Preparation method for granulating broken tea leaves based on meltable adhesive

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of tea leaf processing, and provides a preparation method for granulating broken tea leaves based on a fusible adhesive, a granulating device is included, the granulating device comprises a granulating machine main body, a treatment bin is arranged above the granulating machine main body, a discharging pipe is arranged on one side of the treatment bin, and a feeding pipe is arranged on the other side of the treatment bin. A gas circulating pump connected with the treatment bin is arranged above the discharging pipe, a driving motor is arranged on the side, away from the gas circulating pump, of the treatment bin, a cutting knife is fixedly connected to the output end of the driving motor, a cooling plate is arranged at the lower end of the treatment bin, and a stirring paddle is arranged at the center of the bottom of the treatment bin. Compared with the traditional granulating process, the granulating process does not need an organic solvent or a water solvent, so that the requirement on the use or recovery of the organic solvent is avoided, and meanwhile, the granulating process does not have water wetting and drying stages, so that the granulating time and energy consumption are reduced, and the granulating process can be used for tea sensitive to water and has a wide application prospect. And the application range of tea granulation is widened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tea processing, specifically a preparation method based on a fusible binder for granulating broken tea leaves. Background Technology

[0002] Tea generally includes the leaves and buds of the tea plant; tea processing, also known as "tea making," is the process of turning fresh tea leaves into various semi-finished or finished tea products through various processing steps; China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and exporter of tea. Among them, the production and sale of tea in granule form has attracted attention as a new tea production method. Granular tea has a round and compact shape, a solid body, and resembles round beads. It has a high aroma, strong flavor, and can be brewed for a long time.

[0003] Chinese Patent Publication No. CN112998093A discloses a granular green tea and its preparation method, comprising the following steps: 1. Withering fresh tea leaves for 4-5 hours to obtain withered tea; 2. Fixing the withered tea leaves to obtain fixed tea; 3. Rolling the fixed tea leaves to obtain rolled tea; 4. Drying the rolled tea leaves to obtain dried tea; 5. Shaping the dried tea to obtain granular green tea. The green tea prepared by the above method is granular, with rounded granules, a high and lasting chestnut aroma, a bright liquor color, a relatively fresh and mellow taste, high amino acid content, and low tea polyphenol content. However, the above invention only uses a double-pan frying machine to stir-fry the tea leaves to make them into granules. The frying temperature in this process is not stable enough. Sometimes the temperature is too high or too low, resulting in unstable tea shape. At the same time, the tea raw materials are not completely uniform. Some leaves are too old and some are too young, which may cause changes in the shape of the tea granules, making the tea granules loose and broken, lacking aesthetic appeal.

[0004] In summary, the present invention provides a method for preparing granulated tea leaves based on a fusible binder to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a method for preparing granulated tea leaves based on a fusible binder. By using a fusible powder as a binder, the powder is melted or softened at a lower temperature to agglomerate the powder, thereby solving the problem of unstable shape of tea granules in the prior art.

[0006] A method for preparing granulated tea leaves based on a fusible binder includes the following steps: S1. Select appropriate amounts of tea leaves, edible flowers, fruits, and grains as raw materials, remove impurities from the raw materials, and perform fixation on the raw materials. Fixation is the first step in tea processing, which involves high-temperature treatment of the tea leaves to inhibit fermentation and maintain the inherent green color of the tea leaves. S2, put the raw materials into the dryer for drying. After observing that the moisture in the raw materials has been fully vaporized and evaporated, put the raw materials into the screening machine for screening. Screening is to remove foreign objects from the raw materials. S3. Select an appropriate amount of screened raw materials and put them into the granulation device. Use the granulation device to cut the raw materials into fine particles. Then add a fusible binder into the granulation device. The fusible binder can be in a solid form at low temperature or it can be added in a liquid form after being heated. S4. Hot air is introduced into the granulation device to melt the fusible binder and mix it with the fine particles. Then the hot air is introduced to allow the fusible binder to cool down rapidly. S5. After observing that the fusible binder and fine particles are fully mixed and cooled, and aggregated into standard particle shapes, the finished particles are taken out from the granulation device, thus obtaining tea particles made with fusible binder. This process is called melt granulation or hot melt granulation.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, in step S4, the raw material of the fusible adhesive is polyethylene glycol, which is a general term for ethylene glycol polymers containing α,ω-dihydroxyl groups. Mixing solid-grade polyethylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol can change the viscosity.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, in step S4, the melting point of the fusible adhesive is 40°C to 140°C, and the fusible adhesive is heated and melted in the processing chamber 2.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, in step S4, the fusible adhesive further comprises mannitol and maltodextrin carbohydrates, wherein the ratio of mannitol to maltodextrin is 1:1.61, which is used to reduce the adhesion between tea particles and components of the granulation device.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, in step S4, the temperature of the hot air is 50°C to 90°C, and the hot air heats the fusible adhesive without excessively damaging the tea leaf structure.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the granulation device in the reverse wet granulation process includes a granulator body. A processing chamber is located above the granulator body, and a discharge pipe is located on one side of the processing chamber. A gas circulation pump connected to the processing chamber is located above the discharge pipe. A drive motor is located on the side of the processing chamber away from the gas circulation pump. A cutting blade is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive motor. A cooling plate is located at the lower end of the processing chamber. A raw material pipe, a dispensing pipe, and an airflow pipe are located at the top of the processing chamber. A stirring paddle is located at the center of the bottom of the processing chamber. A fixing ring is attached to the stirring paddle and snapped into the processing chamber. A rotating column is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the stirring paddle. The bottom end of the rotating column is connected to the granulator body. A motor that drives the rotating column to rotate is located inside the granulator body.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the cooling plate has circulation pipes on both sides for coolant circulation, and a through hole in the middle for a rotating column to pass through. The circulation pipes are connected to an external cooling device to provide continuous cooling for the cooling plate.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the processing chamber is made of transparent borosilicate glass, and the processing chamber is non-toxic and heat-resistant.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention uses a fusible powder as a binder, which melts or softens at a lower temperature to agglomerate the powder, thereby producing tea granules. Compared with traditional granulation processes, the granulation process does not require organic or water solvents, thus eliminating environmental requirements for the use or recycling of organic solvents. At the same time, there are no wetting and drying stages in the granulation process, thereby reducing granulation time and energy consumption. Furthermore, melt granulation can be used for moisture-sensitive teas, expanding the applicability of tea granulation. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the process of this invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the granulation device of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the granulation device of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a disassembled schematic diagram of the granulation device of the present invention.

