Powdered tea composition containing cannabinoid and production method for powdered tea composition

Abstract

To provide a powdered tea composition that can produce a beverage / food product containing cannabinoid, the product being high in flavor of tea leaves and capable of enjoying sufficient effects of cannabinoid.SOLUTION: A powdered tea composition includes water-soluble granulated particles including cannabinoid or a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granulated particles, and tea leaf powders. A production method of the powdered tea composition includes mixing and stirring the composition containing the water-soluble granulated particles of a fat-soluble compound and / or the raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granulated particles, and the tea leaf powders by a container-moving type method.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powdered tea composition containing cannabinoids and a method for producing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a powdered tea composition for use in foods and beverages, such as beverages, which are dissolved or extracted in an aqueous medium such as water or hot water and then consumed. [Background technology]

[0002] Cannabinoids are a group of lipophilic physiologically active substances extracted primarily from the cannabis plant. They are known to exert psychotropic and analgesic effects by interacting with receptors in the brain and body. Cannabidiol (CBD), in particular, is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic effects. It is a cannabinoid that has attracted considerable attention due to its high tolerability and lack of addictive properties. Because of these effects, cannabinoids are sometimes used in beverages and food products.

[0003] A known beverage using cannabidiol is CBD tea, which contains fat-soluble CBD oil and tea leaves (see Patent Documents 1 to 3). Also known are tea beverages containing CBD and powdered tea containing CBD. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2019-501626 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2019-505163 [Patent Document 3] Special Publication No. 2021-526126 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Cannabinoid tea, which contains cannabinoids and tea leaves, is used as a tea beverage in which the tea leaves are steeped in hot water to extract components derived from the tea leaves. If the tea beverage is in a liquid state containing cannabinoids, the cannabinoids may decompose or deteriorate during storage, resulting in a decrease in the cannabinoid content, or the tea aroma may volatilize or deteriorate, impairing the flavor. Therefore, it is preferable for the tea beverage to be stored in a solid powder form.

[0006] Conventionally, cannabinoids are fat-soluble, so even when powdered tea containing cannabinoids is dissolved in hot water, the cannabinoids do not disperse uniformly. Therefore, a method of mixing cannabinoids with tea powder and an emulsifier has been implemented. However, cannabinoid tea powder obtained using an emulsifier is produced by mixing tea leaves and cannabinoids with a solvent such as oil or an emulsifier, which requires a drying process and can lead to problems such as deterioration of the tea's flavor. Furthermore, when cannabinoids and tea powder are mixed in a dry state without a solvent, the low fluidity of the cannabinoids and tea powder makes it difficult to prevent clump formation and achieve rapid uniform mixing. Furthermore, the lack of uniform mixing of the cannabinoids and emulsifier with a solvent makes it difficult to sufficiently disperse the cannabinoids in water. As a result, it is difficult to maintain uniform particle size of the tea powder and achieve stable dissolution of the cannabinoids when used as a food or beverage. For these reasons, conventional cannabinoid-containing tea beverages have been unable to fully enjoy the aroma of the tea leaves and the effects of the cannabinoids.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a powdered tea composition that can be used to produce cannabinoid-containing food and beverage products that have a strong tea leaf aroma and allow the effects of cannabinoids to be fully enjoyed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] As a result of extensive research into achieving the above object, the inventors have found that a specific powdered tea composition can be used to produce cannabinoid-containing food and beverage products that have a strong tea leaf aroma and allow the full benefits of cannabinoids to be enjoyed. The present invention was completed based on these findings.

[0009] That is, the present invention provides a powdered tea composition comprising a water-soluble granule containing a cannabinoid or a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granule, and tea leaf powder.

[0010] The raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules preferably include a water-soluble cannabinoid and a granulated powder.

[0011] The content of the water-soluble granules and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules is preferably 1% by mass or more relative to 100% by mass of the total amount of the powdered tea composition.

