Beverage Compositions
The present invention describes beverage compositions comprising lactic acid-producing bacteria.
1 . A beverage composition comprising an isolated Bacillus coagulans bacterium or spore and one or more non-bacterial ingredients, wherein said one or more non-bacterial ingredients comprise dehydrated vegetative matter.
2 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated vegetative matter is obtained from Camellia sinensis.
3 . The beverage composition of claim 2 , wherein said dehydrated vegetative matter is selected from the group consisting of processed leaves, buds, roots and twigs.
4 . The beverage composition of claim 3 , wherein said beverage composition is green tea, black tea, oolong tea, yellow tea, or white tea.
5 . The beverage composition of claim 4 , wherein said beverage composition is instant tea or brewable tea.
6 . The beverage composition of claim 5 , wherein said beverage composition is decaffeinated tea.
7 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said dehydrated vegetative matter is obtained from a species other than Camellia sinensis.
8 . The beverage composition of claim 7 , wherein said beverage composition is herbal tea.
9 . The beverage composition of claim 8 , wherein said herbal tea is rosehip tea, chamomile tea, jiaogulan tea, peppermint tea, rooibos tea, ginger tea, ginseng tea, or lemongrass tea.
10 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is Bacillus coagulans hammer strain Accession No. ATCC 31284.
11 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is selected from the group consisting of GBI-30 strain (ATCC Designation Number PTA-6086), GBI-20 strain (ATCC Designation Number PTA-6085), and GBI-40 strain (ATCC Designation Number PTA-6087).
12 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is in the form of a spore.
13 . The beverage composition of claim 12 , wherein said Bacillus coagulans spores activate upon contacting hot liquid.
14 . The beverage composition of claim 13 , wherein said hot liquid is water.
15 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is in the form of a vegetative cell.
16 . The beverage composition of claim 1 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is in the form of a mixture of vegetative cells and spores.
17 . A beverage composition comprising isolated Bacillus coagulans bacterium and one or more non-bacterial ingredients selected from the group consisting of coffee beans or fragments thereof, coffee powder, chocolate powder, and cocoa powder.
18 . The beverage composition of claim 17 , wherein said beverage composition is coffee, hot chocolate, or hot cocoa.
19 . The beverage composition of claim 18 , wherein said beverage composition is instant coffee or brewable coffee.
20 . The beverage composition of claim 19 , wherein said beverage composition is decaffeinated coffee.
21 . The beverage composition of claim 17 , wherein said isolated Bacillus coagulans is in the form of a spore.
22 . The beverage composition of claim 21 , wherein said Bacillus coagulans spores activate upon contacting hot liquid.
23 . The beverage composition of claim 22 , wherein said hot liquid is water.