Method of making an improved tea volatiles concentrate

摘要

A method of steam-stripping and recovering desirable volatiles from ground tea leaves by subjecting them to conditions which preserve the freshness of the tea volatiles as well as the freshness of the soluble solids remaining in the devolatilized tea. A bed of mechanically fluidized ground tea leaves is sprayed with 32 DEG -160 DEG F. water and contacted with steam in free space for devolatilization under an absolute pressure of 5-250 mm of Hg and a temperature of 32 DEG -160 DEG F. The resulting volatiles-laden steam is then freeze-condensed under an absolute pressure of about 0-80 mm Hg and under super-cold conditons to provide a frost. A tea volatiles-containing concentrate is prepared by contacting the frozen condensate, the frost, with an aqueous tea extract.