[0012] The tea leaf powder preferably contains tea leaf powder from a plant of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for producing a powdered tea composition, which comprises mixing and stirring a composition containing water-soluble granules of a fat-soluble compound and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules, and tea leaf powder using a container motion system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The powdered tea composition of the present invention makes it possible to produce cannabinoid-containing food and beverage products that have a strong tea leaf aroma and allow the user to fully enjoy the effects of cannabinoids. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] [Powdered tea composition] The powdered tea composition of the present invention contains at least a water-soluble granulated cannabinoid, or a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granulated cannabinoid, and tea leaf powder. That is, the powdered tea composition of the present invention may contain a water-soluble granulated cannabinoid and tea leaf powder, or a raw material capable of forming a water-soluble granulated cannabinoid and tea leaf powder, or a water-soluble granulated cannabinoid, a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granulated cannabinoid, and tea leaf powder. Furthermore, in the powdered tea composition of the present invention, the cannabinoid is uniformly dispersed in the powdered tea composition. By using tea leaf powder in the powdered tea composition of the present invention, when consuming a tea beverage prepared by dissolving the powdered tea composition in an aqueous solvent such as hot water, the tea leaf aroma is enhanced and the original flavor of tea can be experienced. Furthermore, by preparing the powdered tea composition, the tea beverage can be prepared immediately before consumption, minimizing deterioration of the tea leaf aroma and cannabinoids.

[0016] Furthermore, while cannabinoids are fat-soluble, the fluidity and water solubility of the water-soluble granules are enhanced by the addition of additives such as binders and excipients with granulation properties. Therefore, rather than using the cannabinoids alone, using them as the water-soluble granules, or using the water-soluble cannabinoids as raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules, minimizes the formation of lumps (aggregates) when mixing the cannabinoids with tea leaf powder, resulting in a more stable, uniform dispersion with the cannabinoid as the core. For example, in a tea beverage prepared by dissolving the powdered tea composition in an aqueous solvent, the cannabinoids are rapidly and uniformly dispersed in the aqueous solution. Furthermore, because the cannabinoids are not mixed with tea leaves in a liquid or slurry form, a drying process is not required, and the tea flavor is not impaired. Furthermore, because the cannabinoids are processed to be water-soluble, the cannabinoids are efficiently absorbed into the body. Furthermore, by forming them into granules (e.g., granules) rather than simply as a powder, the taste-masking effect caused by the powdery texture can be reduced. In this way, by using the powdered tea composition of the present invention in food and beverages, the aroma of tea leaves can be maximized, the effects of cannabinoids can be fully enjoyed, and the cannabinoids can be efficiently taken into the body. Furthermore, by using the above-mentioned water-soluble granules, the formation of lumps due to static electricity is less likely to occur and aggregation of the powdered tea composition can be suppressed, resulting in the rapid production of a powdered tea composition dispersed with a uniform particle size and excellent handleability.

[0017] (tea leaf powder) As used herein, "tea leaf powder" refers to ground tea leaves (ground tea leaves) and is distinct from "tea leaf extract," a component extracted from tea leaves. The tea leaves can be leaves obtained from plants of the genus Camellia (Camellia) in the Theaceae family (e.g., Camellia sinensis (L) O. Kuntze) or their subspecies, varieties, hybrids, or clones, or from plants that can be used to make rooibos tea or herbal tea. The tea leaf powder is obtained by harvesting new shoots or fresh leaves, processing them into a crude tea or tea product, and then grinding them into powder. Grinding can be performed using known or conventional methods, such as a stone mill, ball mill, jet mill, pin mill, or airflow grinder. The tea leaf powder may be made from a single type of tea leaf, or two or more types. While leaves are typically used as the raw material for tea leaf powder, other parts, such as buds and stems, can also be used as appropriate. The tea leaf powder preferably contains tea powder raw materials derived from tea leaves grown in Japan.

[0018] It is preferable that the above-mentioned tea leaf powder includes tea obtained only by physical or biological treatments such as steaming (steaming, boiling), withering, roasting (pan-roasting), rolling (rough rolling, rolling, medium rolling, fine rolling), sieving, loosening, fermentation (oxidation, addition reaction, microbial fermentation), cooling, drying, blowing air (hot air), dehydration, drying (sun drying), shading, humidifying, keeping warm (heating), roasting (roasting), beating, cutting, crushing, grinding, stirring, mixing, shaping, kneading, and combining (tea leaf blending) during the processes from picking to powdering, such as crude tea processing, tea manufacturing processing, and crushing.

[0019] The above-mentioned tea leaves (plants of the genus Camellia in the Theaceae family) can be classified into non-fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, fermented tea, and post-fermented tea depending on the processing method. However, the fermentation in the above-mentioned non-fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, and fermented tea strictly refers to oxidation by enzymes in the tea leaves, not processing by microorganisms. On the other hand, post-fermented tea, typified by black tea, is fermented in the scientifically correct sense because it involves a microbial aging process. Examples of non-fermented tea include green teas such as crude tea, sencha, gyokuro, kabusecha, tencha (matcha), bancha, hojicha, kamairicha, kukicha, bocha, and budcha. Examples of semi-fermented tea include oolong teas such as Tieguanyin, Irodane, Ogongui, and Wuyiyancha. Examples of fermented tea include black teas such as Darjeeling, Assam, Sri Lankan, and Japanese black tea. The above-mentioned tea leaves are preferably domestically produced.

