Compositions containing green tea catechins and one or more polyvalent mineral cations

Abstract

Disclosed are beverage compositions containing green tea catechins and polyvalent mineral cations, wherein the beverage compositions exhibit a relatively low turbidity. Also disclosed is a process for avoiding the turbidity issues associated with inclusion of calcium and green tea catechins.

1 . A process for treating a tea extract, the process comprising:
 (a) providing a tea extract in a liquid form,   (b) combining the tea extract and a soluble calcium source,   (c) permitting the tea extract and soluble calcium source to interact under conditions sufficient to form a precipitate of insoluble calcium components, and   (d) separating the insoluble calcium components from the tea extract.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the soluble calcium source is added to the tea extract at a concentration from about 400 mg to about 10,000 mg per 100 gm of tea extract on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the soluble calcium source is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate, calcium chloride, calcium acetate, calcium gluconate, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the insoluble calcium components in tea extract on a dry weight basis is not present in more than about 1% by weight. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 3 , wherein the insoluble calcium components in the tea extract on a dry weight basis is not present in more than 0.6% by weight. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the insoluble calcium components in the tea extract on a dry weight basis is not present in more than 0.1% by weight. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the tea extract at step (a) comprises at least 10% green tea catechins on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the tea extract at step (a) comprises at least 20% green tea catechins on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment conditions at step (a) are carried out at ambient temperatures. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment conditions at step (c) are carried out at high temperatures. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment is greater than about 130 degrees F. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment is greater than about 145 degrees F. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment is greater than about 160 degrees F. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment conditions at step (c) are carried at a reaction time of 2 hours or less. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment conditions at step (c) are carried at a reaction time of 45 minutes or less. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein treatment conditions at step (c) are carried at a reaction time of 15 minutes or less. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (e) addition of acid.   
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the acid is a food-grade acid.