Processed tea product and tea processing method using metal ion water generation device

Abstract

To provide a processed tea product suitable for mass production and maintaining green coloration with ensured safety, and its manufacturing method.SOLUTION: This invention relates to a processed tea product and its manufacturing method including adding water to copper ions and zinc ions, pulverizing, crushing, mixing, and stirring tea leaves in diluted ion water in which the copper ions and zinc ions have been eluted, and then separating it into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator. In the present invention, the diluted ion water containing copper ions and zinc ions is obtained by adding water to a copper-zinc alloy or a metal fiber made of copper and zinc and eluting the copper ions and the zinc ions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a processed tea product obtained by separating a tea food paste from a tea drink using a metal ion water generating device, and a method for processing tea. The present invention also relates to processed tea products that can maintain the original vivid green color of raw tea leaves. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the rise in health consciousness, green tea beverages rich in health-promoting ingredients (catechins, polyphenols, vitamin C, etc.) have become popular among people of all ages and are widely available in the form of bottled beverages, etc. However, although current products are made from processed green tea, the reality is that they are yellow-green or brown in color rather than green due to deterioration of chlorophyll. This is because chlorophyll, which gives it a green color, is extremely vulnerable to light, heat, and acid, and furthermore, in the presence of water, it turns brown due to the oxidative polymerization of polyphenols. For this reason, for example, in the case of tea drinks in plastic bottles, a green film is applied to the outside of the bottle to make it look as if the contents are green, or green food coloring, matcha green tea, gyokuro powder, etc. are mixed into the contents to compensate for the green color.

[0003] On the other hand, a technique known as copper chlorophyllization, in which magnesium in chlorophyll is replaced with copper ions, is known as a technology for preserving the original green color of plant components such as tea leaves. This makes it possible to provide tea extract and tea products while maintaining their green color. Techniques for preserving the natural green color of these plants include boiling the tea extract or tea leaves in a copper pot to allow the copper ions extracted from the pot to act on the chlorophyll, or pouring the tea extract through a column filled with copper particles to bring the chlorophyll into contact with the copper particles. However, in these methods, it is difficult to adjust the amount of copper ions dissolved, and furthermore, the copper dissolution rate is slow, making them unsuitable for mass production. In addition, although copper is an essential element for humans, excessive intake can cause poisoning, so conventional methods, which do not allow for the determination of the amount of copper ions leaching, cannot be said to ensure safety. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-112 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of the above background, and has as its technical objective the development of a processed tea product that is suitable for mass production, maintains its green color while ensuring safety, and a method for producing the same. Tea products are vulnerable to light and oxidation, and often fade over time. To prevent this, tea processing methods have been implemented that add metals such as copper and zinc to tea leaves. However, if the size of the tea leaves, heating time, and additive concentration are not appropriate, not only is it not possible to prevent the fading of tea products, but the processing time required can be long, resulting in reduced productivity.

[0006] The applicant has devised the idea that, in addition to the efficacy of copper ions, zinc ions are also effective as minerals with antioxidant properties such as removing active oxygen, and that if zinc ions are ingested together with copper ions, a tea product that is beneficial to the body can be obtained, thus completing the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention is characterized by being a tea food in the form of a paste or liquid in which tea leaf components are dissolved or dispersed in water, and being a processed tea product that is beneficial to the body and contains a large amount of copper ions and zinc ions. More specifically, the present invention is characterized in that the processed tea products and the method for producing the processed tea products are produced by mixing, crushing and stirring tea leaves with diluted ionized water obtained by adding water to copper and zinc to dissolve copper ions and zinc ions, and then separating the tea leaves into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

[0008] The diluted ion water containing copper and zinc ions is characterized in that it is obtained by adding water to an alloy of copper and zinc or to metal fibers made of copper and zinc and dissolving them.

[0009] According to the present invention, by using it for human consumption or drinking, it is possible to easily ingest minerals that are highly beneficial to the human body and to ingest them as active oxygen scavenging enzymes. In addition, if it is used as feed for livestock and other animals, it can be used to increase the bactericidal properties and be used to prevent infectious diseases.Zinc also dissolves in water in greater amounts than copper, which can help purify the water.