[0020] The tea leaf powder preferably contains tea leaf powder from a plant of the Theaceae family, the genus Camellia. Tea derived from the genus Camellia has been shown to be effective in improving lifestyle-related diseases and is expected to have a synergistic effect with cannabinoids. For example, green tea is rich in theanine, which is expected to have a relaxing effect, and also contains nutrients such as vitamins. Hojicha, in particular, is rich in pyrazine instead of theanine and has a low caffeine content, so when combined with CBD, it is expected to have a high relaxing effect and be excellent at improving sleep.

[0021] The average particle size of the tea leaf powder is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 1 to 180 μm, preferably 2 to 150 μm, more preferably 3 to 100 μm, and may be 5 to 80 μm or 10 to 50 μm. The average particle size can be adjusted appropriately by appropriately selecting the above-mentioned pulverization means or by classifying the powder using a sieve or classifier.

[0022] (Water-soluble granules) The water-soluble granules are granulated powders containing at least a cannabinoid. The cannabinoid is uniformly dispersed within the granules. The granulated powder refers to a powder whose particle size has been improved after granulation, and the average particle size is not particularly limited. A water-soluble (water-dispersible) cannabinoid-containing powder containing a binder (described below) added and uniformly powdered corresponds to the water-soluble granules. The uniform dispersion can be confirmed by HPLC or the like. In solutions prepared by dissolving multiple samples taken from any location within the powder in a solvent to the same concentration, the detected cannabinoid concentrations are approximately the same, with a difference of at least ±10%, preferably ±5%, more preferably ±3%. Only one type of water-soluble granules may be used, or two or more types may be used.

[0023] The water-soluble granules do not undergo phase separation when mixed in water at a soluble or dispersible concentration. Therefore, they have excellent uniform dispersibility in aqueous solvents. Furthermore, it is preferable that no phase separation is observed even after 2 hours or more, 3 hours or more, half a day or more, 1 day or more, or 2 days or more at room temperature.

[0024] The water-soluble granules preferably have an angle of repose of 45° or less, more preferably 40° or less, and even more preferably 35° or less. When the angle of repose is 45° or less, mixing with the tea leaf powder becomes easier, and the formation of lumps (aggregates) in the powdered tea composition of the present invention can be further suppressed.

[0025] Examples of the cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabigerol (CBG), cannabinol (CBN), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hydroxyhexahydrocannabinol (HHC), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabiolic acid (CBDa). Of these, CBD is preferred. The water-soluble granules may contain only one type of cannabinoid, or two or more types.

[0026] To fully enjoy the effects of the cannabinoid, the cannabinoid content in the water-soluble granules is preferably 0.1% by mass or more, more preferably 0.5% by mass or more, and may even be 1% by mass or more, relative to 100% by mass of the total amount of the water-soluble powder. The content is not particularly limited, but is preferably 60% by mass or less.

[0027] The water-soluble granules are dissolved in a solvent, and the recovery rate of the solution, when quantified by HPLC analysis, is preferably 90% or higher, more preferably 95% or higher, and even more preferably 97% or higher. The solution can be prepared by appropriately pretreating the solution, such as by adjusting the concentration or removing precipitates by filtration, as necessary, before subjecting it to HPLC. The recovery rate is calculated using the following formula: The higher the recovery rate, the closer the amount of cannabinoid in the powdered tea composition is to the amount of cannabinoid to be blended. Furthermore, if the accuracy of the recovery rate is low, the accuracy of the calculated cannabinoid dispersion in the powdered tea composition, as described below, is also considered low. Recovery rate [%] = [detected cannabinoid amount (parts by mass) / input cannabinoid amount (parts by mass) × 100]

[0028] The water-soluble granules are produced by granulation processing and are particles granulated by a known or conventional granulation method. The granulation method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include dry granulation (such as sluck- ing (flat compression), roller compaction, pneumatic dry granulation, and melt granulation), wet granulation (such as high-shear granulation, fluidized-bed granulation, low-shear granulation, steam granulation, foam granulation, and twin-screw granulation), freeze granulation (freeze-drying), spray drying, spray solidification and freezing, and extrusion molding followed by spheronization. Also included is a method in which a component capable of acting as a binder, as described below, is added and the resulting mixture is uniformly powdered. The above granulation methods may be used alone or in combination.

