Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which includes dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which comprises dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which includes dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.

Abstract: A packaged green tea beverage, wherein (A) the packaged green tea beverage contains from 0.08 to 0.5 wt % of non-polymer catechins, (B) a percentage of non-epicatechin body in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 wt %, (C) a percentage of gallate body in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 95 wt %, (D) pH is from 2.5 to 5.1, and (F) the packaged green tea beverage contains from 0.0001 to 20 wt % of at least one sweetener selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose, fructoglucose syrup and glucofructose syrup. A packaged green tea beverage containing non-polymer catechins in high concentration can be provided, which can not only reduce astringency but also provides for adequate sweetness and sourness without impairment of the taste and is suited for long-term storage while containing a sweetener.

Abstract: By containing non-polymer catechins in high concentration, the physiological effects of the catechins are manifested, minerals indispensable to the living body are fortified, and the storage stability of a beverage is improved. A packaged beverage containing: (A) from 0.05 to 0.5% by mass of non-polymer catechins; (B) from 0.0012 to 0.12% by mass of calcium; (C) from 0.00012 to 0.006% by mass of magnesium; (D) from 0.000048 to 0.0024% by mass of zinc; (E) from 0.00004 to 0.002% by mass of iron; and (F) from 0.01 to 20% by mass of a sweetener, wherein a content mass ratio [(B)/(A)] of the calcium (B) to the non-polymer catechins (A) is from 0.001 to 1.0; (J) a percentage of gallate bodies in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 55% by mass; and pH is from 2.5 to 5.1.

Abstract: A concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution is reduced in bitterness and astringency, adequate in both sweetness and sourness and improved in storage stability despite the inclusion of a high concentration of non-polymer catechins. The concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution contains (A) from 0.5 to 25.0 wt % of non-polymer catechins, (B) a carbohydrate, and (C) a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and meets the following conditions (D) and (E) as well as at least one condition selected from the following conditions (F1), (F2) and (F3): (D) a content of gallic acid is lower than 0.6 wt %, (E) a percentage of non-epi-forms in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 wt %, (F1) a Brix degree is from 20 to 70, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.5 to 6.0, (F2) a solid content is not lower than 70.0 wt %, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a tea extract. The process includes subjecting a first tea extract solution, which has been obtained from tea, to solid-liquid separation so that a turbidity becomes 200 NTU or lower when a concentration of non-polymer catechins is adjusted to 1 wt %, thereby obtaining a second tea extract solution in which a concentration of (A) non-polymer catechins is from 0.2 to 5 wt % and a concentration of non-polymer catechins in solid content is from 15 to 80 wt %; and then subjecting the second tea extract solution to a heat treatment at a temperature of from 95 to 140° C. for an F value of from 0.05 to 40 min.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which comprises dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which includes dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.

Abstract: By containing non-polymer catechins in high concentration, the physiological effects of the catechins are manifested, minerals indispensable to the living body are fortified, and the storage stability of a beverage is improved. A packaged beverage containing: (A) from 0.05 to 0.5% by mass of non-polymer catechins; (B) from 0.0012 to 0.12% by mass of calcium; (C) from 0.00012 to 0.006% by mass of magnesium; (D) from 0.000048 to 0.0024% by mass of zinc; (E) from 0.00004 to 0.002% by mass of iron; and (F) from 0.01 to 20% by mass of a sweetener, wherein a content mass ratio [(B)/(A)] of the calcium (B) to the non-polymer catechins (A) is from 0.001 to 1.0; (J) a percentage of gallate bodies in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 55% by mass; and pH is from 2.5 to 5.1.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing a green tea flavor by extracting it from green tea leaves with water cooler than 10° C., and also to a beverage with the flavor obtained by the process and added therein. This invention also relates to a process for producing a dried green tea polyphenol by subjecting green tea leaves to a first extraction with water cooler than 10° C. and then to a second extraction with warm water of 50° C. or higher, and drying an extract of the second extraction, and also with a process for producing a beverage by adding a green tea polyphenol obtained by the process.

Abstract: Produced is a processed tea, which enables to elute non-polymer catechins at high concentration with water, and moreover, is suppressed in bitterness and astringent taste and is good in taste and flavor. A process according to the present invention for the production of the processed tea is characterized by including a step of mixing (A) a granulated product of a purified green tea extract, said purified product being obtainable by dissolving and extracting the green tea extract in a mixed solution of ethanol and water at a weight ratio of from 99/1 to 75/25, with (B) tea leaves at a solid weight ratio [(A)/(B)] of from 10/90 to 90/10.

Abstract: An instant beverage powder with non-polymer catechins contained at high concentration has improved flavor and taste owing to reductions in bitterness and astringency, and also provides improved flavor and taste and improved stability in external appearance after reconstituted into a beverage. The instant beverage powder contains the following ingredients (A) and (B): (A) from 0.5 to 20.0 wt % of a purified product of green tea extract, said purified product being obtained by purifying the green tea extract in a mixed solution of ethanol and water at a weight ratio of from 99/1 to 75/25, and (B) from 0.01 to 10.0 wt % of a hydroxycarboxylic acid or a lactone, or a salt thereof. The content of non-polymer catechins in the instant beverage powder is from 0.5 to 15.0 wt %.

