Nut pulp, methods for producing the same, and nut beverages containing the same
The method addresses the challenge of achieving fine nut pulp by processing nuts with defined parameters and wet grinding, ensuring consistent quality and improved flavor in nut beverages.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FOOD IND RES & DEV INST
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-26
Smart Images
Figure 0007880936000005 
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Figure 0007880936000001
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing nut pulp, the nut pulp produced by the production method, and a nut beverage containing the nut pulp.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, with the increase in the vegetarian population, using plants as alternative foods to animal raw materials has been increasingly emphasized. In particular, plant-based milk is a beverage produced by extracting from plants. While mimicking the taste and nutritional value of conventional animal-based milk (such as cow's milk), it contains no animal components, making it an ideal choice for vegetarians and lactose-intolerant patients. Plant-based milk products are usually produced from water and components processed from one or more types of plants (nuts, grains, beans, etc.), and become a liquid similar to milk through stirring and filtration. There are a very large number of types of plant-based milk, among which nuts are the main raw materials.
[0003] The production of nut beverages usually adopts the whole food method that uses nuts as a whole, that is, after crushing the whole nuts into powder, water and other seasonings are added to produce nut beverages. Conventionally, in the crushing process, mainly dry crushing (crushing without water) and wet crushing (crushing with water) technologies are used. Dry crushing can crush nuts more finely, but this process takes time and has a low production volume. In contrast, wet crushing has a relatively high production volume and is more stable, but it cannot achieve the fineness of dry crushing, and relatively large particles such as seed coats, cellulose, proteins, and lipids in the wet crushing process may have an adverse impact on the taste of the final nut beverage. Therefore, in this field, establishing a method for producing nut pulp and making the nut beverage obtained from the nut pulp have the required taste has been an ongoing issue.
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing nut pulp.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide nut pulp produced by the above-described manufacturing method.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a nut beverage containing the aforementioned nut pulp. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention provides a method for producing nut pulp, (a) The process of providing nuts; (b) A step of processing the nuts according to manufacturing parameters to obtain processed nuts; and (c) A step of grinding the processed nuts to obtain nut pulp containing a target particle size, The aforementioned manufacturing parameters include processing temperature and processing time. The aforementioned grinding method includes wet grinding, The aforementioned manufacturing parameters are A process that acquires multiple historical data, and the multiple historical data includes multiple past manufacturing parameters and multiple past actual particle sizes corresponding to those multiple past manufacturing parameters; A step of obtaining a related function based on the aforementioned multiple past manufacturing parameters and the aforementioned multiple past actual particle sizes; and A step of obtaining the manufacturing parameters based on the aforementioned related function and the target particle size. A method for producing nut pulp, obtained by [method].
[0008] Preferably, the processed nuts contain strain energy, and the associated function includes: The target particle size and the strain energy exhibit a logarithmic correlation. The strain energy and the manufacturing parameters exhibit a second-order correlation.
[0009] Preferably, the method further includes a screening step after step (b), the screening step being used to select the processed nuts that meet the following conditions: The processed nuts have a moisture content of 1% to 7% by weight, preferably 2.5% to 5% by weight, and The strain energy of the processed nuts is 300 to 1400 (g·sec), preferably 400 to 1300 (g·sec).
[0010] Preferably, the nuts include almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, or pine nuts.
[0011] Preferably, the processing method includes freeze-drying, baking, roasting, or deep-frying.
[0012] Preferably, the multiple past actual particle diameters and the target particle diameter include D90 particle diameter, D50 particle diameter, D10 particle diameter, particle diameter distribution state, or average particle diameter.
[0013] Preferably, the actual particle sizes from multiple past instances are measured by laser diffraction, sieving, precipitation, dynamic image analysis, or ultrasonic attenuation. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0014] [Figure 1] This is a flow chart of the nut pulp manufacturing process. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart illustrating the established relationship between nut pulp particle size and manufacturing parameters. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0015] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as those ordinarily understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In case of any inconsistency, the definitions contained herein shall prevail.
[0016] The term "produced from" as used in the present invention is synonymous with "comprising". The terms "includes", "including", "comprises", "comprising", "has", "having", "contains", "containing", or any other variations thereof used in this text mean non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a composition, manufacturing process, method, product or device containing a plurality of elements listed in a list is not necessarily limited only to those elements listed in the list, and may include other elements specific to the composition, manufacturing process, method, product or device that are not explicitly listed. The term "comprising" is generally used in the sense of inclusion, that is, it allows the presence of one or more other features or components.
[0017] The indefinite articles "a" or "one" before an element or component in the present invention non-limitingly describe the number of instances (i.e., occurrences) of the element or component. Therefore, "a" or "one" should be understood to include one or at least one, and also include a plurality in the singular form of the element or component, unless it is clear that the number refers to the singular.