[0029] The water-soluble granules may contain a granulation additive (binder) to improve fluidity and solubility in water. Alternatively, the water-soluble granules may be granulated without containing a granulation additive (binder) and may be granulated after adding at least one selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, dispersants, stabilizers, thickeners, coagulants, gelling agents, excipients, and other hydrophilic polymers.

[0030] The binder is not particularly limited and may include polysaccharides, proteins, vinyl polymers, polyethers, oligosaccharides, sugars, fatty acid esters, waxes, other dietary fibers, and hydrophilic polymers. Examples of polysaccharides include acacia gum, gum arabic, agar, tragacanth gum, sodium alginate (alginate), carrageenan, xanthan gum, guar gum, dextran, pullulan, pectin, chitosan, inulin, hemilose, cellulose-based polymers, and starches. Examples of cellulose-based polymers include carmellose or its salts, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, ethylcellulose, and microcrystalline cellulose. Examples of starches include starch (wheat starch, corn starch, potato starch, etc.), pregelatinized starch, dextrin, cyclodextrin, carboxymethyl starch, hydroxypropyl starch, hydroxyethyl starch, and partially pregelatinized starch. Examples of proteins include animal proteins such as gelatin and purified gelatin, and vegetable proteins such as soy protein. Examples of vinyl polymers include polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, copovidone, and acrylic polymers. Examples of acrylic polymers include polyacrylic acid, carboxyvinyl polymer, sodium polyacrylate, and polymethyl methacrylate. Examples of polyethers include polyethylene glycol (macrogol). Examples of sugars include sucrose syrup, fructose, sugar alcohols (e.g., xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol), glucose, lactose, and sucrose. Examples of fatty acid esters include mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of waxes include beeswax. One or more of the above binders may be used.

[0031] In order to further improve the solubility in water and other functionalities, the water-soluble granules may contain, in addition to a binder, additives such as emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, dispersants, stabilizers, thickeners, coagulants, gelling agents, excipients, antioxidants, other hydrophilic polymers, tea leaves (e.g., tea leaf powder), etc. One or more of the above additives may be used.

[0032] As the antioxidant, for example, known or commonly used antioxidants that are added to foods can be used, such as vitamin C and tocopherol.

[0033] The antioxidant may be any known or conventional antioxidant that is added to foods, such as various vitamins such as vitamins E, A, and C, astaxanthin, lutein, ceramide, and collagen, or an oil or extract containing any of these.

[0034] The water-soluble granules may also contain additives such as food additives that can be contained in foods, beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Examples of such additives include leavening agents such as baking powder, colorants, color formers, bleaching agents, sweeteners, bittering agents, acidulants, flavorings, seasonings, preservatives, bactericides, fungicides, preservatives, nutritional supplements, and enzymes. Only one of the additives may be used, or two or more may be used. The powdered tea composition of the present invention and the foods and beverages described below may also contain additives exemplified and explained as additives that can be contained in the water-soluble granules.

[0035] As mentioned above, the powdered tea composition of the present invention may contain, instead of or in addition to the water-soluble granules, a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granules. Examples of the raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granules include a water-soluble cannabinoid and a granulated powder. Examples of powdered tea compositions of the present invention containing a water-soluble cannabinoid and a granulated powder include a powder A produced by mixing a water-soluble cannabinoid (a cannabinoid-containing powder that does not have an improved angle of repose compared to cannabinoid alone, does not contain a binder, and is not produced through a typical granulation process) with a granulated material, and then adding tea leaf powder to the resulting powder A. However, due to the effects of mixing with the granulated material, Powder A exhibits an improved angle of repose and an increased particle size compared to the original water-soluble cannabinoid.

[0036] The water-soluble cannabinoid does not undergo phase separation when mixed in water at a soluble or dispersible concentration. Preferably, phase separation does not occur even after 2 hours or more, 3 hours or more, half a day or more, 1 day or more, or 2 days or more at room temperature. The water-soluble cannabinoid may contain only one type, or may contain two or more types.

