Beverage comprising catechins and caffeine

Abstract

A beverage is prepared, which is a beverage containing catechins in ester form (A, mg/L), catechins in free form (B, mg/L), and caffeine (C, mg/L), the contents thereof being (1) (A+B)=500 to 6000 mg/L (2) (A)/(A+B)=0.7 to 1.0 (3) (A)/(C)=6 to 27, such that a high concentration of catechins with high biological functionality, improved flavor and improved product quality with low occurrence of sediment is maintained.

1 . A method of preparing a beverage comprising the steps of extracting leaves of non-fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, or fermented tea with water or hot water at 40° C. to 100° C. and removing from the obtained extract 50 to 100 mass percent of catechin in ester form and catechin in free form, then adding a tea extract to adjust the ratio of the amount of catechin in ester form and the amount of catechin in free form. 
   
   
       2 . A method for preparing a beverage comprising the steps of extracting tea leaves of non-fermented tea, semi-fermented tea, or fermented tea with water or hot water at 40° C. to 100° C. and removing from the obtained extract 50 to 100 mass percent of catechin in ester form and catechin in free form, adding a tea extract with an amount of catechin in ester form with respect to the total amount of catechin in ester form and catechin in free form of not less than 0.7 to obtain a beverage in which the amount of catechin in ester form with respect to the total amount of catechin in ester form and catechin in free form is 0.7 to 1.0.