Abstract: Low viscosity orange juice concentrates which are useful in preparing high Brix concentrate products that are less pseudoplastic at freezer temperatures and are more highly dispersible when reconstituted with water are disclosed. These low viscosity orange juice concentrates are obtained by subjecting concentrated orange juice to high shear treatment for a period of time sufficient to reduce the mean particle of the sinking pulp at least about 40 microns and thus lower the viscosity of the concentrated juice. The mean particle size of the sinking pulp in these low viscosity orange juice concentrates is typically about 125 microns or less.

Abstract: A beverage containing a flavorant and green tea solids or flavanols is disclosed. The beverage can contain sweeteners. Caffeine can also be present in the beverage in ratio of caffeine to flavanols of from about 1:1 to about 1:30. The beverage can be carbonated or non-carbonated, i.e. a still beverage such as fruit juice or coffee. The preferred green tea solids are catechin and epicatechin and their derivatives. When caffeine is present, this beverage retains the alertness benefit of caffeine along with the relaxing effects attributed to the green tea solids.

Abstract: Commercially processed orange juice products, including frozen orange juice concentrates, which are closer to hand-squeezed orange juice in character are disclosed. At single-strength, these products have a viscosity of about 7 centipoise or less (at 8.degree. C.) and a titratable oil content of about 0.015% or less. These products are further characterized by an orange aroma and flavor component which has a higher ratio of certain desirable "fresh" and "orangey" compounds, relative to certain less desirable orange compounds, when compared to current commercial orange juice products prepared from orange juice concentrate.

Abstract: A process for isolating and purifying green tea solids in good yield is described. The process uses food approved solvents and provides flavanols with less green/grassy flavor. A less bitter and less astringent flavanol pectin complex is also prepared using pectins, cellulose, gums or sugars.

Abstract: A method for obtaining commercial feed juices having textural, aroma and flavor properties more like hand-squeezed orange juice is disclosed. This method involves gentle extraction of orange fruit with commercial juice extractors, gentle and quick removal of rag, seeds and peel from the extracted juice, substantially complete removal of sensible pulp, and removal of at least some of the sinking pulp. The feed juices obtained have a relatively low viscosity and sinking pulp level, minimized levels of peel oil and flavanoid glycosides and a relatively high ratio of more desirable orange compounds to less desirable orange compounds.

Abstract: Beverages and beverage concentrates nutritionally supplemented with significant levels of solubilized calcium and containing low levels of sulfate, preferably in combination with low levels of chloride, are disclosed. These beverages and concentrates also contain specified levels of edible acids selected from phosphoric acid, citric acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, adipic acid, gluconic acid, and lactic acid, as well as mixtures of these acids. The particular acid systems are selected to provide the desired flavor and sourness character for the beverages and concentrates. Inclusion of low levels of sulfate/chloride in these beverages and concentrates provides a quicker onset of sourness, prevents or reduces aftertaste effects and improves the solubility of the calcium, particularly when high levels of phosphoric acid or citric acid are used.

Abstract: Low viscosity evaporative orange juice concentrates having less cooked off-flavor, as measured by the % retained valencene, are disclosed. These concentrates are preferably obtained by an evaporative concentration process which starts with a feed juice having a relatively low viscosity and sinking pulp level and which heats this feed juice to temperature no higher than about 180.degree. F. to avoid the generation of cooked off-flavor. In addition, the juice, at a critical solids content, is headed under vacuum to temperatures in the range of from about 160.degree. to about 180.degree. F. under conditions of high shear across the heated surface of the evaporator to insure effective deactivation of pectinesterase enzymes initially present in the feed juice.

Abstract: A process for the enzymatic treatment of black tea leaf is disclosed. In particular, black tea leaf is wetted with water containing tannase and one or more cell-wall-digesting enzymes, such as cellulase, pectinase, papain, or hemicellulase, prior to extraction. The enzyme-moistened tea leaf is incubated in a closed system at room temperature for a few hours. The enzyme-treated tea is then neutralized with a suitable food grade base and the enzymes are inactivated by heating. The resulting treated tea can be extracted and processed in the usual manner or dried for use in tea bags in the usual manner. As a result, a higher yield of tea is obtained and the resulting instant tea has better solubility in cold water than conventional teas. The bag tea products an infusion which does not form haze at cold temperatures.