A ginseng and radix puerariae solid beverage and a preparation method thereof

Abstract

This invention discloses a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage and its preparation method, relating to the field of food processing technology. The solid beverage is in the form of a single, coreless water pellet, with each pellet being approximately spherical or near-spherical in shape, a diameter of 3-6 mm, and a moisture content of ≤8%. This invention innovates in product form and stability, completely solving the core problems of existing powder / granular solid beverages, such as easy moisture absorption and clumping, and component layering. The water pellet structure is dense and the components are evenly distributed, significantly improving quality consistency during storage, transportation, and use. The process is simplified and practical, eliminating the need for high-energy-consuming processes such as high-temperature extraction and concentration, as well as additional excipients. Industrial mass production is achieved through a purely physical, low-temperature process. Simultaneously, the water pellet form supports precise counting and dispensing, balancing production economy and user convenience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food processing technology, specifically to a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] With the popularization of health-conscious consumption, plant-based solid beverages made from medicinal and edible plants such as ginseng, kudzu root, and astragalus have become popular products in the food processing industry due to their combination of nutritional supplementation and convenient consumption. Currently, these solid beverages are mostly in powder or granular form, and the preparation process mainly revolves around raw material selection, cleaning, drying, pulverizing, mixing, and packaging. Some products optimize solubility or appearance through spray drying and simple granulation. The core function of these beverages relies on the dispersion or dissolution of the raw material powder in water, and they are widely used in daily tonics and convenient drinks.

[0003] However, existing technologies still have significant shortcomings: in multi-raw material systems of powder or granular products, the particle size, density and hygroscopicity of different raw materials vary greatly. Simple mixing processes are difficult to achieve uniform distribution of each component. Moreover, the finished product is prone to clumping and component stratification due to moisture absorption during storage and transportation, resulting in fluctuations in the proportion of components used each time, which seriously affects the consistency and stability of product quality.

[0004] In response to this, this application proposes a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage and its preparation method to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage and its preparation method, in order to solve the problems in the existing technology where the particle size, density and hygroscopicity of different raw materials in the multi-raw material system of powder or granular products are very different. Simple mixing processes are difficult to achieve uniform distribution of each component, and the finished product is prone to clumping and component stratification due to moisture absorption during storage and transportation, resulting in fluctuations in the proportion of components taken each time, which seriously affects the consistency and stability of product quality.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] In the first aspect, this application provides a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage, wherein the solid beverage is in the form of an integral coreless water pill, wherein the water pill is approximately spherical or near-spherical, with a single pill diameter of 3-6 mm and a pill water content of ≤8%.

[0008] Furthermore, the water pills are composed of the following plant-based raw materials: ginseng (artificially cultivated for less than five years): 5-20 parts; kudzu root: 20-40 parts; Solomon's seal: 10-25 parts; astragalus: 10-25 parts; yam: 10-30 parts; eucommia leaf: 5-20 parts;

[0009] The plant-based raw materials are uniformly dispersed in the pellet in the form of powder. The powder particles are physically bonded together to form a whole, without chemical bonding or layered assembly relationships.

[0010] Furthermore, the particle size of the powder is 60-120 mesh, and the standard deviation of the relative content of the powder in the pellet is ≤5%.

[0011] Secondly, this application provides a method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage, applicable to the solid beverage described in the first aspect, the method comprising the following steps:

[0012] S1: Raw material screening and cleaning: Ginseng, kudzu root, Solomon's seal, astragalus, yam and eucommia leaves are screened separately, impurities are removed and they are cleaned to obtain the cleaned raw materials;

[0013] S2: Drying treatment: The cleaned raw materials are dried at 40-60°C until the moisture content of each raw material is not higher than 10%, and the dried raw materials are obtained.

[0014] S3: Pulverization process: The dried raw materials are pulverized separately so that the particle size of each raw material is controlled within the range of 60-120 mesh to obtain raw material powder;

[0015] S4: Homogeneous mixing: The raw material powder is put into a mixing device and mixed at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes to obtain a homogeneous mixed powder;

[0016] S5: Add water to wet: spray purified water into the homogeneous mixed powder and stir to make the overall moisture content of the material reach 18% to 30%, forming a soft material suitable for making water pellets;

[0017] S6: Water pellet making: The soft material is placed in a pellet making equipment and made into water pellets by rolling, with the diameter of a single water pellet controlled to be 3-6 mm.

[0018] S7: Drying and pelletizing: The water pellets are dried at 40-60℃ until the moisture content of the pellets is ≤8%. Then the dried water pellets are screened and shaped to remove broken or unqualified pellets, and water pellets that meet the requirements are obtained.

[0019] S8: Packaging: Seal and package the qualified water pills to obtain the finished ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage.