[0010] In addition, the tea processed product that maintains its green color is a tea processed product that is produced by mixing and grinding diluted ionized water containing copper and zinc ions with dried tea leaves, and then subjecting the mixture to a copper chlorophyll treatment. This product is characterized by being a liquid in which tea leaf components are dissolved or dispersed in the water, and by having the amount of copper ions contained therein grasped. According to this invention, when liquid that has been subjected to copper chlorophyll treatment is supplied to the market, the amount of copper ions contained in the liquid is known, so consumers can avoid ingesting more than the daily required amount or intake limit.

[0011] The tea processed product that maintains its green color is a tea processed product that is produced by mixing and grinding dried tea leaves with diluted ionized water containing copper and zinc ions, and then carrying out a copper chlorophyll treatment. This is a processed tea product that is produced by processing tea leaves in which tea leaf components have been dissolved or dispersed in the water, either as is or after solid-liquid separation, into a paste or dried, and is characterized in that the amount of copper ions contained therein has been determined. According to this invention, when the liquid that has been subjected to copper chlorophyll treatment is supplied to the market, the amount of copper ions contained in the processed tea leaves is known, so that consumers can avoid ingesting more than the daily required amount or intake limit.

[0012] The processed tea products that maintain their green color are characterized in that, after being heated at a temperature of 85-100°C for 45-90 minutes and then subjected to solid-liquid separation, the color index a in the Lab color system according to the Hunter differential equation, which is an index of greenness, is -7.00 or less. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid that has excellent green color retention and a long product life, thereby increasing the commercial value.

[0013] Furthermore, tea processed products that maintain their green color are characterized in that, after being left in an acidic environment of pH 4.5 to 6.5 for 10 days or more and then separated into solid and liquid, the color index a in the Lab color system based on the Hunter differential equation, which is an index of greenness, is -7.00 or less. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid that has excellent green color retention and a long product life, thereby increasing the commercial value.

[0014] Furthermore, tea processed products that maintain their green color are characterized in that, after being exposed to sunlight for a week and then separated into solid and liquid, their color index a in the Lab color system based on the Hunter differential equation, which is an index of greenness, is -7.00 or less. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a liquid that has excellent green color retention and a long product life, thereby increasing the commercial value.

[0015] Furthermore, the processed tea product which maintains its green color is characterized in that the raw material grinding process comprises mixing 0.05 to 45 parts by weight of ground tea leaves with 100 parts by weight of diluted ionized water containing copper and zinc ions. According to this invention, the processed tea can be appropriately manufactured as a liquid tea that can be consumed as it is, as a concentrated tea that can be diluted with water and consumed, or as a concentrated tea that can be added directly to food. When diluting with water, it is preferable to use 1 part concentrated tea to 20 parts water.

[0016] Furthermore, the method for producing processed tea products that maintain their green color is characterized in that the copper chlorophyll conversion process involves heating at a temperature of 85 to 100°C for 45 to 90 minutes, thereby replacing the magnesium in the chlorophyll with copper ions. According to the present invention, copper ions can be effectively reacted with chlorophyll, and the copper chlorophyll conversion treatment can be reliably carried out.

[0017] Furthermore, the method for producing processed tea products that maintain their green color is characterized in that the tea leaves are other than new tea leaves and are tea leaves that are not conventionally suitable for sale, such as autumn and winter bancha tea. According to the present invention, tea leaves which have traditionally had low or no commercial value can be effectively utilized as processed tea products with a bright green color. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to mass-produce processed tea products that can maintain the original vivid green color of fresh tea leaves, and further, to provide them to the market as products with guaranteed safety.

[0019] The "processed tea products that maintain their green color" of the present invention can also be used for purposes other than beverages and food products. Specifically, it can be mixed into cosmetics, bath salts, soap, shampoo, etc., into tissues, paper diapers, wallpaper, etc., and into building materials such as plasterboards and plaster wall materials to impart green coloring and deodorizing effects. In this case, "tea processed products that maintain their green color" are suitable for mass production, so they can be supplied at low cost. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing a tea processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a manufacturing process of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS EXAMPLES

[0021] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, tea leaves are processed with copper ion water and zinc ion water to produce two processed tea products, tea paste and tea beverage, and a tea processing method for producing the same.

