Processed tea product using metal ion water generator and tea processing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a processed tea product and a production method thereof, the processed tea product being obtained by: pulverizing, crushing, mixing, and agitating tea leaves in diluted ion water in which copper ions and zinc ions are eluted by adding water to the copper ions and zinc ions; and separating the resultant into a paste-like tea food and a tea beverage by using a solid-liquid separation machine.　In the present invention, diluted ion water containing copper ions and zinc ions is obtained by adding water to an alloy of copper and zinc or to a metal fiber composed of copper and zinc and eluting the copper ions and zinc ions.

Description

Tea processed products and tea processing method using metal ion water generating device

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

[0002] In recent years, with the rise in health consciousness, green tea beverages rich in health-promoting ingredients (e.g., catechins, polyphenols, vitamin C) have become popular among people of all ages and are widely available in bottled beverages. However, although current products are made from processed green tea, the chlorophyll degradation causes the beverages to turn yellow-green or brown rather than green. This is because the green chlorophyll is extremely sensitive to light, heat, and acid, and in the presence of water, it turns brown due to the oxidative polymerization of polyphenols. For this reason, for example, in the case of bottled tea beverages, green film is applied to the outside of the bottle to make it appear as if the contents are green, or green coloring, matcha, 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, which replaces magnesium in chlorophyll with copper ions, is known as a technique for preserving the natural green color of plant components such as tea leaves. This technique allows tea extracts and tea leaves to be provided as products while maintaining their green color. These techniques for preserving the natural green color of 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, these techniques are unsuitable for mass production due to the difficulty in controlling the amount of copper ions eluted and the slow copper elution rate. Furthermore, although copper is an essential element for humans, excessive intake can cause poisoning, and therefore, conventional methods, which do not allow for the determination of the amount of copper ions eluted, cannot be considered to ensure safety.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-112

[0005] The present invention was made in consideration of this background, and the technical objective was to develop a tea product suitable for mass production, which maintains its green color while ensuring safety, and a method for manufacturing the same. Tea products are vulnerable to light, oxidation, etc., and often fade over time. To prevent this, tea processing methods have been implemented in which metals such as copper and zinc are added 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 fade of the tea product, but the processing time can be long, resulting in reduced productivity.

[0006] The applicant has invented that, in addition to the efficacy of copper ions, zinc ions are minerals that are effective in antioxidant effects 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, and has completed the present invention.

[0007] The present invention is characterized by a tea food product in the form of a paste or liquid in which tea leaf components are dissolved or dispersed in water, and a processed tea product that is beneficial to the body because it contains abundant amounts of copper ions and zinc ions. More specifically, the present invention is characterized by a processed tea product and a method for producing the processed tea product, which are obtained by mixing, crushing, and stirring tea leaves with diluted ionized water in which copper and zinc ions have been dissolved by adding water, and then separating the tea leaves into a paste-like tea food product and a 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 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 it as an active oxygen scavenging enzyme. In addition, by using it as feed for livestock and other animals, it can be used to combat infectious diseases by enhancing its bactericidal activity, and in water, zinc can be eluted in greater amounts than copper, thereby purifying the water quality.

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

[0011] The processed tea product that maintains its green color is a tea product that has been mixed and ground with dried tea leaves and further subjected to a copper chlorophyll treatment, and is characterized in that the processed tea leaves, in which tea leaf components have been dissolved or dispersed in the water, are either processed as is or after solid-liquid separation into a paste or dried, and the amount of copper ions contained therein is known. According to this invention, when the liquid that has been subjected to the 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 consuming more than the daily required amount or the intake limit.

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

[0013] Furthermore, the processed tea product that maintains its green color is characterized in that, after being left in an acidic environment of pH 4.5 to 6.5 for 10 days or more and further separated into solid and liquid, 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 this invention, it is possible to provide a liquid that maintains its green color well and has a long product life, thereby increasing its commercial value.

[0014] Furthermore, the processed tea product that maintains its green color is characterized in that, after being irradiated with sunlight for one week 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 this invention, it is possible to provide a liquid that maintains its green color well and has a long product life, thereby increasing its commercial value.

[0015] Furthermore, a processed tea product that maintains its green color is characterized in that the raw material grinding step involves 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 product can be appropriately manufactured into a liquid tea that can be consumed as is, diluted with water to be consumed, or as a concentrated tea that can be added directly to food. When diluted with water to be consumed, a ratio of 1 part concentrated tea to 20 parts water or less is desirable.

[0016] Furthermore, in the method for producing processed tea products that maintain green color, the copper chlorophyll conversion step involves heating at a temperature of 85 to 100°C for 45 to 90 minutes, thereby substituting copper ions for magnesium in chlorophyll. According to this invention, copper ions can be effectively reacted with chlorophyll, ensuring reliable copper chlorophyll conversion.

[0017] Furthermore, the method for producing processed tea products that maintain their green color is characterized in that the tea leaves are not new tea but tea leaves that have not traditionally been suitable for sale, such as autumn / winter bancha tea. According to this invention, tea leaves that have traditionally had low or no commercial value can be effectively utilized to produce processed tea products with a vivid green color.