Abstract: A concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution is reduced in bitterness and astringency, adequate in both sweetness and sourness and improved in storage stability despite the inclusion of a high concentration of non-polymer catechins. The concentrated beverage composition for reconstitution contains (A) from 0.5 to 25.0 wt % of non-polymer catechins, (B) a carbohydrate, and (C) a hydroxycarboxylic acid, and meets the following conditions (D) and (E) as well as at least one condition selected from the following conditions (F1), (F2) and (F3): (D) a content of gallic acid is lower than 0.6 wt %, (E) a percentage of non-epi-forms in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 wt %, (F1) a Brix degree is from 20 to 70, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.5 to 6.0, (F2) a solid content is not lower than 70.0 wt %, and when diluted with deionized water to give a non-polymer catechin concentration of 0.13 wt %, a pH is from 2.

Abstract: To reduce the bitterness of a packaged beverage which contains a high concentration of non-polymer catechins, without deteriorating the flavor of the beverage, provided is a packaged beverage including 0.05 to 0.5% by mass of (A) non-polymer catechins and (B) a sweetening agent selected from the following sweetening agents (B1), (B2), (B3), and (B4): (B1) 0.0001 to 0.5% by mass of glycyrrhizin; (B2) 0.00001 to 0.005% by mass of thaumatin; (B3) 0.01 to 5% by mass of (b31) sorbitol and 0.001 to 5% by mass of (b32) a sweetening agent other than sorbitol, in which a ratio of (b32)/(b31) (mass ratio) is 0.01 to 100; and (B4) 0.01 to 5% by mass of (b41) erythritol and 0.01 to 5% by mass of (b42) one or more kinds selected from glucose, fructose, a glucose-fructose syrup, and a fructose-glucose syrup.

Abstract: By mixing an amino acid in a packed beverage containing non-polymer catechins in high concentration, the physiological effects of the catechins are manifested and the intake of the amino acid is facilitated. A packaged beverage containing: (A) from 0.06 to 0.5% by mass of non-polymer catechins; (B) from 0.01 to 5.0% by mass of at least one amino acid selected from L-isoleucine, L-leucine, L-valine, L-threonine, DL-methionine, L-methionine, L-histidine, L-phenylalanine, L-lysine, L-tryptophan, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-alanine, DL-alanine, glycine, L-asparagine, L-glutamine, L-arginine, L-serine, L-tyrosine, L-cystine and L-proline, or a salt thereof; and (C) from 0.0001 to 20% by mass of a sweetener, wherein (G) a percentage of gallate bodies in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 55% by mass, and pH is from 2.5 to 5.1.

Abstract: A packaged green tea beverage, wherein (A) the packaged green tea beverage contains from 0.08 to 0.5 wt % of non-polymer catechins, (B) a percentage of non-epicatechin body in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 wt %, (C) a percentage of gallate body in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 95 wt %, (D) pH is from 2.5 to 5.1, and (F) the packaged green tea beverage contains from 0.0001 to 20 wt % of at least one sweetener selected from fructose, glucose, sucrose, fructoglucose syrup and glucofructose syrup. A packaged green tea beverage containing non-polymer catechins in high concentration can be provided, which can not only reduce astringency but also provides for adequate sweetness and sourness without impairment of the taste and is suited for long-term storage while containing a sweetener.

Abstract: Provided is a packaged effervescent beverage having a high concentration of catechins, having both reduced bitterness and adequate sweetness, and not undergoing a substantial reduction in the catechin content even after long storage albeit containing a sweetener. The packaged effervescent beverage having a purified product of tea extract added thereto, comprising: (A) from 0.08 to 0.5 mass % of non-polymer catechins, (B) from 0.0001 to 20 mass % of a sweetener, and (C) a carbon dioxide gas, whose gas volume ranges from 0.5 vol. % to 4.0 vol. %, wherein: (D) a non-epicatechin percentage in the non-polymer catechins is from 5 to 25 mass %, a percentage of (E) gallates in (A) the non-polymer catechins ([(E)/(A)]×100) is from 5 to 55 mass %, (F) the beverage has a pH of from 2.5 to 5.1; and a mass ratio of (G) caffeine to (A) the non-polymer catechins [(G)/(A)] is from 0.0001 to 0.16.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing hydroxyhydroquinone from an aqueous solution containing hydroxyhydroquinone and caffeoylquinic acids by bringing the aqueous solution into contact with an acid clay having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of from 3 to 5. The present invention enables selective removal of hydroxyhydroquinone from an aqueous solution containing hydroxyhydroquinone and caffeoylquinic acids.

Abstract: A process for selectively removing caffeine from a caffeine-containing catechin composition, which comprises dissolving the caffeine-containing catechin composition in a 9/1 to 1/9 by weight mixed solution of an organic solvent and water, and then bringing the resultant solution into contact with activated carbon alone or with activated carbon and also acid clay or activated clay; and a packaged beverage containing such a decaffeinated composition.