[0022] The tea leaves are tea leaves. The size of the tea leaves is preferably chopped or crushed to a size of 1.5 cm or less in length and width.

[0023] The processed tea product of the present invention uses as a raw material, for example, fresh tea leaves of the Yabukita variety, but other varieties, as well as new varieties that will appear in the future and varieties grown in other countries, can also be used as raw materials. In particular, it is desirable to use a mixture of first-grade tea leaves, which have excellent astringency, second-grade tea leaves, which contain a lot of chlorophyll and have a vivid green color, and autumn and winter tea leaves for tea leaves provided in PET bottles, which also provide an abundance of polyphenols such as catechins.

[0024] In the block diagram showing the manufacturing process in FIG. 2, tap water used for ionized water is softened using a water softener 11, and then stored and heated in one or more boilers 12. Next, diluted copper-zinc ionized water is generated using a diluted copper-zinc ionized water generating device 13 (Iobable (trade name)).

[0025] In the example shown, two devices produce 5 tons each. Copper ion water is a liquid in which copper ions are dissolved in water, and can be produced, for example, by electrolyzing copper in water. When the copper ions come into contact with tea leaves, they replace magnesium, a constituent element of chlorophyll, the green pigment contained in the chloroplasts of tea leaves, with copper. Through this reaction, the copper ions stabilize chlorophyll and contribute to maintaining the green color of the tea leaves (preventing fading of the green color of the tea leaves).

[0026] Furthermore, if the copper concentration of the copper ion water is too low, adding it to tea leaves will not have any effect, and the tea leaves will often discolor. Also, since there is a maximum daily intake amount (tolerable maximum amount) of copper that humans can ingest, if the copper concentration of the copper ion water is too high, there is a high risk of overdosing. In other words, from the perspective of the maximum intake amount, it is desirable to keep the copper concentration of the copper ion water as low as possible. Therefore, it is preferable that the copper concentration of the copper ion water is at least the value that can prevent discoloration of tea leaves, but not too high.

[0027] Zinc ion water is a liquid in which zinc ions are dissolved in water. For example, the amount of zinc in the body is 2.5g for a person weighing 70kg, of which 50% is in the blood, 30% in each organ, and the remaining 20% ​​in the skin. Among organs, the prostate gland contains a particularly large amount of zinc, and the brain also contains a large amount of zinc. Blood zinc is broken down into 80% in red blood cells, 10-20% in serum, and 3% in platelets and white blood cells.

[0028] On the other hand, excessive zinc intake can cause side effects such as anemia and diarrhea, and since many people's zinc intake is below the recommended amount, it is necessary to consciously consume zinc in your daily diet. Also, while zinc itself has very low toxicity, it activates proteins that are easily adsorbed by copper, so if you take in too much zinc for a long period of time, copper absorption will be impaired. If that happens, excessive zinc intake will cause symptoms of copper deficiency due to impaired copper absorption. In this way, copper and zinc have mutual effects on each other, so it is important to consume them in a balanced way. Alternatively, copper ion water and zinc ion water may be obtained by using an alloy of zinc and copper (brass).

[0029] Next, the tea processing method of this embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the tea processing method of this embodiment is performed by steps S101 to S106, and the specific manufacturing process is composed of the blocks in Fig. 2. Each step and block will be described below.

[0030] Copper and zinc ion water generation process (step S101) First, in the copper-zinc ion water production process, soft water produced in a water softener 11 is divided and charged into one or more boilers 12 . Then, a diluted copper / zinc ionized water generator 13 (product name: Iobable) is used to prepare copper / zinc ionized water of a desired concentration either simultaneously or separately from the copper ions and zinc ions. Here, the concentration of the copper ion water and zinc ion water is preferably 30 PPM to 60 PPM, and more preferably 40 PPM to 50 PPM.

