Unilever Bestfoods, North America Division of Conopco, Inc.

Lipton, Division of Conopco, Inc.

Thomas J. Lipton Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.

Unilever Bestfoods, North America, a Division of Conopco, Inc.

John William Tobin

Mauro Dominick Mordini

Steven Alphonse Gobbo

Donald Joseph Hamm

Shi-Qiu Zhang

Martin John Spisak

Douglas A Balantine

The present invention is directed to a dispensing machine and method for making a beverage. The dispensing machine of this invention has a delivery means which can deliver beverage precursor and beverage enhancing component with a single pump. The method results in a beverage, such as a tea-based beverage, that has superior quality, and the dispensing machine is quieter and more energy efficient than standard beverage dispensing machines.

Dispensing machine

The invention is directed to beverages with improved flavor. The beverages are not sour and have a monoprotic acidulant with a pKa of less than about 2.6 and/or a polyprotic acidulant with a pKaof less than about 2.6 and a pKaof less than about 3 or greater than about 6.

Tea beverage with improved flavor

The invention is directed to a beverage brewing system and method for brewing a beverage. The brewing system is equipped to heat beverage extracts prior to mixing the beverage extract with solvent. The method results in a beverage, such as a tea-based beverage, that has no visible undissolved beverage extract.

Beverage brewing system and method for brewing a beverage

A brewing machine suitable to deliver beverage enhancing component to a beverage precursor is described. The brewing machine may be used to dispense a ready-to-drink tea beverage having superior aroma, flavor and color characteristics.

Beverage dispensing machine

Tea products as well as a process for their preparation are described. They are prepared by adding high methoxy pectin to an acidified tea extract obtained from low temperature extraction.

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Hillsdale, NJ, United States of America

John William Tobin