[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 furthermore, it is possible to provide such products to the market as products with guaranteed safety.

[0019] The "tea processed products that maintain their green color" of the present invention can be used for purposes other than beverages and food products. Specifically, they can be mixed into cosmetics, bath additives, soaps, shampoos, etc., or into paper products such as tissues, disposable diapers, and wallpaper, or into building materials such as gypsum boards and plaster walls 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.

[0020] 1 is a flow diagram showing a tea processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the manufacturing process of Example 1;

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

[0022] The tea leaves are tea leaves, and 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 an example, fresh tea leaves of the Yabukita variety as the raw material, 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 the raw material. In particular, for the tea leaves provided as bottled tea beverages, it is desirable to use a mixture of first-grade tea leaves, which have excellent astringency, second-grade tea leaves, third-grade tea leaves, which are rich in chlorophyll and have a vivid green color, and autumn / winter tea leaves, which also provide a rich supply of polyphenols such as catechins.

[0024] In the block diagram showing the manufacturing process in Figure 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 and zinc ionized water is produced using a diluted copper and zinc ionized water production device 13 (Iobable (product name)).

[0025] In the illustrated example, 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 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, 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 copper ion water is too low, adding it to tea leaves will not be effective and the tea leaves will often discolor. Also, since there is a limit to the amount of copper that humans can ingest per day (tolerable upper limit), if the copper concentration of copper ion water is too high, there is a high risk of overdose. In other words, from the perspective of the upper limit, it is desirable to keep the copper concentration of copper ion water as low as possible. Therefore, it is preferable that the copper concentration of copper ion water is at least a value that can prevent discoloration of tea leaves, but not too high.

[0027] Zinc ionized water is a liquid in which zinc ions are dissolved in water. For example, the amount of zinc present in the body is 2.5g for a person weighing 70kg, of which 50% is in the blood, 30% in various organs, and the remaining 20% ​​in the skin. Among organs, the prostate gland contains particularly large amounts of zinc, and the brain also contains a large amount. Of the zinc in blood, 80% is found 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. Furthermore, while zinc itself has very low toxicity, it activates proteins that easily adsorb copper, so prolonged zinc intake can impair copper absorption. Consequently, excessive zinc intake can lead to symptoms of copper deficiency due to impaired copper absorption. Because copper and zinc interact with each other, it is important to maintain a balanced intake. Furthermore, copper ion water and zinc ion water can be obtained using a zinc-copper alloy (brass).

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

[0030] Copper / Zinc Ionized Water Production Process (Step S101) First, in the copper / zinc ionized water production process, softened water produced by a water softener 11 is divided and filled into one or more boilers 12. Then, a diluted copper / zinc ionized water production device 13 (product name: Iobable) is used to produce copper / zinc ionized water of the desired concentration, either simultaneously or separately from the copper ions and zinc ions. Here, the concentrations of the copper ionized water and zinc ionized water are 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 a copper-zinc alloy filled in a filling container 15. Numerous tooth-like projections are formed on the surface of the metal fibers. The oxidation-reduction action of metal ions (copper ions and zinc ions) eluted from the metal fibers produces ionized water with improved water quality. That is, due to the reduction action of the metal ions eluted from the metal fibers, any residual heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury remaining in soft water or tea leaves are adsorbed onto the metal fibers, and magnesium in the chlorophyll of the tea leaves is reduced and replaced with copper and zinc.

[0032] According to the present invention, a metal ion water generator (i.e., diluted copper / zinc ion water generator 13 in FIG. 2) capable of generating metal ion water containing a high concentration of metal ions in an extremely short time comprises a water storage tank 15, metal fibers made of copper or an alloy of copper and zinc, a filling container 14 filled with the metal fibers, and a micro-bubble generator 16 for generating micro-bubbles in the water in the water storage tank. Furthermore, numerous 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, metal fibers made of a copper-zinc alloy or copper, a micro-bubble generator 16 that generates micro-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 houses the fine-bubble generator 16, and the metal fibers are packed around the fine-bubble generator 16. Numerous tooth-like protrusions are formed on the surface of the metal fibers. The fine-bubble generator 16 includes a bubble generating unit having a streamlined internal space with low water flow resistance and an opening for discharging water from the internal space to the outside, a jet pipe that jets water tangentially into the internal space of the bubble generating unit to generate a swirling flow in the internal space, and a gas supply pipe (not shown) that supplies gas to the swirling flow generated in the internal space of the bubble generating unit. The metal ion water production device 13 further includes a water supply pump that supplies water from the water storage tank 15 to the jet pipe of the fine-bubble generator 16.

[0035] The filling container 14 is filled with metal fibers made of an alloy of copper and zinc. The composition ratio of copper and zinc in these 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 copper alone can also be used. This ionized water generator 13 includes a copper-zinc alloy or metal fibers thereof and the filling container 14. Numerous tooth-like projections are formed on the surface of the metal fibers.

