Method of producing dissolvable geometrically formed tea tablets

Abstract

A method of producing dissolvable geometrically formed tea tablets includes blending at least one ingredient to create a blended mixture, straining the mixture to obtain a concentrated juice, filling a mold with the concentrated juice, and freezing the juice to form a solid tablet. The resulting tea tablet is three-dimensionally shaped, with possible forms including spheres, cubes, stars, and seasonal shapes. The ingredients may include fruits, roots, and herbs, such as berries, lemon, ginger, mint, and tea leaves. When introduced into hot water, the tablet dissolves to produce tea of consistent concentration and flavor. The method promotes convenient tea preparation, especially for younger consumers, and enhances portability, shelf life, and aesthetic appeal through playful and engaging tablet shapes.

Description

[0001] Method of Producing Dissolvable Geometrically Formed Tea Tablets

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates generally to food and beverages. More specifically, the present invention is a method of producing shaped tea tablets.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Tea has long been a popular beverage worldwide, celebrated for its wide array of flavors and health benefits. Traditional methods of tea preparation typically involve steeping loose tea leaves or using pre-packaged tea bags in hot water. While effective, these conventional methods can often be cumbersome, time-consuming, and may not appeal to younger consumers, particularly children, who might not be drawn to the traditional presentation and preparation of tea.

[0006] In recent years, there has been a growing trend toward making beverages more appealing and accessible to a broader audience, including children. Innovations in the beverage industry have focused on creating fun and engaging products that can capture the interest of younger consumers. This trend is evident in the popularity of drinks with unique flavors, vibrant colors, and interesting shapes. However, the tea industry has yet to fully capitalize on this trend by offering products specifically designed to appeal to children and other demographics seeking convenience and novelty.

[0007] One common challenge with tea preparation is achieving the right concentration of flavors and nutrients without over-steeping. Over-steeping can result in a bitter taste, which is particularly unappealing to children. Therefore, there is a need for a method that allows for precise control over the concentration of tea, ensuring a consistent and pleasant flavor profile every time. The present invention aims to address these issues by introducing a method of producing geometrically formed tea tablets. This method not only simplifies the process of tea preparation but also makes it more appealing and fun, especially for children. The method involves blending ingredients to form a blended mixture, straining the mixture to produce a concentrated juice, filling a mold with the concentrated juice, and freezing the juice within the mold to produce a frozen geometrically formed tea tablet. These tablets can then be easily used by dropping them into hot water, where they dissolve and steep to produce a perfectly concentrated cup of tea.

[0008] One of the primary objectives of the present invention is to promote tea consumption among children by creating tea tablets in fun and engaging shapes. By leveraging the appeal of visually interesting and playful forms, this invention aims to make tea a more attractive beverage option for younger consumers. The geometric shapes of the tea tablets can range from simple forms like cubes and spheres to more complex designs, thereby enhancing the overall tea-drinking experience.

[0009] Moreover, the method of producing these tea tablets allows for controlled concentration of the tea. By blending and straining the ingredients to produce a concentrated juice before freezing, the resulting tea tablets contain a pre-determined amount of tea extract. This precise formulation ensures that when the tablet is dissolved in a volume of hot water, the tea achieves the ideal strength and flavor without the risk of over-steeping. This controlled concentration not only enhances the taste but also makes it easier for consumers to prepare their tea with consistent results every time.

[0010] In addition to promoting tea consumption among children, the geometrically formed tea tablets offer several other benefits. The frozen form of the tablets extends their shelf life, reducing the need for preservatives and enhancing the natural quality of the tea. The compact and portable nature of the tablets also makes them convenient for on-the-go use, catering to the modern, busy lifestyle of consumers. Furthermore, the method of production is versatile and can be adapted to include various tea blends and additional ingredients, such as fruits and herbs, to create a wide range of flavors and nutritional profiles. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A method of producing a geometrically formed tea tablet comprising the steps of blending an at least one ingredient to form a blended mixture of ingredients; straining the blended mixture of ingredients to produce a concentrated juice; filling a mold with the concentrated juice; and freezing the concentrated juice within the mold to produce a frozen geometrically formed tea tablet.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a process diagram of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a composition diagram of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a table of the fruit of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a table of the root of the present invention and a table of the herb of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the tea tablet and a volume of water.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram of the tea tablet dissolving in the volume of water.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagram of the tea tablet fully dissolved in the volume of water.

[0020] DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0021] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0022] As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the abovedisclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

[0024] Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein — as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term — differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.

[0025] Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”

[0026] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.

[0027] Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.

[0028] Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

[0029] The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of a method 2 of producing geometrically formed tea tablets 1, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is a method 2 of producing dissolvable geometrically formed tea tablets 1. In the context of the present invention, “dissolvable” is synonymous with “water-soluble”. Additionally, in the context of the present invention, the term “geometrically formed” is defined as a three-dimensionally shaped tea tablet, comprising, but not limited to, those geometric figures and shapes disclosed herein such that the tea tablet is constructed with defined edges, surfaces, and vertices that adhere to understood geometric principles. Furthermore, as disclosed herein, the term “tablet” may also referred to in some instances as a “capsule,” wherein “tablet” and “capsule” are synonymous.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the method 2 of producing a dissolvable geometrically formed tea tablet 1 comprises the steps of blending 21 an at least one ingredient, thus forming a blended mixture of ingredients; straining 22 the blended mixture of ingredients, thus rendering a concentrated juice; filling 23 a mold with the concentrated juice; and freezing 24 the concentrated juice within the mold to produce a frozen geometrically formed tea tablet 1. In the context of the present invention, blending 21 is defined as the process of mechanically breaking down ingredients into a uniform mixture using a blender or similar appliance, as understood by those in the art. Furthermore, within the context of the present invention, during the process of straining 22, the blended mixture is passed through a device or material, thus separating the solid components of the ingredients, such as pulp, seeds, skin, and matter of the like, from the concentrated juice. Additionally, within the context of the present invention, “concentrated” is defined as the product, composed majorly of liquid, of the straining 22 process.