[0020] Furthermore, in step S4, the mixing device is a three-dimensional motion mixer with a mixing speed of 180-220 r / min.

[0021] Furthermore, in step S5, the purified water is sprayed at a rate of 5-10 mL / min, while the material is stirred at a rate of 80-120 r / min.

[0022] Furthermore, in step S7, the drying is hot air circulating drying with a drying wind speed of 1-2 m / s, and the whole pellets of the dried water pellets are screened using a double-layer screen of 3 mm and 6 mm.

[0023] Thirdly, this application provides the application of ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage in the preparation of plant-based solid beverages. The solid beverage can be consumed directly or mixed with water before drinking. The dosage for a single use is precisely controlled by the number of water pills.

[0024] Compared with existing technologies, this invention provides a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage and its preparation method. This invention innovates in product form and stability, solving the core pain points of existing powder / granular solid beverages, such as easy moisture absorption and clumping, and component layering. The water-capsule structure is dense and the components are evenly distributed, significantly improving quality consistency during storage, transportation, and use. The process is simplified and practical, eliminating the need for energy-intensive processes such as high-temperature extraction and concentration, as well as additional excipients. Industrial mass production is achieved through a purely physical low-temperature process. Furthermore, the water-capsule form allows for precise counting and dispensing, balancing production economy and user convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0026] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] As attached Figure 1 As shown:

[0029] The raw materials and equipment are standardized as follows:

[0030] (a) Raw material specifications:

[0031] Ginseng: Artificially cultivated for 4 years, with a moisture content of ≤8%, and crushed and passed through a 60-120 mesh sieve;

[0032] Kudzu root: moisture content ≤10%, crushed and passed through a 60~120 mesh sieve;

[0033] Polygonatum odoratum, Astragalus membranaceus, Dioscorea opposita, and Eucommia ulmoides leaves: all are medicinal and edible grade raw materials with a moisture content of ≤10%, and are pulverized and passed through a 60~120 mesh sieve;

[0034] Purified water: Meets the requirements of the National Food Safety Standard for Packaged Drinking Water (GB 19298-2014).

[0035] (II) Experimental Equipment:

[0036] Three-dimensional motion mixer (SYH-100), universal pulverizer (WFJ-15), fully automatic water pellet machine (ZWJ-20), hot air circulating oven (CT-C-1), moisture analyzer (SFY-60), laser particle size analyzer (Bettersize 2000), high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC, Agilent 1260), electronic balance (accuracy 0.001g).

[0037] Example 1:

[0038] 1. Raw material ratio (by weight):

[0039] Ginseng: 5 parts, Kudzu root: 20 parts, Polygonatum odoratum: 10 parts, Astragalus membranaceus: 10 parts, Dioscorea opposita: 10 parts, Eucommia ulmoides leaves: 5 parts.

[0040] 2. Preparation steps:

[0041] Raw material screening and cleaning: Each raw material is screened to remove impurities and moldy parts, and then rinsed quickly three times with purified water and drained of surface moisture.

[0042] Drying treatment: Place the cleaned raw materials in a hot air circulating oven and dry at 40℃ for 4 hours until the moisture content of each raw material is ≤10% (test results: ginseng 8.2%, kudzu root 9.5%, Solomon's seal 8.8%, astragalus 9.1%, yam 9.3%, eucommia leaf 8.5%).

[0043] Pulverization process: The dried raw materials were pulverized separately using a universal pulverizer and passed through an 80-mesh sieve. The particle size of the powder was measured as follows: D50=75μm, D90=110μm.

[0044] Homogeneous mixing: Weigh each raw material powder according to the formula, put them into a three-dimensional motion mixer, and mix at 200 r / min for 10 minutes at room temperature to obtain homogeneous mixed powder;

[0045] Add water to wet: Add purified water to the mixed powder at a rate of 5 mL / min while stirring at 100 r / min until the moisture content of the material reaches 18% to form a soft material;

[0046] Water pellet making: Soft material is put into a fully automatic water pellet machine and rolled to form water pellets, with the diameter of a single pellet controlled at 3mm;

[0047] Drying and pelletizing: Place the water pellets in a hot air circulating oven and dry at 40℃ for 3 hours until the moisture content of the pellets is ≤8% (test result: 6.8%). Use a 3mm double-layer sieve to screen and shape the pellets, and remove broken pellets.

[0048] Packaging: The qualified water pills are sealed and packaged to obtain the finished product.

[0049] 3. The experimental data detection results are shown in Table 1 below;

[0050] Table 1

[0051]

[0052] The test data in the table are the average values ​​of three parallel experiments.

[0053] Example 2:

[0054] 1. Raw material ratio (by weight):

[0055] Ginseng: 12 parts, Kudzu root: 30 parts, Polygonatum odoratum: 18 parts, Astragalus membranaceus: 15 parts, Dioscorea opposita: 20 parts, Eucommia ulmoides leaves: 12 parts.