[0036] The ionized water generator 13 may further include a micro-bubble generator 16 that generates micro-bubbles in water that has passed through the interior of the filled container. Such a micro-bubble generator 16 includes a bubble generating section having a streamlined internal space with low water flow resistance and an opening for discharging water from the internal space to the outside, a jet pipe that generates 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 of the bubble generating section, and a gas supply pipe that introduces gas into the swirling flow generated in the internal space of the bubble generator. The filled container may be housed in the internal space of the bubble generating section of the micro-bubble generator 16, or the filled container may be disposed inside the jet pipe of the micro-bubble generator 16.

[0037] Water is introduced into the ionized water generator 13. The water is brought into contact with metal fibers made of copper or an alloy of copper and zinc packed in the filling 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 reaction 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, 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 decomposed, improving the quality of the water to ionic water.

[0039] (2) Tea Leaf Mixing and Grinding Process Next, in step S102, the grinder 31 is a grinder that grinds the material placed inside the grinder through the inlet. The grinder has grinding wheels inside. The grinding wheels are movably arranged facing each other in the vertical direction inside the grinder, and the distance between them can be freely adjusted. The material placed in the grinder is placed between the grinding wheels, and by adjusting the distance between the grinding wheels, it is ground to any size. Next, the mixture is placed in the grinder, and the tea leaves of the mixture are finely ground using the grinding wheels. Finely grinding the tea leaves of the mixture increases the surface area of ​​the tea leaves of 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 tea leaves are mixed and crushed to produce ionized water containing crushed tea leaves. When producing ionized water containing crushed tea leaves, the tea leaves are preferably 1.5 cm or less in size in both length and width; if the tea leaves are larger than 1.5 cm in size, not only will the time required for crushing increase, but there is also the risk of variations in quality control. The blending ratio (weight ratio) of tea leaves to the ionized water is preferably 1 part tea leaves to 18 to 22 parts ionized water. This crushing reduces the size of the tea leaves to a particle size of 40 μm to 50 μm.

[0041] (3) Stirring and stabilization process (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 with a stirrer 33. Here, stirring (first stirring and second stirring) can prevent the precipitation of copper and tea leaf solids due to insufficient circulation. Furthermore, when copper ions come into contact with the tea leaves, they replace magnesium, a constituent element of 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 Conversion Process (Step S104) The above process is followed by a stirring process, which stabilizes the chlorophyll with copper ions and maintains the green color of the tea leaves (preventing fading of the green color of the tea leaves). This copper chlorophyll conversion process involves heating the tea leaves at 85-100°C for 45-90 minutes while stirring, replacing the magnesium in the chlorophyll with copper ions. According to this invention, the stirring process effectively allows the copper ions to act on the chlorophyll, ensuring reliable copper chlorophyll conversion. Steps S102-S104 can also be repeated. Repeating steps S102-S104 further prevents the precipitation of copper and zinc ions and tea leaf solids due to insufficient circulation.

[0043] (5) Separation and dehydration process (step S105) Then, step S105 is a centrifugation process in which the crushed tea leaf fluid (granular tea leaf water) is centrifuged in a centrifuge device (solid-liquid separation device) 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, and stored in a sterilized storage tank to be used as a stock solution or diluted to produce a finished tea beverage. The separated and dehydrated green tea paste is dispensed into trays in fixed amounts, sterilized in a vacuum retort sterilizer, and inspected for foreign metals using a metal detector before being sold commercially as a green tea paste food product. The tea processing method of this embodiment can also be carried out by preparing diluted ionized water containing copper and zinc ions in step S101 in advance and then following 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. A processed tea product made using a metal ion water generator, in which tea leaves are crushed, mixed and stirred in diluted ion water made by adding copper and zinc to water to dissolve copper ions and zinc ions, and then separated into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

2. A tea product produced using the metal ion water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective concentrations of copper ion water and zinc ion water are 30 PPM to 60 PPM.

3. A tea product produced using the metal ion water generating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective concentrations of copper ion water and zinc ion water are 40 PPM to 50 PPM.

4. A method for producing processed tea products using a metal ion water generator in which copper ions and zinc ions are added to water to dissolve the copper and zinc ions, resulting in diluted ion water with a concentration of 30 PPM to 60 PPM, and tea leaves are crushed, mixed, and stirred, and then separated into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

5. A method for producing tea products using the metal ion water generating device described in claim 4, characterized in that the diluted ion water containing copper and zinc ions is obtained by adding water to a metal fiber made of an alloy of copper and zinc or an alloy of copper and zinc and dissolving it therein.

6. A method for producing processed tea products using the metal ion water generating device according to claim 4, in which the concentration of diluted ion water obtained by adding water to copper ions and zinc ions to dissolve the copper and zinc ions is 30 PPM to 60 PPM, and the tea leaves are crushed, mixed and stirred, and separated into a paste-like tea food and tea beverage using a solid-liquid separator.

7. A method for producing tea products using the metal ion water generating device described in claim 6, characterized in that the surface of the metal fibers made of an alloy of copper and zinc has numerous tooth-like projections formed thereon, which generate fine bubbles in the water and are dissolved therein.

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