Nestec S.a.

John C Proudley

Richard T Liu

William S Symbolik

Black tea leaves are oxidized to provide treated leaves from which aqueous tea extracts which have minimal turbidity, particularly when cooled, may be obtained. The oxidation reaction is performed on black tea leaves which contain moisture only in an amount such that the oxidation reaction occurs at localized sites on and within the tea leaf structure.

Products from treatment of black tea

Green and Oolong tea leaves are oxidized to alter the organoleptic and aesthetic characteristics of aqueous extracts obtained therefrom and to provide extracts which have minimal turbidity, particularly when cooled. The oxidation reaction is performed on leaves which contain moisture only in an amount such that the oxidation reaction occurs at localized sites on and within the tea leaf structure.

Oxidation of tea

Treatment of black tea

Caffeine-containing vegetable materials are decaffeinated by contacting the vegetable materials with a substantially laminar flow of a fatty material having a superficial velocity of at least about 10.times.10.sup.-3 m/sec. Recycling of the fatty material may be also carried out in one or more extraction vessels.

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Delaware, OH, United States of America

John C Proudley