Abstract: This invention relates to an efficient process for separating and recovering aroma and flavor volatiles from fruit or vegetable juices and for lowering the amount of sugar in juices. The process involves removing the aroma/flavor volatiles from juice by forming a microaerosol by spraying juice at a temperture of from 45.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. through a nozzle having a diameter of about 100 microns to 1200 microns at a velocity of 100 m/sec. to 250 m/sec. and into a vacuum chamber at 5 mm to 200 mm Hg and at temperatures of from 10.degree. C. to about 55.degree. C. and then treating the recovered juice fraction with a yeast. The alcohol formed during this fermentation reaction is removed by distillation, preferably by the same aerosolization process as the volatiles are removed. The aroma and flavor volatiles are returned to the juice to provide a good tasting low calorie fruit juice.

Abstract: This invention relates to an efficient process for separating and recovering aroma and flavor volatiles from fruit or vegetable juices and for lowering the pectin levels in cloudy juices. The process involves removing the aroma/flavor volatiles from juice by forming a microaerosol by spraying juice at a temperature of from 45.degree. C. to 110.degree. C. through a nozzle having a diameter of about 100 microns to 600 microns at a velocity of 100 m/sec. to 250 m/sec. and into a vacuum chamber at 5 mm to 200 mm Hg and at temperatures of from 10.degree. C. to about 55.degree. C. and then treating the recovered juice fraction with a pectinase which is essentially free of esterases. The decreased pectin level increases the gustatory display of the aroma/flavor and improves the mouthfeel of the beverage. Decrease of the pectin level is achieved essentially without the formation of methanol and essentially without the hydrolysis of important aroma ester compounds.

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 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: 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 preparing a natural citrus fruit juice concentrate prepared from natural citrus fruit ingredients is disclosed. The fruit juice concentrate has at least 35% solids including pulp, non-volatile compounds, pectin and volatile compounds. This fruit juice concentrate has at least 65% of the aroma and flavor volatile compounds of the natural juice.The fruit juice concentrate is prepared by separating natural citrus fruit juice into a particulate solids portion (such as pectin or pulp) and a serum portion. The serum portion which comprises 7% to 20% solids and from 80% to 93% water is concentrated by removing essentially pure water. The concentration step can be accomplished by freeze concentration or by sublimation concentration. When sublimation concentration is used, the particulate solids do not have to be separated from the serum. Substantially 100% of the non-volatile solids are retained. Moreover, the product is substantially free of oxidative degradation products.

Abstract: Liquid coffee extracts are decaffeinated using a solvent system which comprises benzyl alcohol.

Abstract: Coffee beans are decaffeinated using a solvent system which comprises benzyl alcohol.

Abstract: A stable water-soluble Desorbate instant tea having a flavor, aroma, appearance and chemical composition approximating that of fresh expertly brewed tea is made by a process comprising passing steam at reduced pressures through a columnar bed of ground tea leaves to pre-wet and pre-swell an upper portion of said leaves; and then passing water and wet steam at reduced pressures and low temperatures through said bed to desorb and extract from said tea leaves an aqueous tea extract while maintaining a weight ratio of said extract to dry tea leaves of from about 0.5:1 to about 3:1, and collecting said extract in a cold trap. Decreaming of the extract prepared by this process is not necessary to provide a water-soluble dry instant tea which, upon reconstitution in water, provides an iced beverage that tastes like an iced tea made from fresh, expertly brewed tea.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of an aroma flavor concentrate from aroma- and flavor-bearing substrates, especially roasted and ground coffee. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a process for continuously de-aromatizing and desorbing aroma and flavor constituents from said substrates by passing wet steam counter-currently through a continuous columnar bed of said substrate, said bed flowing upwardly through a substantially upright vacuum-tight desorption column. Wet steam is applied in an amount and manner to form and maintain a substantially stationary desorption zone in said flowing columnar bed at a finite distance above a bottom inlet of said upright desorption column. The stationary desorption zone is formed by the condensation of the wet steam as it passes into a progressively cooler temperature gradient in said flowing columnar bed.

Abstract: An aromatized instant coffee comprising the combination of aroma-enriched carrier and instant coffee. The product has an aroma intensity of at least 70,000 gas chromatograph counts, a pore factor of at least 0.9, and a retention factor of at least 0.80. Also part of the invention are preferred methods of applying aroma-enriched carrier to coffee products whose roast and ground coffee aroma is desired to be increased. An especially preferred method comprises adding aroma frost-enriched coffee oil in a dropwise addition manner to the coffee product. In a most preferred embodiment, dropwise addition is accomplished by injection, preferably by a syringe member, which is extended from the open end of a coffee container to near the bottom of the container and while the syringe is being pulled upward out of said container a predetermined amount of aroma-enriched coffee oil is injected into the product.