Abstract: An instant tea soluble in cold water is prepared by extracting a mixture of green tea leaves and black tea leaves with hot water, wherein the leaves of the mixture are, by weight, in ratio of green leaves to black leaves of from 4:1 to 2:1, under a pressure of from 1 atmosphere to 2 atmospheres, and then, the extract is concentrated and dried to obtain a powder. To increase yield, the spent leaves also may be further extracted with hot water, and the extract obtained is combined and concentrated with the extract first obtained from the leaf mixture.

Abstract: An aqueous extract of valerian roots is concentrated to concentrate the extract and to eliminate odors which are volatile and which are produced by degradation products of valepotriates. An alcohol or acetone is added to the concentrated valerian extract to precipitate insoluble solids from the concentrated extract. The precipitated solids are separated from the extract, after which the extract is mixed with a carbohydrate and then dried to obtain a powder.

Abstract: Catechin complexes are obtained from aqueous extracts obtained from plants containing catechins. The extracts are concentrated to a liquor, and the liquor then is extracted with dichloromethane to eliminate pigments from the liquor and to obtain an aqueous phase, which contains catechin complexes, and a dichloromethane phase. The aqueous phase is mixed with purified sea sand to form a paste which is eluted with acetone to obtain the catechin complexes in the acetone. The catechin complexes are recovered from the acetone by evaporating the acetone, and the recovered catechin complexes may be dried to obtain a powder.

Abstract: A process for preparing a powdered tea extract characterized in that black tea leaves are extracted with hot water to give a first extract which is separated from the tea leaves, concentrated to a solids content of from 5% to 12.5%, and then cooled to a temperature from 5.degree. C. to 15.degree. C. to form an insoluble cream which is separated from the concentrated first extract and then extracted with water at a temperature of from 40.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. to give a second extract which is separated from the remaining insoluble cream, after which the first and second extracts are mixed and dried.

Abstract: A process for preparing a powdered tea extract wherein black tea leaves are macerated with water, the macerated leaves are extracted first with cold water and then with hot water after which the cold and hot extracts are mixed before being concentrated and dried.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a powdered black tea extract which comprises contacting black tea leaves with water which has previously been infused at ambient temperature with another vegetable material, maintaining at ambient temperature for a time sufficient to achieve good contact of the tea leaves with the water, heating to a temperature of at least 60.degree. C., afterwards separating the aqueous extract from the solid material and finally drying the aqueous extract.