Steeped cocoa compositions and functional cocoa beverages made from them

Abstract

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of producing a cocoa-containing beverage, or a nutritionally fortified or energy-sustaining cocoa beverage, containing beneficial cocoa polyphenols. Ready-to-drink compositions, concentrates, primary beverage components, and packets for producing the beverages are specifically disclosed and prepared from a cocoa water composition made from steeping a cocoa-containing product in water or an aqueous solution with an acid. A number of vitamins, minerals, supplements, and nutriceutical compositions can be added.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a cocoa beverage comprising
 selecting an amount of cocoa product in the form of one or more of a cocoa bean extract, cocoa bean concentrate, cocoa powder, cocoa kibble, or a cacao nib composition, to mix with a desired amount of water,   mixing the water and cocoa at a temperature above 68° F.,   separating insoluble particles from the mixture,   and purifying or filtering the separated mixture, whereby the mixture is capable of being stored at room temperature for at least a month without separating.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is above 160° F. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding one or more of a bitter blocker, a carageenan, an emulsifier, a preservative, an appetite supressant, theobromine, caffeine, a vitamin, a mineral, a sugar alcohol, ace-K, aspartame, or a sugar. 
     
     
         4 . A method of making a beverage concentrate comprising the method of  claim 1 , and further comprising spray drying or dehydrating the mixture to produce a concentrate. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a beverage from the concentrate produced in  claim 4 , comprising adding water to the concentrate and optionally adding one or more of a sweetener and a flavoring agent. 
     
     
         6 . A beverage produced from the method of  claim 1  comprising mixing a cocoa nib composition with an aqueous solution at a temperature above 160° F., flash cooling the mixture to about 130° F. or below, and filtering the mixture to produce a beverage composition, whereby substantially all of the total fat present is removed from the beverage composition. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is adjusted to 4 or below prior to filtering the mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding one or more flavoring agents and filling the mixture into a container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising adding one or more of a bitter blocker, a carageenan, an emulsifier, gum arabic, a preservative, an appetite supressant, theobromine, caffeine, a vitamin, a mineral, a sugar alcohol, ace-K, sucralose, aspartame, a fruit juice or extract, or a sugar. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cocoa product comprises a cocoa powder from unroasted cocoa beans with less than 3% fat. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cocoa product comprises a cocoa powder from unfermented cocoa beans. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cocoa product comprises a natural cocoa powder. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cocoa product comprises cocoa kibble. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pH is adjusted to a pH of between about pH 3.2 to about pH 3.8. 
     
     
         15 . A nutritionally fortified, cocoa-based beverage produced from the method of  claim 1 , further comprising: an edible juice or extract; one or more natural or artificial flavors; and one or more nutritional vitamins, minerals or supplements. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage of  claim 15 , wherein the edible juice or extract is selected from the juice, extract, essence, or a concentrate of one or more of the following: citrus fruits; berries; vegetables; orange; lemon; lime; tangerine; mandarin; grapefruit; acerola; grape; pear; passion fruit; pineapple; banana; apple; cranberry; cherry; raspberry; chokeberry; peach; plum; grape; grapeseed; noni; currant; black currant; cranberry; blackberry; blueberry; raspberry; pomegranate; acai; goji; strawberry; mirabelle; watermelon; honeydew; cantaloupe; mango; papaya; botanical extracts derived from cola; tea; white tea; green tea; coffee; vanilla; almond; vegetables; tomato; cabbage; celery; cucumber; spinach; carrot; lettuce; watercress; dandelion; rhubarb; beet; cocona; guava; and han guo. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more nutritional vitamins, minerals, or supplements is selected from: vitamins A, B12, B6, C, D, and E, coenzyme Q10, amino acids, L-arginine, taurine, choline, fermented barley extract (FBE), niacin, citric acid, hydroxycitric acid, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), potassium, calcium, zinc, and chromium. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage of  claim 15 , further comprising a nutritive or non-nutritive sweetener. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more nutritional vitamins, minerals, or supplements is selected from: caffeine; guarana; theobromine; and theophylline. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage of  claim 15 , wherein the level of total polyphenols present in the cocoa-based beverage is about 40% or more of that present in the corresponding amount of cocoa powder used in preparing the brewed cocoa water composition.