Kao Corporation

Kouichi Naitoh

Yoshikazu Ogura

Susumu Ohishi

Masaki Iwasaki

Hirokazu Takahashi

Eri Itaya

Atsushi Konishi

This invention relates to a process for producing a green tea flavor by extracting it from green tea leaves with water cooler than 10&#xb0; C., and also to a beverage with the flavor obtained by the process and added therein. This invention also relates to a process for producing a dried green tea polyphenol by subjecting green tea leaves to a first extraction with water cooler than 10&#xb0; C. and then to a second extraction with warm water of 50&#xb0; C. or higher, and drying an extract of the second extraction, and also with a process for producing a beverage by adding a green tea polyphenol obtained by the process.

Green tea beverage and method of making same

Provided is a beverage having a concentrated or purified tea extract incorporated therein and containing the following ingredients (A) and (B): (A) non-polymer catechins from 0.092 to 0.5 wt. %, (B) quinic acid at a weight ratio of [(B)/(A)] falling within a range of from 0.01 to 0.1. The beverage of the present invention is suited for daily drinking, because it does not generate an uncomfortable aftertaste which will otherwise remain after bitterness or astringency peculiar to catechins is alleviated by a sweetener or the like.

Beverage having a concentrated or purified tea extract

Provided is a packaged beverage comprising the following ingredients (A) and (B):

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Tokyo, Japan

Kouichi Naitoh