[0056] 2. Preparation steps:

[0057] Raw material screening and cleaning: Same as in Example 1;

[0058] Drying treatment: Dry at 50℃ for 3 hours, the moisture content of each raw material is ≤10% (test results: all ≤9.0%).

[0059] Pulverization process: After pulverization, the powder is passed through a 100-mesh sieve, and the particle size is measured as follows: D50=62μm, D90=95μm;

[0060] Homogenization: Mix for 20 minutes at 200 rpm using a three-dimensional motion mixer;

[0061] Water addition and wetting: spray rate 8 mL / min, stirring rate 110 r / min, material moisture content reaches 25%;

[0062] Water pill production: control the diameter of a single pill to 4mm;

[0063] Drying and pelletizing: Dry at 50℃ for 2.5 hours, the moisture content of the pellets is ≤8% (test result: 5.6%).

[0064] Packaging: Same as Example 1;

[0065] 3. The experimental data detection results are shown in Table 2 below;

[0066] Table 2

[0067]

[0068] Example 3:

[0069] 1. Raw material ratio (by weight):

[0070] Ginseng: 20 parts, Kudzu root: 40 parts, Polygonatum odoratum: 25 parts, Astragalus membranaceus: 25 parts, Dioscorea opposita: 30 parts, Eucommia ulmoides leaves: 20 parts.

[0071] 2. Preparation steps

[0072] Raw material screening and cleaning: Same as in Example 1;

[0073] Drying treatment: Dry at 60℃ for 2.5 hours, the moisture content of each raw material is ≤10% (test results: all ≤8.5%).

[0074] Pulverization process: After pulverization, the powder is passed through a 120-mesh sieve, and the particle size is measured as follows: D50=55μm, D90=88μm;

[0075] Homogenization: Mix for 30 minutes at 200 rpm using a three-dimensional motion mixer;

[0076] Water mixing: spray rate 10 mL / min, stirring rate 120 r / min, material moisture content reaches 30%;

[0077] Water pill production: Control the diameter of each pill to 6mm;

[0078] Drying and pelletizing: Dry at 60℃ for 2 hours, the moisture content of the pellets is ≤8% (test result: 7.2%).

[0079] Packaging: Same as Example 1.

[0080] 3. The experimental data detection results are shown in Table 3 below;

[0081] Table 3

[0082]

[0083] Comparative example:

[0084] 1. Formulation and Preparation (simulating existing powdered solid beverages):

[0085] Raw material ratio: Same as in Example 2 (12 parts ginseng, 30 parts kudzu root, 18 parts Solomon's seal, 15 parts astragalus, 20 parts yam, 12 parts eucommia leaves);

[0086] Preparation method: basically the same as in Example 2, raw material screening → drying → pulverizing → mixing → direct packaging, the difference being that there is no pelleting step, and the resulting powder has a particle size of 60~120 mesh.

[0087] 2. The experimental data detection results are shown in Table 4 below;

[0088] Table 4

[0089]

[0090] The comprehensive experimental data of the above-mentioned ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage (water pills) in Examples 1, 2, and 3, and the comparative examples are shown in Table 5 below;

[0091] Table 5

[0092]

[0093]

[0094]

[0095] Results analysis:

[0096] (I) Conclusions on Formula Ratio Optimization:

[0097] Example 2 (median ratio) has the best overall performance: its composition uniformity (RSD=2.1%), moisture stability (moisture content change ≤0.8%), production yield (96.7%), and taste score are all better than Example 1 (low value) and Example 3 (high value), making it the preferred formulation of this invention;

[0098] Example 3 (high value ratio) has the lowest pellet breakage rate (0.5%), but the mixing time is slightly longer, making it suitable for scenarios with extremely high stability requirements;

[0099] Example 1 (low-value ratio) has the lowest production cost, is suitable for the mass market, and its performance meets basic usage requirements.

[0100] (ii) Comparison of advantages with existing technologies (comparative examples):

[0101] Physical stability: The water pellets of this invention do not absorb moisture and clump under high humidity conditions, while the clumping rate of the comparative example reaches 35%, demonstrating the advantage of the dense structure of the water pellet morphology;

[0102] Component uniformity: The relative standard deviation of the components in the embodiments of the present invention (RSD≤3.5%) is much lower than that in the comparative example (RSD=8.9%), ensuring that the component proportions are consistent each time.

[0103] Production performance: The yield of the finished product of this invention (95.3%~96.7%) is higher than that of the comparative example (92.1%), with no dust loss, thus reducing production costs;

[0104] Convenience of use: The water pills of this invention can be directly counted and taken out (e.g., 1 pill / time), with high measurement accuracy and no need for additional tools, while the comparative measurement has a large error and is inconvenient to take out;

[0105] Dissolving performance: The water pills of this invention can be completely dispersed within 2 to 3 minutes, and the solution becomes clear, which is better than the comparative example, which did not disperse and had precipitation after 5 minutes.