[0018] The method for manufacturing nut pulp of the present invention includes: (a) a step of providing nuts; (b) a step of processing the nuts with manufacturing parameters to obtain processed nuts; and (c) a step of pulverizing the processed nuts to obtain nut pulp including a target particle size, wherein the manufacturing parameters include a processing temperature and a processing time, the pulverizing method includes wet pulverization, the manufacturing parameters include obtaining a plurality of pieces of history data, the plurality of pieces of history data include a plurality of past manufacturing parameters and a plurality of past actual particle sizes corresponding to the plurality of past manufacturing parameters; a step of obtaining a correlation function based on the plurality of past manufacturing parameters and the plurality of past actual particle sizes; and a step of obtaining the manufacturing parameters based on the correlation function and the target particle size.
[0019] The step of obtaining the manufacturing parameters can be performed by a processor. Specifically, in order to obtain the correlation function, a plurality of pieces of history data are stored in a storage device, the processor retrieves the plurality of pieces of history data from the storage device, calculates the correlation function based on the plurality of past actual particle sizes and the plurality of past manufacturing parameters, and then the correlation function can be stored in the storage device. When it is desired to obtain the manufacturing parameters, the target particle size is stored in the storage device, the processor retrieves the correlation function and the target particle size from the storage device, and uses the target particle size as the input of the correlation function to output the manufacturing parameters. The algorithm of the correlation function can be set by using known methods in this field. For example, the correlation between a plurality of past actual particle sizes (inputs) and a plurality of past manufacturing parameters (outputs) is calculated, such as linear regression, non-linear regression (e.g., polynomial regression), or a neural network that updates parameters using a backpropagation algorithm.
[0020] Wet grinding refers to combining a sample (nuts) with a solvent (water) for grinding. For example, grinding can be performed using equipment known in this field, such as a colloid mill, a grinder, a high-shear mixing homogenizer, etc.
[0021] In one embodiment, the processed nuts contain strain energy, and the correlation function includes the following: the target particle size and the strain energy have a logarithmic correlation, and the strain energy and the manufacturing parameters have a quadratic correlation. Preferably, the quadratic correlation is "strain energy = a + b × processing temperature + c × processing time + d × processing temperature 2 + e × processing time 2 ", and the logarithmic correlation is "target particle size = f × ln(strain energy) + g", where a and g are intercept terms, and b, c, d, e, f are coefficients.
[0022] For example, when the target particle size is used as input to a related function and the manufacturing parameters are output as a related function, the processor can sequentially calculate the manufacturing parameters from the target particle size through a combination of multiple algorithms. For example, after calculating the strain energy from the target particle size using a logarithmic correlation formula, the manufacturing parameters can be calculated from the strain energy using a quadratic correlation formula. Since the manufacturing parameters of the present invention include processing temperature and processing time, when the target particle size is used as input to a related function and the manufacturing parameters are output, the manufacturing parameters include multiple (e.g., more than two) combinations of processing temperature and processing time.
[0023] The term "strain energy" in this text refers to one of the physical quantities of a processed nut, which is an external force or energy that can be experienced before the shape of the object changes, and can be measured with equipment known in this art, such as a texture analyzer.
[0024] In one embodiment, the method further includes a screening step after step (b), the screening step being used to select the processed nuts that meet the following conditions: the moisture content of the processed nuts is 1% to 7% by weight; and the strain energy of the processed nuts is 300 to 1400 (g·sec).
[0025] In the present invention, the nuts may include, but are not limited to, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, or pine nuts.
[0026] In one embodiment, the processing method includes freeze-drying, baking, roasting, or deep-frying. For example, it can be carried out using equipment known in the art, such as a freeze-dryer, oven, air fryer, stir-fryer, or fryer. Through the above-mentioned equipment, the temperature of the nuts is rapidly raised or lowered, causing the water contained in the nuts to move, thereby causing changes in the structure and texture (such as strain energy) of the nuts.
[0027] In one embodiment, the multiple past actual particle diameters and the target particle diameter include D90 particle diameter, D50 particle diameter, D10 particle diameter, particle diameter distribution state, or average particle diameter. In one embodiment, the multiple past actual particle diameters and the target particle diameter are of the same standard; for example, both the multiple past actual particle diameters and the target particle diameter are D90 particle diameter.
[0028] Since the same sample may consist of particles with different particle sizes, the "particle size distribution" in this field is typically used to describe the distribution of particle size in a sample and express the proportion or percentage of particles of various different sizes in the sample. For this reason, the particle size of a sample can be represented by various particle size display parameters, such as average particle size, D90 particle size, D50 particle size, D10 particle size, or particle size distribution state (span).