[0019] In the picture: 1. Granulator body; 2. Processing chamber; 3. Gas circulation pump; 4. Drive motor; 5. Cooling plate; 11. Rotating column; 12. Fixing ring; 13. Stirring paddle; 21. Raw material pipe; 22. Feeding pipe; 23. Airflow pipe; 24. Discharge pipe; 41. Cutting blade; 51. Circulation pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0021] like Figure 1-4 As shown, the present invention provides a method for preparing granulated tea leaves based on a fusible binder, comprising the following steps: S1. Select appropriate amounts of tea leaves, edible flowers, fruits, and grains as raw materials, remove impurities from the raw materials, and perform fixation on the raw materials. Fixation is the first step in tea processing. It involves high-temperature treatment of the tea leaves to inhibit fermentation, maintain the inherent green color of the tea leaves, and reduce the moisture in the leaves, making the leaves softer and easier to process further. S2, put the raw materials into the dryer for drying. After observing that the moisture in the raw materials has been fully vaporized and evaporated, put the raw materials into the screening machine for screening. Screening is to remove foreign objects from the raw materials. S3. Select an appropriate amount of screened raw materials and put them into the granulation device. Use the granulation device to cut the raw materials into fine particles. Then add a fusible binder into the granulation device. The fusible binder can be in a solid form at low temperature or it can be added in a liquid form after being heated. S4. Hot air is introduced into the granulation device to melt the fusible binder and mix it with the fine particles. Then the hot air is introduced to allow the fusible binder to cool down rapidly. S5. After observing that the fusible binder and fine particles are fully mixed and cooled, and agglomerated into standard particle shapes, the finished particles are taken out from the granulation device, thus obtaining tea particles made with fusible binder. This process is called melt granulation or hot melt granulation, which is a granulation technology that uses fusible powder as a binder to melt or soften the powder at a lower temperature to agglomerate the powder.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step S4, the raw material of the fusible adhesive is polyethylene glycol, which is a general term for ethylene glycol polymers containing α,ω-dihydroxyl groups. Mixing solid polyethylene glycol and liquid polyethylene glycol can change the viscosity.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step S4, the melting point of the fusible adhesive is 40°C to 140°C, and the fusible adhesive is heated and melted in the processing chamber 2.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step S4, the fusible adhesive further comprises mannitol and maltodextrin carbohydrates, wherein the ratio of mannitol to maltodextrin is 1:1.61, which is used to reduce the adhesion between tea particles and components of the granulation device.

[0025] In one embodiment of the present invention, in step S4, the temperature of the hot air is 50°C to 90°C, and the hot air heats the fusible adhesive without excessively damaging the tea structure.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the granulation device in the reverse wet granulation process includes a granulator body 1. A processing chamber 2 is provided above the granulator body 1. A discharge pipe 24 is provided on one side of the processing chamber 2. A gas circulation pump 3 connected to the processing chamber 2 is provided above the discharge pipe 24. A drive motor 4 is provided on the side of the processing chamber 2 away from the gas circulation pump 3. A cutting blade 41 is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive motor 4. A cooling plate 5 is provided at the lower end of the processing chamber 2. A raw material pipe 21, a dispensing pipe 22, and an airflow pipe 23 are provided at the top of the processing chamber 2. A stirring paddle 13 is provided at the center of the bottom of the processing chamber 2. A fixing ring 12 that snaps into the processing chamber 2 is provided on the stirring paddle 13. A rotating column 11 is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the stirring paddle 13. The bottom end of the rotating column 11 is connected to the granulator body 1. A motor that drives the rotating column 11 to rotate is provided inside the granulator body 1.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, circulation pipes 51 for coolant circulation are provided on both sides of the cooling plate 5, and a through hole for the rotating column 11 to pass through is provided in the middle of the cooling plate 5. The circulation pipes 51 are connected to an external cooling device to provide a continuous cooling effect for the cooling plate 5.

