Tablet and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

The invention relates to a tablet (2) consisting of pressed and dried plant parts of genuine nuts, kernels, cereals and / or further seeds, which, together with water, produces a milk substitute beverage. A method for producing a tablet (2) of this kind is also disclosed. The plant parts are present in the tablet (2) mostly in the form of chunks, i.e. in grain sizes of more than 1 mm, thereby preserving the vitamins and nutrients contained in the plant parts.

Description

[0001] Tablet and method for producing the same

[0002] The invention relates primarily to a tablet made from pressed and dried plant parts of real nuts, kernels, grains, and / or other seeds, which, when mixed with water, produces a milk substitute. The invention further relates to a method for producing such a tablet.

[0003] Milk substitutes, also known as “plant milk”, are commonly known to be based on cereals (spelt, oats, rice, coco), legumes (lupin, soy), nuts and seeds (coconut pulp, almonds, hazelnut, walnut) and seeds (buckwheat, horchata).

[0004] DE 20 2021 001 498 U1 proposes such a tablet made from pressed oat flour to simplify dosing and improve storage stability compared to the powder form. The underlying powder, known in the background of the invention, dissolves the macroscopic structure to such an extent that the ingredients of the grain disperse easily in water.

[0005] Further background to the invention: Capsules containing plant parts for the production of beverages are known from DE 10 2015 011 167 A1 and EP 2 906 095 B1. EP 3 185 690 B1 discloses an instant milk powder tablet.

[0006] Just a few hours after milling, the vitamins and nutrients of the plant parts are lost in the flour.

[0007] Task

[0008] The invention is based on the object of preserving vitamins and nutrients from plant parts.

[0009] Solution

[0010] Based on the known method, the invention proposes that the plant parts be pressed predominantly as chunks, i.e., in grain sizes larger than 1 mm. The freshness of the plant parts and the vitamins and nutrients they contain are thus essentially preserved. To produce the beverage, the tablet must be mechanically crushed. Chunks are pieces with the original macroscopic structure of the plant parts, in particular with grain sizes at least partially in the millimeter range and larger. For the purposes of this application, chunks are understood to include both whole and shredded nuts, kernels, cereal grains, and other seeds.

[0011] Preferably, in a process according to the invention, the plant parts are air-dried. Air-drying preserves the valuable natural constituents of the plant parts. Alternatively, other drying methods, particularly freeze-drying, can be considered. The latter significantly shortens the drying process.

[0012] Preferably, in a process according to the invention, the plant parts are at least partially soaked in water before drying. The resulting pulp causes the plant parts to swell and can subsequently be processed more easily. This swelling can be assisted by slightly tempering the pulp to 50 to 60°C.

[0013] In a process according to the invention, the plant parts are preferably dried under an inert atmosphere, in particular under nitrogen. This prevents the introduction of germs into the plant parts during drying.

[0014] Preferably, in a process according to the invention, at least a portion of the plant parts are coarsely shredded before pressing. This facilitates precise portioning, particularly of large nuts, kernels, grains, or seeds, and accelerates comminution during beverage production. Alternatively, at least a portion of whole nuts, kernels, grains, and other seeds can be incorporated into the tablet.

[0015] Preferably, in a process according to the invention, the plant parts are at least partially digested before pressing. This alters previously insoluble ingredients of the plant parts so that they disperse more easily in water. For digestion, the plant parts can be steamed, roasted, germinated, fermented, or fermented. Preferably, in a process according to the invention, the plant parts are at least partially sweetened before pressing. This improves the flavor of the beverage. In particular, starch and long-chain sugars such as glucose in the plant parts can be enzymatically broken down and converted into short-chain sugars such as fructose.

[0016] Based on the known tablet, the invention proposes that the plant components in the tablet be present predominantly as lumps, i.e., in grain sizes larger than 1 mm. Such a tablet is produced using a process according to the invention and is equally characterized by the aforementioned advantages.

[0017] A binder is preferably added to a tablet according to the invention. This allows the tablet to better retain its shape after drying. Vegetable binders such as starch or guar gum are particularly suitable.