[0031] In the ionized water generating device 13, the water is brought into contact with metal fibers made of copper or an alloy of copper and zinc packed in a filling container 15. Numerous tooth-like projections are formed on the surface of the metal fibers. The metal ions (copper ions and zinc ions) eluted from the metal fibers have an oxidation-reduction effect, which improves the quality of the water and turns it into ionized water. In other words, due to the reducing action of the metal ions eluted from the metal fibers, any residual heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury remaining in the soft water or tea leaves are adsorbed onto the metal fibers, and the magnesium in the chlorophyll of the tea leaves is reduced and replaced by copper and zinc.

[0032] According to the present invention, a metal ion water generator capable of generating metal ion water containing a high concentration of metal ions in an extremely short time (i.e., diluted copper / zinc ion water generator 13 in FIG. 2) comprises a water tank 15, a copper-zinc alloy or metal fibers made of copper, a filling vessel 14 filled with the metal fibers, and a fine bubble generator 16 for generating fine bubbles in the water in the water tank. Also, a large number of tooth-like projections are formed on the surface of the metal fibers.

[0033] According to the present invention, there is provided a metal ion water generator 13 capable of generating metal ion water containing a high concentration of metal ions in an extremely short time. As described above, this metal ion water generator 13 includes a water tank 15, a metal fiber made of an alloy of copper and zinc or copper, a fine bubble generator 16 that generates fine bubbles in the water in the water tank 15, and a filling container 14 that is immersed in the water tank 15.

[0034] The filling container 14 contains the fine bubble generator 16, and the metal fibers are filled around the fine bubble generator 16. A number of tooth-like projections are formed on the surface of the metal fibers. The fine bubble generator 16 has a bubble generating section having a streamlined internal space with little water flow resistance and an opening for discharging the water in the internal space to the outside, an ejection pipe for ejecting water in the tangential direction of the internal space of the bubble generating section and generating a swirling flow in the internal space, and a gas supply pipe for supplying gas to the swirling flow generated in the internal space of the bubble generating section (not shown). The metal ion water generating device 13 further includes a water supply pump for supplying water from the water tank 15 to the ejection pipe of the fine bubble generator 16.

[0035] Metal fibers made of an alloy of copper and zinc are filled inside the filling container 14. The composition ratio of copper and zinc in the metal fibers is not particularly limited, but for example, an alloy of 70% copper and 30% zinc or an alloy of 65% copper and 35% zinc can be used. Metal fibers made of simple copper can also be used as the metal fibers. The ionized water generating device 13 includes a copper-zinc alloy or metal fibers thereof, and a filling vessel 14 . The metal fibers have a number of teeth formed on their surfaces.

[0036] The ionized water generating device 13 may further include a fine bubble generator 16 that generates fine bubbles in the water that has passed through the inside of the filling container. Such a fine-bubble generator 16 comprises a bubble generating section having a streamlined internal space with little water resistance and an opening for discharging water in the internal space to the outside, an ejection pipe for generating a swirling flow in the internal space of the bubble generating section by introducing water from the outside in a tangential direction into the internal space, and a gas supply pipe for introducing gas into the swirling flow generated in the internal space of the bubble generator. The filling container may be accommodated in the internal space of the bubble generating section of the fine bubble generator 16, or the filling container may be disposed inside the ejection pipe of the fine bubble generator 16.

[0037] Water is introduced into the ionized water generating device 13. The water is brought into contact with the metal fibers made of copper or an alloy of copper and zinc packed in the packing container 14. Numerous tooth-like projections are formed on the surfaces of the metal fibers. The water is improved to ionized water quality by the oxidation-reduction action of metal ions (copper ions and zinc ions) eluted from the metal fibers.

[0038] That is, due to the reducing action of the metal ions eluted from the metal fibers, any residual heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, etc. remaining in the soft water or tea leaves are adsorbed onto the metal fibers, and the magnesium in the chlorophyll of the tea leaves, etc. is reduced and decomposed, improving the quality of the water to ionic water.