[0032] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the at least one ingredient 210 is selected from an at least one fruit 211, an at least one root 212, and an at least one herb 213. In some embodiments, a combination of the at least one fruit 211, the at least one root 212, and the at least one herb 213 may compose the at least one ingredient 210. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 2, the geometric form, referred herein as a shape 231, may be selected from the list comprising a sphere 2311, a cube 2312, a star 2313, and a seasonal shape 2314. In the context of the present invention, a seasonal shape 2314 is a shape understood by those in the art relating to a time of the calendar year, such as holidays and annual events. In some embodiments of the present invention, the seasonal shape 2314 may comprise shapes related to Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthdays, and annual events of the like. Furthermore, within the context of the present invention, it should be understood that the shape 231 is formed by the mold, wherein the mold possesses a cavity having the same shape as the geometric form in which the tea tablet 1 is composed.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the at least one fruit 211, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is selected from at least one of the following including an apple 2111, a strawberry 2112, a peach 2113, a mixture of berries 2114, a pineapple 2115, a raspberry 2116, a lemon 2117, and a combination thereof 2118. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, the at least one root 212 may comprise ginger 2121. Additionally, the at least one herb 213 may comprise tea leaves 2131 and mint 2132.

[0034] Once the geometrically formed tea tablet 1 is produced, to consume said tablet 1, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, the present invention further comprises a method comprising the steps of; inserting the tea tablet into a volume of water 25; dissolving the tea tablet in the volume of water 25; and rendering tea 252. In the context of the present invention, the tea tablet transitions from a solid tea tablet 1 to an at least partially dissolved tea tablet la, as shown in FIG. 6. Once the tea tablet is fully dissolved, a homogenous tea 252 is produced. In the context of the present invention, the process of “dissolving the tea tablet in the volume of water” is synonymous with “melting the tea tablet in the volume of water.” Additionally, the process of “rendering tea,” is synonymous with “steeping tea.” In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the volume of water 25 comprises a temperature of at least 150° Fahrenheit. Additionally, within the present invention, the concentration of juice within the tea tablet 1 may be controlled, thus preventing the user from over-steeping the tea.

[0035] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets comprising the steps: blending at least one ingredient, producing a blended mixture; straining the blended mixture, producing a concentrated juice; filling a mold with the concentrated juice; and freezing the concentrated juice to form a tea tablet.

2. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one ingredient is selected from: a fruit; a root; and an herb.

3. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fruit is selected from: an apple; a strawberry; a peach; a mixture of berries; a pineapple; a raspberry; a lemon; and a combination thereof.

4. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the root is ginger.

5. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the herb is selected from tea leave and mint.

6. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the concentrated juice is molded into a shape, wherein said shape is selected from: a sphere; a cube; a star; and a seasonal shape.

7. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon straining the blended mixture, the blended mixture is passed through a device to separate solid components of the ingredients from the concentrated juice.

8. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 1, wherein dissolution of the tea tablet within a volume of water produces tea.

9. A method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets comprising the steps: blending at least one ingredient, producing a blended mixture; straining the blended mixture, whereby the blended mixture is passed through a device to separate solid components of the at least one ingredient, producing a concentrated juice; filling a mold with the concentrated juice; and freezing the concentrated juice to form a tea tablet; wherein: dissolution of the tea tablet within a volume of water produces tea.

10. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one ingredient is selected from: a fruit; a root; and an herb.

11. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fruit is selected from: an apple; a strawberry; a peach; a mixture of berries; a pineapple; a raspberry; a lemon; and a combination thereof.

12. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the root is ginger.

13. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the herb is selected from tea leave and mint.

14. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the concentrated juice is molded into a shape, wherein said shape is selected from: a sphere; a cube; a star; and a seasonal shape.

15. A method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets comprising the steps: blending at least one ingredient, producing a blended mixture; straining the blended mixture, producing a concentrated juice; filling a mold with the concentrated juice; and freezing the concentrated juice to form a tea tablet; wherein: the at least one ingredient comprises a fruit selected from: an apple; a strawberry; a peach; a mixture of berries; a pineapple; a raspberry; a lemon; and a combination thereof.

16. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 15, wherein the concentrated juice is molded into a shape, wherein said shape is selected from: a sphere; a cube; a star; and a seasonal shape.

17. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the at least one ingredient further comprises an ingredient selected from: a root; and an herb.

18. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the root is ginger.

19. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the herb is selected from tea leave and mint.

20. The method of producing dissolvable geometrically shaped tea tablets, as claimed in claim 17, wherein dissolution of the tea tablet within a volume of water produces tea.

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