Abstract: A soluble coffee is prepared from ground green coffee which is extracted with water, the green extract obtained is dried and green powder obtained by drying is passed into and through a twin-screw extruder, and while the powder is passed through the extruder, the powder is heated in the extruder at a temperature of from 130.degree. C. to 240.degree. C. for up to 5 minutes to obtain a heat-caramelized extrudate product from the extruder, and that product is cooled and thereafter dried and ground to provide a powder-form product. Additionally, obtaining green extracts from low temperature and high temperature split extraction enables separate processing of low and high temperature extracted extracts, and low temperature extracted extracts may be heated in an extruder at a temperature of from 180.degree. C. to 240.degree. C. and high temperature extracted extracts may be heated in an extruder at a temperature of from 130.degree. C. to 180.degree. C. which enables obtaining a balanced product.

Abstract: A continuous process for producing a tea extract which contains solubilized tannins and which has good color. Tea solids are extracted from tea leaves using an extraction liquid to provide a tea extract containing soluble tea solids and insoluble tannins. The insoluble tannins are separated from the tea extract and oxidized and solubilized under raised temperature conditions to provide a solubilized tannin liquor. The solubilized tannin liquor is either returned to the extraction liquid during extraction of tea solids or added to the tea extract after separation of the insoluble tannins. The tea extract which contains solubilized tea tannins is collected.

Abstract: A process for the production of a concentrated aroma solution from an aqueous solution containing water-soluble aroma components; for example coffee, tea or fruit aroma components. Soluble solids are added to the aqueous solution to provide a fortified solution. Then the fortified solution is chilled to provide ice and a concentrated aqueous liquid. The concentrated aqueous liquid has a concentration of soluble solids above about 9% by weight and contains water-soluble aroma components. At least a portion of the concentrated aqueous liquid is collected as the concentrated aroma solution. Little or no aroma components and soluble solids are lost in the ice and little or no deterioration of the aroma components occurs.

Abstract: A process is disclosed wherein the decaffeination of aqueous extracts of vegetable material with non-ionic, hydrophobic resin may be performed in a continuous manner. In accordance therewith, extract is contacted with resin to effect decaffeination, exhausted resin containing adherent caffeine and non-caffeine water solubles is bleached with water to remove the caffeine, the caffeine-free resin is then washed with a solution comprising water and an organic solvent to elute non-caffeine water solubles and then the resin is rinsed with water to permit its reuse in the further decaffeination of vegetable material extracts.