[0037] The granulated powder is a powder that has been granulated, and is made up of particles granulated by a known or conventional granulation method. Examples of the granulation method include the methods exemplified and explained as the granulation method for obtaining the water-soluble granulated product described above. The granulation method may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0038] The granulated powder may contain a granulation additive (binder) to improve fluidity and solubility in water. The granulated powder may not contain a granulation additive (binder) and may be granulated after adding at least one selected from the group consisting of emulsifiers, surfactants, solubilizers, dispersants, stabilizers, thickeners, coagulants, gelling agents, excipients, and other hydrophilic polymers. Examples of the binder include those exemplified and described as binders that can be used in the granulation of the water-soluble granulated product described above.

[0039] Specific examples of the granulated powder include the water-soluble granulated material from which the cannabinoid has been removed, and tea powder granulated using tea leaves (such as tea leaf powder) as a raw material (for example, powder granulated by adding a binder and an emulsifier to tea extract).

[0040] (Powdered tea composition) The powdered tea composition may contain other ingredients in addition to the water-soluble granules, raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules, and the tea leaf powder. These other ingredients include those exemplified as other ingredients that may be contained in the water-soluble granules, those exemplified as ingredients for the granulated powder, preservatives, pH adjusters, sweeteners, nutritional fortifiers, thickeners, dietary fiber, quality stabilizers, acids, etc. Only one of the above other ingredients may be used, or two or more may be used.

[0041] The powdered tea composition is in a powder form and may be an aggregate of primary particles or an aggregate of a plurality of particles.

[0042] The powdered tea composition preferably comprises a core-shell powder having the water-soluble granules as a core layer and the tea leaf powder as a shell layer. When the powdered tea composition comprises such a core-shell structure, excessive aggregation (formation of lumps) of the powdered tea composition can be further suppressed.

[0043] The content of the tea leaf powder in the powdered tea composition is preferably 20% by mass or more, more preferably 30% by mass or more, and even more preferably 40% by mass or more, relative to the total amount (100% by mass) of the powdered tea composition. A content of 20% by mass or more allows the flavor of the tea leaves to be fully appreciated. The content is, for example, 99% by mass or less, preferably 95% by mass or less, more preferably 90% by mass or less, and even more preferably 80% by mass or less. A content of 99% by mass or less tends to further suppress the formation of lumps, resulting in easier handling of the powdered tea composition and more uniform dispersion of the cannabinoids.

[0044] The content of the water-soluble granules and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules in the powdered tea composition is preferably 1% by mass or more, more preferably 5% by mass or more, more preferably 10% by mass or more, and even more preferably 20% by mass or more, relative to 100% by mass of the total amount of the powdered tea composition. A content of 1% by mass or more improves the ease of handling of the powdered tea composition and the uniform dispersion of cannabinoids. The content is, for example, 80% by mass or less, preferably 70% by mass or less, and more preferably 60% by mass or less. A content of 80% by mass or less allows the flavor of tea leaves to be fully appreciated.

[0045] The cannabinoid content in the powdered tea composition is preferably 0.05% by mass or more, more preferably 0.1% by mass or more, and even more preferably 0.3% by mass or more, based on the total amount (100% by mass) of the powdered tea composition. When the content is 0.05% by mass or more, the full effects of the cannabinoid can be expected. The content is, for example, 30% by mass or less.

[0046] The cannabinoid dispersity of the powdered tea composition of the present invention is preferably 90% or more, more preferably 95% or more, and even more preferably 97% or more. The dispersity can be calculated using the following formula by dissolving the powdered tea composition in a solvent, quantifying the prepared solution by HPLC analysis, and then calculating the dispersity. The solution can be prepared by appropriately pretreating the solution before HPLC, for example by adjusting the concentration or removing precipitates by filtration, as necessary. Specifically, the same pretreatment as for the recovery rate is carried out. The dispersity is an index of whether the cannabinoids are uniformly dispersed in the resulting powdered tea composition; the closer the dispersity is to 100%, the more uniformly the cannabinoids are dispersed. Dispersion degree (%)=100×(Cs-|Cs-C|) / Cs C: Amount of cannabinoids detected by HPLC analysis of a powdered tea composition randomly sampled in an amount of 1 / 10 or less (preferably 1 / 100 or less) of the production amount Cs: Amount of cannabinoids detected by HPLC analysis of a reference standard sample made by mixing raw materials to have the same composition as the powdered tea composition.