[0039] (2) Tea leaf mixing and grinding process Next, in step S102, the crusher 31 is a grinding machine that grinds materials put into the crusher from an input port. The crusher has grindstones inside. The grindstones are movably arranged facing each other in the vertical direction inside the crusher, and the distance between them can be freely adjusted. The materials put into the crusher are placed between the grindstones, and the materials are ground into any size by adjusting the distance between the grindstones. The mixture is then placed in a grinder, and the tea leaves in the mixture are finely ground using grinding wheels. Finely grinding the tea leaves in the mixture increases the surface area of ​​the tea leaves in the mixture, which has the effect of increasing the contact efficiency of the copper and zinc ion water with the tea leaves.

[0040] In the tea leaf mixing and crushing step S102, tea leaves are added to the ionized water, and the ionized water and the tea leaves are mixed and crushed to prepare ionized water containing crushed tea leaves. When preparing ionized water containing crushed tea leaves, it is desirable for the size of the tea leaves to be 1.5 cm or less in length and width. If the size of the tea leaves is larger than 1.5 cm in length and width, not only will the time required for crushing increase, but there is also a risk of variation in quality control. The blending ratio (weight ratio) of the tea leaves to the ionized water is preferably 18 to 22 parts of the ionized water to 1 part of the tea leaves. By this crushing, the size of the tea leaves becomes 40 μm to 50 μm in particle size.

[0041] (3) Stirring and stabilizing step (step 103) For example, a container such as a tank is provided at the outlet of a grinder that grinds tea leaves to produce ground tea leaf water, and the ground tea leaf water stored in the container is stirred by a stirrer 33. Here, by performing stirring (first stirring and second stirring), it is possible to prevent precipitation of solid contents such as copper and tea leaves due to insufficient circulation. In addition, when copper ions come into contact with tea leaves, they replace magnesium, an element that constitutes chlorophyll, the green pigment contained in the chloroplasts of tea leaves, with copper. This stirring process allows the copper ions to stabilize chlorophyll and contribute to maintaining the green color of the tea leaves (preventing fading of the green color of the tea leaves).

[0042] (4) Copper chlorophyll treatment process (step 104) After the above process, the stirring process further stabilizes the chlorophyll with copper ions, thereby maintaining the green color of the tea leaves (preventing fading of the green color of the tea leaves). This copper chlorophyll conversion treatment step involves heating at a temperature of 85 to 100°C for 45 to 90 minutes while stirring, and is characterized by carrying out a copper chlorophyll conversion treatment in which magnesium in the chlorophyll is replaced with copper ions. According to the present invention, the stirring step allows copper ions to effectively react with chlorophyll, thereby ensuring the copper chlorophyll conversion process. Moreover, steps S102 to S104 can be repeated. By repeating steps S102 to S104, precipitation of copper and zinc ions and solid contents of tea leaves due to insufficient circulation can be further prevented.

[0043] (5) Separation and dehydration process (step 105) Then, in step S105, a centrifugation step is performed in which the crushed tea leaf fluid (granular tea leaf water) is centrifuged in a centrifuge (solid-liquid separator) to obtain a fluid semi-solid (paste-like) tea paste food S105 and a tea liquid beverage S106.

[0044] In the illustrated example, concentrated green tea water is obtained from a green tea-like beverage such as liquid separated green tea water, which is stored in a sterilized storage tank and is completed as a concentrate or diluted tea beverage. The separated and dehydrated green tea paste is divided into fixed portions on trays, sterilized in a vacuum retort sterilizer, and checked for foreign metals with a metal detector before being sold commercially as green tea paste food. Furthermore, the tea processing method of the present embodiment can also be carried out by preparing diluted ionized water containing copper and zinc ions in advance, which corresponds to step S101, and then carrying out steps S102 to S106.

[0045] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. This processed tea product is made by crushing, grinding, mixing and stirring tea leaves in diluted ionized water made by adding water to copper and zinc to dissolve copper ions and zinc ions, and then separating the tea leaves into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

2. The tea product according to claim 1, characterized in that the diluted ion water containing copper and zinc ions is dissolved by adding water to an alloy of copper and zinc or metal fibers made of copper and zinc.

3. A method for producing processed tea products, in which tea leaves are crushed, mixed and stirred in diluted ionized water obtained by adding water to copper ions and zinc ions to dissolve the copper and zinc ions, and the mixture is separated into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

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