[0018] Preferably, an emulsifier is added to a tablet according to the invention. This prevents the beverage from separating. Lecithin is particularly suitable as an emulsifier.

[0019] Preferably, oil is added to a tablet according to the invention. The oil forms an emulsion with the water that feels similar to natural animal milk. The oil can be mixed with the plant parts or incorporated into the tablet in one or more capsules, which are mechanically crushed with the plant parts during the preparation of the beverage.

[0020] Preferably, a tablet according to the invention contains sweetener and / or salt. Sugar or sugar-free sweeteners are particularly suitable. Sugar and salt improve the shelf life of the tablet and also act as flavor enhancers in the beverage.

[0021] A tablet according to the invention preferably has a moisture-repellent shell. This shell prevents the absorption of liquid from the ambient air and improves the shelf life of the tablet. The shell can, in particular, consist of a sufficiently solid wax or fat, for example, palm fat.

[0022] To produce the beverage, a tablet according to the invention is preferably first mechanically crushed and soaked in water. Only mechanical crushing, for example, by grinding the tablet according to the invention, breaks down the macroscopic structure of the plant parts to such an extent that their ingredients are easily dispersed in water.

[0023] Further preferably, in such a process according to the invention, the water is pressed through a resulting pulp. The beverage then essentially contains only the constituents of the plant parts suspended in the water and those parts not retained by the pulp.

[0024] Preferably, several tablets according to the invention are stacked in roll form and wrapped in foil to form a packaging unit. This makes the tablets easier to handle in retail. In particular, the tablets can be wrapped in paper like pea sausage.

[0025] Example

[0026] The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment. The packaging unit 1 according to the invention shown in the drawing consists of five circular-cylindrical tablets 2 according to the invention. Each tablet 2 has a diameter 3 and a height 4 of 3.5 cm and a weight of approximately 33 g.

[0027] To produce Tablet 2, 30 g of whole oats are soaked in water between 58 and 65 °C and treated with α- and β-amylase. This causes the grains to swell, and the starch they contain is partially converted first into maltose, which is then converted into glucose. Tablet 2 therefore contains 13 g of sugar.

[0028] A little lecithin and salt are then added to the plant parts, the resulting mass is pressed into the shape of tablet 2 and dried in a warm nitrogen stream to a residual moisture content of 12.5%.

[0029] After drying, five tablets 2 in each packaging unit 1 are wrapped with waxed paper (not shown).

[0030] To prepare a serving of a milk substitute, a tablet 2 is removed from packaging unit 1 and pureed, then 0.25 l of water is pressed through the puree. The filter cake remaining on the filter is discarded.

[0031] In the figure are

[0032] 1 packaging unit

[0033] 2 tablets

[0034] 3 diameters

[0035] 4 Height

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for producing a tablet (2) which, when combined with water, yields a milk substitute product, wherein plant parts of real nuts, kernels, cereals and / or other seeds are first pressed into the form of the tablet (2) and then dried, characterized in that the plant parts are predominantly pressed as chunks, i.e. in grain sizes greater than 1 mm.

2. Method according to the aforementioned claim, characterized in that the plant parts are air-dried.

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant parts are coarsely shredded at least partially before pressing.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant parts are at least partially opened before pressing.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plant parts are sweetened at least partially before pressing.

6. Tablet (2) made from pressed and dried plant parts of real nuts, kernels, cereals and / or other seeds, which, when mixed with water, yields a milk substitute product, characterized in that the plant parts in the tablet (2) are predominantly present as chunks, i.e., in grain sizes greater than 1 mm.

7. Tablet (2) according to the preceding claim, characterized by the addition of a binder, emulsifier, oil, sweetener and / or salt.

8. Tablet (2) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by a moisture-repellent coating. A method for producing a milk-like beverage with water, characterized in that a tablet (2) according to one of claims 6 to 8 is first mechanically crushed and soaked in water, and preferably the water is then pressed through a slurry formed therein. A packaging unit (1) in which several tablets (2) according to one of claims 6 to 8 are stacked in roll form and foiled, in particular wrapped in paper.

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