[0047] The powdered tea composition of the present invention can be produced by known or conventional methods. For example, the raw materials for the powdered tea composition can be placed in a container and mixed and stirred to produce the composition. Known or conventional methods can be used for mixing and stirring, including high-shear mixers, high-shear mixers, homomixers, ball mills, bead mills, container-moving mixers, high-pressure homogenizers, ultrasonic homogenizers, colloid mills, and mixing and stirring with a stirrer. Furthermore, container-moving mixers are preferred for mixing and stirring, as they avoid heat-related flavor deterioration and facilitate the production of a powdered tea composition with excellent uniform dispersion of the water-soluble granulated material. Container-moving mixers are a method of mixing and stirring by vibrating, shaking, or rotating the container. The order of addition of ingredients to the container is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to add the water-soluble granulated material before the tea leaf powder. This order of addition allows for the production of a powdered tea composition containing the core-shell powder with the tea leaf powder adhering to the surface of the water-soluble granulated material. Furthermore, agglomeration can be further suppressed, resulting in excellent uniform dispersion of the water-soluble granulated material. In the above-mentioned production method, it is preferable not to add a solvent in order to avoid thermal deterioration and promote volatilization when obtaining the powdered tea composition without going through a drying step.

[0048] Alternatively, a powdered tea composition can be produced in the same manner as a cannabinoid-containing powdered tea composition, using a fat-soluble compound other than cannabinoids instead of cannabinoids. Specifically, the present invention provides a method for producing a powdered tea composition, comprising mixing and stirring a composition containing tea leaf powder and a water-soluble granulated product of a fat-soluble compound and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product using a container motion system. The water-soluble granulated product and raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product in this paragraph can be any of the water-soluble granulated products and raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product exemplified and described above as water-soluble granulated products containing cannabinoids and raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product, with the exception that "cannabinoid" is replaced with "fat-soluble compound." Even if a fat-soluble compound other than cannabinoids is used as a water-soluble granulated product, using the water-soluble granulated product or a water-soluble processed fat-soluble compound as the granulated powder allows the fat-soluble compound to be uniformly mixed with the tea leaf powder without the need for a liquid or slurry. Furthermore, the fat-soluble compound is uniformly dispersed in a tea beverage prepared by dissolving the powdered tea composition in an aqueous solvent. Furthermore, since the compound is not made into a liquid or slurry form, a drying step is not required, and the flavor of the tea is not impaired. This allows a powder dispersion with a stable particle size and a fat-soluble compound as its core to be obtained without impairing the flavor of the tea. The above-mentioned "water-soluble granules" and "water-soluble processed fat-soluble compound" are those for which no phase separation is observed when mixed in a soluble or dispersible amount in water, and preferably no phase separation is observed even after 2 hours or more, 3 hours or more, half a day or more, 1 day or more, or 2 days or more at room temperature.

[0049] The powdered tea composition of the present invention can be incorporated into food and beverage products (drinks and foods). That is, the present invention can provide food and beverage products containing the powdered tea composition of the present invention. The powdered tea composition of the present invention is preferably incorporated into an aqueous solvent (water, hot water, etc.) to prepare a beverage, and most preferably dissolved in water or hot water and consumed as a tea beverage. From this perspective, the powdered tea composition of the present invention can also be provided as instant powdered tea. The tea beverages include non-fermented teas, semi-fermented teas, and fermented teas. Specific examples of such tea beverages include steamed non-fermented teas (green teas) such as sencha, bancha, hojicha, gyokuro, kabusecha, and tiancha; non-fermented teas such as pan-fried teas (Kamacha) such as Ureshino tea, Aoyagi tea, and various Chinese teas; semi-fermented teas such as Baozhong tea, Tieguanyin tea, and oolong tea; fermented teas such as black tea; and post-fermented teas such as Awa bancha and pu-erh tea.

[0050] When the powdered tea composition of the present invention is contained in an aqueous solvent, the content ratio of the powdered tea composition of the present invention in the solution is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 0.05 to 30% (w / v), preferably 0.1 to 25% (w / v), more preferably 0.2 to 20% (w / v), and even more preferably 0.25 to 15% (w / v).

[0051] Furthermore, when the powdered tea composition of the present invention is contained in an aqueous solvent, the content of cannabinoid in the solution is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 500 mg.

[0052] The powdered tea composition of the present invention may also be extracted into an aqueous medium such as water or hot water and consumed. From this perspective, the powdered tea composition of the present invention can also be provided as a tea bag containing the powdered tea composition. If insoluble components contained in the powdered tea composition do not leak out of the tea bag when the tea bag is immersed in an aqueous medium, only the extracted components can be ingested. Furthermore, although it takes time to extract caffeine and catechins from tea leaf powder even with hot water, the water-soluble granulated cannabinoids are uniformly contained in the powdered tea composition of the present invention, allowing cannabinoids to be efficiently ingested even by extraction. Furthermore, by lowering the temperature of the tea beverage, more cannabinoids can be extracted while reducing the amount of tea leaf-derived components such as caffeine extracted, which can be expected to have an enhanced effect on sleep, for example.