[0029] "D90 particle size" refers to the case where 90% of the sample particles in one particle size distribution of the sample being measured are less than or equal to this value. Therefore, D90 particle size indicates that 90% of the particles in the sample are less than or equal to this specific particle size. In addition, in this field, particle size is usually expressed using "D50 particle size," "D10 particle size," etc., where D50 particle size (D10 particle size) indicates that 50% (10%) of the particles in the sample are less than or equal to this specific particle size. The "particle size distribution state (span)" is (D90 particle size - D10 particle size) / D50 particle size.
[0030] In one embodiment, the aforementioned multiple past actual particle sizes are measured by laser diffraction, sieving, precipitation, dynamic image analysis, or ultrasonic attenuation.
[0031] The materials, methods, and examples in this invention are for illustrative purposes only and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the invention. While it may be possible to carry out or test the invention using methods or materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein, those described herein are more suitable methods and materials. [Examples]
[0032] Obtain the correlation function between almond pulp particle size and manufacturing parameters.
[0033] Figure 1 shows the method for producing nut pulp according to the present invention. The process is as follows: (1) Provide nuts; (2) Baking the nuts at a specific processing temperature and time; (3) Preliminary screening of the processed nuts (quality check of the semi-finished product); (4) Wet grinding the processed nuts to obtain nut pulp, and adding a solvent (e.g., water) to the obtained nut pulp to prepare a nut beverage (pulp preparation). Of these steps, baking the nuts in step (2) changes the texture of the nuts, and employing a wet grinding method in step (4) can improve the degree to which non-water-soluble large particles (e.g., fibers) are finely ground. Furthermore, the baking temperature and processing time in step (2) affect the particle size of the pulp after wet grinding of the processed nuts, and the particle size of the nut pulp is related to the flavor of the resulting nut beverage. This allows us to establish a correlation function between "nut pulp particle size" and "manufacturing parameters (processing temperature and processing time)," obtain suitable manufacturing parameters from this correlation function, manufacture nut pulp of a specific particle size, and improve the flavor of nut beverages obtained from the nut pulp.
[0034] This invention uses "almonds" as an ingredient in a nut beverage and rapidly changes the temperature difference of the nuts through "heating," as shown as an example of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, in order to obtain a correlation function between the particle size of almond pulp and its manufacturing parameters, almonds are processed using 20 sets of processing temperatures (ranging from 100 to 180°C) and processing times (5 to 120 minutes). After processing, the moisture content and strain energy of the processed almonds are measured to perform a preliminary screening of the quality of the processed almonds. First, the moisture content of the processed almonds is measured using an infrared measuring device, and the screening conditions are set to a moisture content of 2.5 to 5% by weight. Furthermore, a texture analyzer is used to test the samples with parameters of a test speed of 1 mm / sec, a deformation rate of 99%, and a trigger force of 5 g, and processed almonds with test results of 400 to 1300 (g·sec) are selected as acceptable. For processed almonds that meet the screening criteria, wet grinding is performed in a colloid mill machine under the following conditions: almond-to-water ratio of 1:8, at 2800 rpm for 12 minutes to form almond pulp. Furthermore, using a laser particle size analyzer, the red light detection range is set to 85-80% and the blue light detection range to 75-65%. After injecting the almond pulp, the particle size D90 of the almond pulp is measured after observing that the laser light transmittance reaches the set percentage and stabilizes. Through the above experiment, multiple historical data can be obtained for the production of almond pulp, including the processing temperature of almond baking, the processing time of almond baking, the strain energy of the processed almonds, and the particle size D90 of the almond pulp.
[0035] Table 1 shows examples of multiple historical data from six of the 20 almond pulp production processes used in this embodiment. Through the 20 sets of experimental data, a pure second-order equation was obtained using the baking temperature and baking time as input values, and the strain energy of the processed almonds as output. The binary quadratic regression predictive equation for the strain energy of the processing conditions obtained from the pure second-order regression is: "Strain energy of processed almonds = a + b × processing temperature + c × processing time + d × processing temperature" 2 +e × processing time 2 This results in a being the intercept term, b, c, d, and e being coefficients, and R 2 = 0.82. Furthermore, almonds become easier to grind after baking, and the pulp particle size after wet grinding is smaller (compared to almonds that have not been baked), and there is a high correlation between the strain energy of processed almonds and the particle size D90 of almond pulp. For this reason, the logarithmic equation established for the pulp particle size D90 using strain energy is: "Particle size D90 = f × ln (strain energy) + g", where g is the intercept term, f is the coefficient, and R 2 The result is 0.83, making it possible to predict the quality of almond beverages.