[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the processing chamber 2 is made of transparent borosilicate glass. The processing chamber 2 is non-toxic, heat-resistant, and facilitates observation of the internal granulation process.

[0029] Specific working principle: When the raw materials enter the processing chamber 2 from the raw material pipe 21, the drive motor 4 drives the cutting blade 41 to rotate and cut the raw materials; the granulator body 1 drives the rotating column 11 to rotate, which in turn drives the stirring paddle 13 above the rotating column 11 to rotate and stir the raw materials in the processing chamber; the fusible adhesive powder enters the processing chamber 2 from the feeding pipe 22; hot air is introduced from the airflow pipe 23 at the top of the processing chamber 2, and the airflow pipe 23 can be connected to an external airflow control device to control the airflow inside the processing chamber 2.

[0030] Gas first enters the processing chamber 2 through the airflow pipe 23. The gas in the processing chamber 2 causes the fine tea particles to flow continuously. Meanwhile, the feeding pipe 22 sprays the fusible binder into the processing chamber 2, where it comes into contact with the gas. The fine tea particles and gas mix thoroughly, generating strong shearing and impact, resulting in agglomeration. The particles continuously aggregate and expand, eventually forming particles of a certain size and shape. Under the action of the gas circulation pump 3, the gas and particles in the processing chamber 2 circulate continuously, ensuring the granulation effect and particle size uniformity. The cooling plate 5 at the bottom of the processing chamber 2 gives it a high heat dissipation capacity. After the hot air is stopped, the fusible binder quickly dissipates heat and cools down, improving the granulation efficiency.

[0031] Compared to existing technologies that only use a double-pan frying machine to stir-fry tea leaves, this invention uses a fusible powder as a binder. After melting or softening at a lower temperature, the powder agglomerates to form tea granules. Compared to traditional granulation processes, the granulation process does not require organic or water solvents, thus eliminating environmental requirements for the use or recycling of organic solvents. At the same time, there are no wetting and drying stages in the granulation process, thereby reducing granulation time and energy consumption. Furthermore, melt granulation can be used for moisture-sensitive teas, expanding the applicability of tea granulation.

[0032] The embodiments of the present invention are given for the purposes of illustration and description. Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for the preparation of granules of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder, characterized by, Includes the following steps: S1, Select appropriate amounts of tea leaves, edible flowers, fruits and grains as raw materials, remove impurities from the raw materials, and perform blanching on the raw materials; S2, put the raw materials into the dryer for drying. After observing that the moisture in the raw materials has been fully vaporized and evaporated, put the raw materials into the screening machine for screening. S3, Select an appropriate amount of screened raw materials and put them into the granulation device. Use the granulation device to cut the raw materials into fine particles, and then add a fusible binder into the granulation device. S4. Hot air is introduced into the granulation device to melt the fusible binder and mix it with the fine particles. Then the hot air is introduced to allow the fusible binder to cool down rapidly. S5, after observing that the fusible binder and fine particles are fully mixed and cooled, and aggregated into a standard particle shape, the finished particles are taken out from the granulation device, thus obtaining tea particles made using the fusible binder.

2. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the raw material for the fusible adhesive is polyethylene glycol.

3. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the melting point of the fusible adhesive is 40°C to 140°C.

4. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the fusible adhesive further comprises mannitol and maltodextrin carbohydrates, wherein the ratio of mannitol to maltodextrin is 1:1.

61.

5. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In step S4, the temperature of the hot air is between 50°C and 90°C.

6. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The granulation device in the reverse wet granulation process includes a granulator body (1), a processing chamber (2) is provided above the granulator body (1), a discharge pipe (24) is provided on one side of the processing chamber (2), a gas circulation pump (3) connected to the processing chamber (2) is provided above the discharge pipe (24), a drive motor (4) is provided on the side of the processing chamber (2) away from the gas circulation pump (3), a cutting blade (41) is fixedly connected to the output end of the drive motor (4), and a cooling device is provided at the lower end of the processing chamber (2). Plate (5), the top of the processing chamber (2) is provided with a raw material pipe (21), a dispensing pipe (22) and an airflow pipe (23), a stirring paddle (13) is provided at the bottom center of the processing chamber (2), a fixing ring (12) is provided on the stirring paddle (13) and snapped to the processing chamber (2), a rotating column (11) is fixedly connected to the bottom end of the stirring paddle (13), the bottom end of the rotating column (11) is connected to the granulator body (1), and a motor that drives the rotating column (11) to rotate is provided inside the granulator body (1).

7. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The cooling plate (5) has circulation pipes (51) for coolant circulation on both sides, and a through hole for the rotating column (11) to pass through is provided in the middle of the cooling plate (5).

8. The preparation method for granulation of broken tea leaves based on a fusible binder as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The processing chamber (2) is made of transparent borosilicate glass.

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