process for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high temperature of step 2 is 120° C.-135° C., and the time is 10-20 minutes.

3. The extraction process for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The step three is also provided with a condenser. During the distillation, the volatile aroma substances are condensed through the condenser at the top and finally collected together with the distillation extraction.

4. An extraction device for preparing herbal tea using steam distillation; characterized by: It includes a distillation tank, a condenser and a collecting tank; the distillation tank is provided with a hanging cage, a steam pipe, a steam separation pipe, a water vapor separation device and a liquid collecting tray, the steam pipe is connected to the bottom of the distillation tank, the liquid collecting tray is arranged above the steam pipe, the water vapor separation device is located at the upper end of the liquid collecting tray, the hanging cage is located above the water vapor separation device, and the steam separation pipe is inserted in the hanging cage; one end of the condenser is connected to the distillation tank through an exhaust pipe, and the other end of the condenser is connected to the collecting tank; the distillation tank is connected to the collecting tank, and the liquid collecting tray is connected to the collecting tank through an extract collecting pipe that penetrates the distillation tank.

5. The extraction equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The hanging cage is a 300-mesh screen hanging cage.

6. The extraction equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: An online concentration detection instrument is arranged in the collection tank.

7. The extraction equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: A liquid level detector is arranged in the collecting tank.

8. The extraction equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The steam separation tube is a stainless steel 300-mesh screen tube.

9. The extraction equipment for preparing herbal tea of ​​jelly grass by steam distillation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: A herb pressing plate is also provided on the top of the hanging cage.

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