[0053] The powdered tea composition of the present invention can also be added to foods. Such foods may be either Japanese or Western confectioneries, such as confectioneries like cakes, castella cakes, candies, cookies, jellies, puddings, and chocolates; frozen desserts like ice cream, popsicles, and sherbets; and snacks. It can also be used in bread, dairy products, and protein. The powdered tea composition of the present invention can be mixed with the food, or added to the food just before or during consumption.

[0054] The powdered tea composition of the present invention is preferably packaged in a container. The container in which the powdered tea composition of the present invention is housed may be of any shape, such as a tea caddy-shaped container, a stick-shaped container, or a pouch. Refill containers can also be used. The container preferably has light-blocking and airtight properties in order to ensure excellent storage stability.

[0055] The powdered tea composition of the present invention can be used to produce foods and beverages with a strong tea leaf aroma, stable cannabinoid content, and excellent uniform dispersibility. Therefore, the powdered tea composition of the present invention can simultaneously achieve the effects of cannabinoids and aroma components such as terpenes derived from tea leaf powder, and a synergistic effect (entourage effect). Furthermore, the powdered tea composition of the present invention is excellent, for example, in cannabinoid dispersibility in aqueous solvents, storage stability, efficacy (efficacy of tea components and cannabinoids), and cannabinoid absorption efficiency. In particular, the water-soluble components are expected to improve bioavailability (cannabinoid absorption rate) by more than four times compared to the intake of conventional cannabinoid oils. Regarding storage stability, by preparing the product in a powdered form, it remains stable, for example, even after 300 days of storage at room temperature (15-25°C) and after a stress test (after one week at 60°C), with no or almost no decrease in cannabinoid content. In addition, its excellent storage stability allows the cannabinoids to be stably maintained at their maximum efficacy, absorption rate, and concentration, and the tea flavor can be locked in until just before consumption, maximizing the aroma and nutrients of the tea beverage, i.e., its taste and efficacy.

[0056] The effects of cannabinoids include antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. It has also been reported that certain cannabinoids (e.g., CBD and CBN) improve sleep. For example, Camellia tea leaf powder contains water-soluble nutrients (caffeine, catechins (polyphenols), theanine (amino acids), GABA, vitamin C, B vitamins, other minerals, polysaccharides, etc.) as well as water-insoluble or poorly soluble nutrients (beta-carotene, vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, minerals, fat-soluble dietary fiber, etc.) contained in the tea leaf powder. Therefore, a powdered tea composition containing cannabinoids and tea leaf powder can also achieve the effects of combining cannabinoids with tea leaf powder. Furthermore, in the powdered tea composition of the present invention, cannabinoids can prevent the oxidation of chlorophyll and catechins contained in the powdered tea leaves, which is expected to improve shelf life. The shelf-life stabilizing properties of cannabinoids are expected to prevent discoloration of green tea, deterioration of the aroma of black tea, and darkening due to catechin polymerization. For example, CBD exhibits excellent antioxidant properties. Vitamin C, due to its antioxidant properties, is sometimes added to improve shelf life and antioxidant activity in the body, but this can lead to problems with increased acidity. Meanwhile, CBD has stronger antioxidant properties and a slight bitterness, making it a more useful antioxidant ingredient in powdered tea. While most teas naturally contain bitter compounds, the slight bitterness of CBD blends well with tea, making it easy to harmonize with tea.

[0057] When the powdered tea composition of the present invention is dissolved in an aqueous solvent such as hot water and stirred, the cannabinoids disperse within at least one minute to several minutes, preferably within several seconds to several tens of seconds, demonstrating excellent dispersibility, and the dissolved cannabinoids are stable, preferably for several hours to a day or more. High dispersibility in aqueous solvents also leads to excellent cannabinoid absorption efficiency. [Example]

[0058] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. Unless otherwise specified, "%" means "% by mass."

[0059] Example 1 Approximately 40% of commercially available water-soluble CBD powder (granulated material primarily using polysaccharides as a binder, angle of repose approximately 30°, CBD 2%) was placed in a cylindrical plastic container, followed by approximately 60% of domestically produced blended roasted green tea powder. The container was then vibrated and rotated to mix at room temperature for approximately 60 minutes, yielding a powdered tea composition. No lumps were observed during this mixing.