[0106] As can be seen from the above, by controlling the particle size, mixing method and water pellet forming parameters of various plant-based raw materials, the raw materials are evenly distributed in the pellet body, avoiding the problem of uneven component distribution in existing powder or granular solid beverages, and improving the consistency and stability of product quality.

[0107] The finished product exhibits improved structural stability. The water pellets have a dense structure and regular shape, making them less prone to moisture absorption, clumping, or breakage. Compared to powder or granular forms, this significantly improves the physical stability of the finished product during storage, transportation, and use.

[0108] The invention improves production efficiency and finished product yield. The preparation method employed in this invention has a clear process flow, reasonable step connections, low raw material loss, and a high pellet yield, which helps to improve the effective utilization rate of unit raw materials and overall production efficiency.

[0109] This invention innovates in product form and stability, solving the core pain points of existing powder / granular solid beverages that are prone to moisture absorption and clumping, and component layering. The water pill structure is dense and the components are evenly distributed, significantly improving the consistency of quality during storage, transportation and use.

[0110] The process is simplified and practicality is improved. There is no need for high-energy-consuming processes such as high-temperature extraction and concentration, or additional auxiliary materials. Industrial mass production is achieved through a purely physical low-temperature process. At the same time, the water pellet form supports accurate counting and dispensing, taking into account both production economy and user convenience.

[0111] The foregoing has only described certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention by way of illustration. Undoubtedly, those skilled in the art can modify the described embodiments in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the foregoing drawings and descriptions are illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage, characterized in that, The solid beverage is in the form of a coreless water pellet, which is approximately spherical or near-spherical in shape, with a single pellet diameter of 3-6 mm and a water content of ≤8%.

2. The ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water pills are composed of the following plant-based ingredients: ginseng: 5-20 parts; kudzu root: 20-40 parts; Solomon's seal: 10-25 parts; astragalus: 10-25 parts; yam: 10-30 parts; eucommia leaf: 5-20 parts; The plant-based raw materials are uniformly dispersed in the pellet in the form of powder. The powder particles are physically bonded together to form a whole, without chemical bonding or layered assembly relationships.

3. A ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to claim 2, characterized in that, The particle size of the powder is 60-120 mesh, and the standard deviation of the relative content of the powder in the pellet is ≤5%.

4. A method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage, characterized in that, Applied to the solid beverage as described in any one of claims 1-3, the method comprises the following steps: S1: Raw material screening and cleaning: Ginseng, kudzu root, Solomon's seal, astragalus, yam and eucommia leaves are screened separately, impurities are removed and they are cleaned to obtain the cleaned raw materials; S2: Drying treatment: The cleaned raw materials are dried at 40-60°C until the moisture content of each raw material is not higher than 10%, and the dried raw materials are obtained. S3: Pulverization process: The dried raw materials are pulverized separately so that the particle size of each raw material is controlled within the range of 60 to 120 mesh to obtain raw material powder; S4: Homogeneous mixing: The raw material powder is put into a mixing device and mixed at room temperature for 10 to 30 minutes to obtain a homogeneous mixed powder; S5: Add water to wet: spray purified water into the homogeneous mixed powder and stir to make the overall moisture content of the material reach 18% to 30%, forming a soft material suitable for making water pellets; S6: Water pellet making: The soft material is placed in a pellet making equipment and made into water pellets by rolling, with the diameter of a single water pellet controlled to be 3-6 mm. S7: Drying and pelletizing: The water pellets are dried at 40-60℃ until the moisture content of the pellets is ≤8%. Then the dried water pellets are screened and shaped to remove broken or unqualified pellets, and water pellets that meet the requirements are obtained. S8: Packaging: Seal and package the qualified water pills to obtain the finished ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage.

5. The method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to claim 4, characterized in that, In step S4, the mixing device is a three-dimensional motion mixer with a mixing speed of 180-220 r / min.

6. The method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to claim 4, characterized in that, In step S5, the purified water is sprayed at a rate of 5-10 mL / min, and the material is stirred at a rate of 80-120 r / min while spraying.

7. The method for preparing a ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to claim 4, characterized in that, In step S7, the drying is hot air circulation drying with a drying wind speed of 1-2 m / s. After drying, the whole pellets are screened using a double-layer screen with 3 mm and 6 mm mesh.

8. The application of the ginseng and kudzu root solid beverage according to any one of claims 1-3 in the preparation of plant-based solid beverages, characterized in that, The solid beverage can be consumed directly or mixed with water before drinking, and the dosage can be precisely controlled by the number of water pills used per serving.

Images