Solid Milk And The Method Of Manufacturing Thereof

Abstract

[Problem] The object of invention is to provide solid milk with favorable solubility and enough strength and the method of manufacturing the solid milk. [Means] The solid milk of the invention has X-ray diffraction pattern of its surface area that has a main peak of 2theta=10-15 degrees at 2theta=10-11 degrees or at 2theta=12-13 degrees. A method for the manufacture of solid milk comprises compressing powdered milk to obtain compressed powdered milk; humidifying the compressed powdered milk to obtain humidified compressed powdered milk; and drying the humidified compressed powdered milk to obtain the solid milk. A part of amorphous lactose at the surface of the solid milk 12 is crystallized at the steps of humidifying step and drying.

1 . A solid milk, wherein the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk has X-ray diffraction pattern that has a main peak of 2theta=10-15 degrees at 2theta=10-11 degrees or at 2theta=12-13 degrees. 
     
     
         2 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the peak at 2theta=10-11 degrees relates to an anhydrous crystalline lactose, and   wherein the peak at 2theta=12-13 degrees relates to a monohydrate crystalline lactose.   
     
     
         3 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the main peak of 2theta=10-15 degrees is at 2theta=10.25-10.75 degrees or at 2theta=12.25-12.75 degrees.   
     
     
         4 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein Ia/Ib is equal to or more than 2.5,   wherein the Ia is a sum of:   an integrated intensity of a first region of X-ray diffraction pattern of the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk, the center of the first region is a main peak of 2theta=10-11 degrees of the pattern and the width of the first region is twice of the full width of half maximum of said main peak of 2theta=10-11 degrees; and   an integrated intensity of a second region of X-ray diffraction pattern of the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk, the center of the second region is a main peak of 2theta=12-13 degrees of the pattern and the width of the second region is twice of the full width of half maximum of said main peak of 2theta=12-13 degrees; and   wherein the Ib is a sum of:   an integrated intensity of a first region of X-ray diffraction pattern of center area ( 11 ) of the solid milk, the center of the first region is a main peak of 2theta=10-11 degrees of the pattern and the width of the first region is twice of the full width of half maximum of said main peak of 2theta=10-11 degrees; and   an integrated intensity of a second region of X-ray diffraction pattern of the center area ( 11 ) of the solid milk, the center of the second region is a main peak of 2theta=12-13 degrees of the pattern and the width of the second region is twice of the full width of half maximum of said main peak of 2theta=12-13 degrees.   
     
     
         5 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 4 ,
 wherein the Ia/Ib is from 2.5 to 15.   
     
     
         6 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the amount of crystalline lactose at the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk is larger than that of crystalline lactose at center area ( 11 ) of the solid milk.   
     
     
         7 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the amount of crystalline lactose at the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk is more than 5 wt % larger than that of crystalline lactose at center area ( 11 ) of the solid milk.   
     
     
         8 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the amount ratio of crystalline lactose and amorphous lactose at the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk is 25:75 to 90:10, and   wherein center area ( 11 ) does not contain crystalline lactose or, the amount ratio of crystalline lactose and amorphous lactose at the center area ( 11 ) of the solid milk is less than 90:10.   
     
     
         9 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the solid milk has 0.2 mm or more of a hard layer at the surface ( 12 ) of the solid milk, and   wherein the hard layer comprises more than 10 wt % of crystalline lactose.   
     
     
         10 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the volume of the solid milk is from 1 cm 3  to 50 cm 3 .   
     
     
         11 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein a force, which is caused by a load, in the direction of short axis of the solid milk causing the solid milk be broken is 30 N to 300 N when the solid milk has a rectangular solid shape.   
     
     
         12 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein ingredient of the solid milk consist only of powdered milk.   
     
     
         13 . The solid milk in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 when the solid milk is dissolved in a liquid the volume of the liquid increases 9.5 ml to 10.5 ml or 19.5 ml to 20.5 ml.   
     
     
         14 . A method for the manufacture of solid milk, the method comprising steps of:
 compressing powdered milk so as to obtain solid compressed powdered milk;   humidifying the compressed powdered milk so as to obtain humidified compressed powdered milk; and   drying the humidified compressed powdered milk so as to obtain the solid milk,   wherein a part of amorphous lactose at the surface of the solid milk ( 12 ) is crystallized at the steps of humidifying step and drying.   
     
     
         15 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the surface of the solid milk ( 12 ) has X-ray diffraction pattern that has a main peak of 2theta=10-15 degrees at 2theta=10-11 degrees or at 2theta=12-13 degrees.   
     
     
         16 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the step of humidifying is a step for keeping the compressed powdered milk under humidity of 60% RH to 100% RH atmosphere for 5 seconds to 1 hour, and   wherein the step of drying is a step for keeping the humidified compress powdered milk under humidity of 0% RH to 30% RH atmosphere for 0.2 minute to 2 hours.   
     
     
         17 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk comprises more than 30 wt % of lactose.   
     
     
         18 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk comprises more than 20 wt % of amorphous lactose.   
     
     
         19 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk does not contain any crystalline lactose or comprises less than 10 wt % of crystalline lactose.   
     
     
         20 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk comprises 0.5 wt % to 10 wt % of crystalline lactose.   
     
     
         21 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk comprises added crystalline lactose.   
     
     
         22 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the powdered milk obtains crystalline lactose by humidifying and drying granules of ingredients of the powdered milk.   
     
     
         23 . The method for the manufacture of solid milk in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the method further comprises a step of cooling the concentrated milk before the step of drying such that the powdered milk obtains crystalline lactose.