[0036] [Table 1]
[0037] Therefore, when you want to obtain suitable manufacturing parameters (processing temperature and processing time), you can first obtain the strain energy of processed almonds based on the almond pulp particle size D90 through the relevant function, and then obtain the suitable manufacturing parameters (processing temperature and processing time) from that strain energy. [Examples]
[0038] Relationship between almond pulp particle size D90 and flavor sensory evaluation.
[0039] In Example 1, we demonstrated a correlation between the particle size D90 of almond pulp and the mouthfeel (sensory evaluation of mouthfeel) of almond beverages. Therefore, in this example, we conducted sensory evaluations of grittiness, poor throat feel, and throat stickiness for beverages with different almond pulp particle sizes D90. Eleven expert evaluators drank unflavored almond pulp and then described and scored the flavor as shown in Table 2. Grittiness refers to the degree to which the sample feels like fine sand when it remains in the mouth, poor throat feel refers to the degree of viscosity and consistency felt when swallowing, and throat stickiness refers to the feeling of a foreign object remaining in the throat after swallowing.
[0040] [Table 2]
[0041] Table 3 shows the results of sensory organ evaluations conducted by expert evaluators on almond beverages with different particle sizes (D90). Therefore, it is possible to select a suitable nut pulp particle size based on the desired mouthfeel for the nut beverage to be manufactured.
[0042] [Table 3] [Examples]
[0043] Obtaining suitable manufacturing parameters using related functions
[0044] Applying the correspondence between the correlation function in Example 1 and the sensory organ evaluation of almond pulp particle size D90 in Example 2, if we want to produce a beverage with an almond pulp particle size D90 of approximately 170 μm (relatively low texture roughness), the strain energy can be estimated to be 400 (g·sec) based on the pulp particle size D90 through the correlation function (logarithmic equation). Furthermore, the combination of processing temperature and processing time (as shown in the table below) can be estimated and obtained based on this strain energy through the correlation function (second-order equation). Therefore, by adjusting the manufacturing parameters based on the correlation function and adjusting the baking temperature and time, the assumed pulp particle size D90 can be achieved and an almond beverage with the desired mouthfeel can be obtained.
[0045] [Table 4]
[0046] In summary, the present invention's method for producing nut pulp adjusts production parameters (such as processing temperature and processing time) through a nut-related function, reducing the instability of nut pulp quality due to the difficulty in adjusting production parameters during the process. Furthermore, it achieves the target quality requirements after wet grinding, ensuring consistency in product quality and thereby improving the flavor of beverages. In addition, the related function provided by the present invention allows for achieving target quality by adjusting production parameters (processing temperature and processing time), reducing errors and cost losses that arise from judgments based on human experience. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0047] None
Claims
1. A method for producing nut powder, (a) The process of providing nuts; (b) A step of processing the nuts according to manufacturing parameters to obtain processed nuts; and (c) A step of grinding the processed nuts to obtain a nut grind product containing a target particle size, The aforementioned manufacturing parameters include processing temperature and processing time. The aforementioned grinding method includes wet grinding, The aforementioned manufacturing parameters are A process of acquiring multiple historical data, wherein the multiple historical data includes multiple past manufacturing parameters and multiple past actual particle sizes corresponding to the multiple past manufacturing parameters; A step of obtaining a related function based on the aforementioned multiple past manufacturing parameters and the aforementioned multiple past actual particle sizes; and A step of obtaining the manufacturing parameters based on the aforementioned related function and the target particle size. A method for producing nut powder, obtained by [method].
2. The processed nuts contain strain energy, and the associated function includes: The target particle size and the strain energy exhibit a logarithmic correlation. The strain energy and the manufacturing parameters have a second-order correlation. A method for producing nut powder according to claim 1.
3. The process (b) is followed by a screening step, and the screening step is The processed nuts have a moisture content of 1% to 7% by weight, and The processed nuts have a strain energy of 300 to 1400 (g·sec), A method for producing nut powder according to claim 1, used to select processed nuts that satisfy the following conditions.
4. The method for producing a nut powder according to claim 1, wherein the nuts include almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, or pine nuts.
5. The method for producing nut powder according to claim 1, wherein the processing method includes freeze-drying, baking, roasting, or deep-frying.
6. A method for producing nut pulverized products according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned multiple past actual particle diameters and the target particle diameter include D90 particle diameter, D50 particle diameter, D10 particle diameter, particle diameter distribution state, or average particle diameter.
7. The method for producing nut powder according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned multiple past actual particle sizes are measured by laser diffraction, sieving, precipitation, dynamic image analysis, or ultrasonic attenuation.