Foam-holding agent and utilization thereof
The present invention provides a foam-holding agent which has a sufficient foam-holding property and is satisfactory with regard to safety, taste, aroma and other properties required for foods, as well as providing effervescent drinks or forming beverage comprising the foam-holding agent. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a foam-holding agent for effervescent drinks or forming beverage, which comprises a tea leaf extract obtained by preparing tea in a standard manner from leaves of black tea, green tea, oolong tea, Gynostemma pentaphyllum tea, Mate tea, Pu-erh tea, barley tea, Coix lacryma - jobi var. ma - yuen tea, brown rice tea, Houttuynia cordata tea or other tea leaves, and then extracting catechin-rich components using a solvent such as water and/or ethanol. The present invention is also directed to effervescent drinks or forming beverage characterized by comprising the above foam-holding agent, which have excellent foam-producing and foam-holding properties and also provide dense and smooth-textured foam.
1 . A foam-holding agent which comprises a water and/or ethanol extract of tea leaves.
2 . The foam-holding agent according to claim 1 , which is obtained by concentrating a water and/or ethanol extract of tea leaves.
3 . The foam-holding agent according to claim 1 , wherein the concentrate obtained by concentrating a water and/or ethanol extract of tea leaves has a Brix degree of 10° to 40°.
4 . The foam-holding agent according to claim 1 , wherein the tea leaves are those of black tea, green tea or oolong tea.
5 . A carbon dioxide-containing drink characterized by comprising:
(A) a foaming agent; and
(B) a water and/or ethanol extract of tea leaves.
6 . The drink according to claim 5 , which further comprises a hop extract.
7 . The drink according to claim 5 , wherein the tea leaves are those of black tea, green tea or oolong tea.
8 . The drink according to claim 5 , wherein the internal pressure of carbon dioxide is 0.5 to 3.5 kg/cm 2 (at 20° C.).
9 . The drink according to claim 5 , wherein a fermented grain liquor is not used as a source material.
10 . The drink according to claim 5 , which is a soda pop, a lemon soda drink, a cola drink, a carbonated fruit drink or a low alcohol drink.
11 . The drink according to claim 5 , which is a low alcohol drink having an alcohol content of 12% or less.
12 . A method for producing a carbon dioxide-containing drink, which comprises preparing a drink blended with a foaming agent and a water and/or ethanol extract of tea leaves, and incorporating carbon dioxide into the resulting drink.