[0060] <Dispersion> 0.1 g of the powdered tea composition obtained in Example 1 was weighed out and added to water at approximately 23°C and stirred to a CBD concentration of 40 ppm. Acetonitrile was then added and stirred to a CBD concentration of 20 ppm. After removing insoluble matter derived from the tea leaves, the mixture was filtered through a membrane filter, and the resulting filtrate was quantified by HPLC analysis. The degree of dispersion was calculated using the following formula. The result was a degree of dispersion of over 99%, indicating that the CBD was uniformly dispersed in the powdered tea composition. Furthermore, no lumps were formed, and the tea leaves were uniformly dispersed in the water-soluble granules, indicating that the powdered tea composition formed a powder of uniform particle size. Dispersion degree (%)=100×(Cs-|Cs-C|) / Cs

[0061] <Taste and sensory evaluation> A tea beverage was prepared by dissolving 1 g of the powdered tea composition obtained in Example 1 (containing 8 mg of CBD) in 200 mL of hot water. The beverage was then tasted before sleep. The results indicated a strong tea leaf aroma and a pleasant taste, which led to a feeling of relaxation and sleepiness, leading to a sound sleep. Furthermore, in a questionnaire survey (n=129), more than 70% of participants reported improved sleep.

[0062] <Storage stability> The powdered tea composition obtained in Example 1 was checked for CBD content after 300 days of storage at room temperature (15-25°C) and after a stress test (one week at 60°C). The amount of decrease was within the measurement error, and no or very little decrease was observed, which was determined to be within the acceptable range (<5%).

[0063] The powdered tea composition obtained in Example 1 did not undergo a drying process during its production. As shown in the taste and sensory evaluations above, it was evaluated as having a strong tea leaf aroma and a good taste. Furthermore, as shown in the storage stability evaluations above, the decrease in CBD content before and after storage was within an acceptable range, indicating that the effects of CBD were fully enjoyed. Furthermore, the powdered tea composition obtained in Example 1 was evaluated as having no lumps formed during mixing, with CBD uniformly dispersed throughout the powdered tea composition, and was obtained as a powder with a uniform particle size. These findings demonstrate that a powdered tea composition using water-soluble granules containing cannabinoids and tea leaf powder can produce a cannabinoid-containing food or beverage that has a strong tea leaf aroma and allows the full enjoyment of the effects of cannabinoids.

[0064] Example 2 A 50cc glass vial was charged with 5% or 1% commercially available water-soluble CBD powder (granulated material primarily using polysaccharides as a binder, angle of repose approximately 30, CBD 2%), followed by 95% or 99% domestic roasted green tea powder. The container was then shaken and rotated to mix at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes, yielding 5g of powdered tea composition. The degree of dispersion was calculated using the same method as above, and was found to be over 99% and 94%, respectively.

[0065] Variations of the invention according to the present disclosure are described below. [Appendix 1] A powdered tea composition comprising a water-soluble granulated product containing a cannabinoid or a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product, and tea leaf powder. [Appendix 2] The powdered tea composition described in Appendix 1, wherein the raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated material include a water-soluble cannabinoid and a granulated powder. [Appendix 3] A powdered tea composition according to Appendix 1 or 2, wherein the content of the water-soluble granulated material and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated material is 1% by mass or more relative to 100% by mass of the total amount of the powdered tea composition. [Appendix 4] The powdered tea composition according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the tea leaf powder comprises tea leaf powder from a plant of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae. [Appendix 5] A method for producing a powdered tea composition, comprising mixing and stirring a composition containing water-soluble granules of a fat-soluble compound and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules, and tea leaf powder using a container motion system.

Claims

1. A powdered tea composition comprising a water-soluble granule containing a cannabinoid or a raw material capable of forming the water-soluble granule, and tea leaf powder.

2. The powdered tea composition according to claim 1, wherein the raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated product include a water-soluble cannabinoid and a granulated powder.

3. A powdered tea composition as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of the water-soluble granulated material and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granulated material is 1 mass% or more relative to 100 mass% of the total amount of the powdered tea composition.

4. 3. The powdered tea composition according to claim 1, wherein the tea leaf powder comprises tea leaf powder from a plant of the genus Camellia in the family Theaceae.

5. A method for producing a powdered tea composition, comprising mixing and stirring a composition containing water-soluble granules of a fat-soluble compound and / or raw materials capable of forming the water-soluble granules, and tea leaf powder using a container motion system.