PROCESSES FOR ISOLATING BITTER QUINIDES FOR USE IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTS

1 . A process for isolating bitter compounds for use in food and beverage products comprising:

a. contacting a bitter compound composition with an adsorbent to adsorb bitter compounds from the bitter compound composition;

b. desorbing the bitter compounds from the adsorbent to obtain a bitter compound isolate; and

c. adding the bitter compound isolate to a food or beverage product to enhance the flavor thereof.

2 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound composition is derived from at least one acid selected from the group consisting of roasted chlorogenic acid, roasted caffeic acid and mixtures thereof, derived from a natural or synthetic acid source.

3 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound composition comprises coffee brew, coffee extract, or mixtures thereof.

4 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound composition comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of bitter quinides, bitter phenylindans and mixtures thereof.

5 . The process of claim 2 wherein the natural acid source is a plant material comprising an acid selected from the group consisting of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and mixtures thereof.

6 . The process of claim 1 wherein the adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of polyamide, nylon powder, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl polypyrrolidone, casein, zein, Amberlite® XAD, natural or synthetic polymers containing amide groups and combinations thereof.

7 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound isolate comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 3-O-caffeoyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-γ-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-epi-δ-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 3-O-feruloyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-γ-quinide, 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl-epi-δ-quinide, 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-muco-γ-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-muco-γ-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-epi-δ-quinide, 3,4-O-diferuloyl-γ-quinide, 3,5-O-diferuloyl-epi-δ-quinide, 4,5-O-diferuloyl-muco-γ-quinide; quinide esterified with one or more of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-courmaric acid, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid; cis-5,6-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, trans-5,6-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, cis-4,5-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, and mixtures thereof.

8 . The process of claim 1 wherein the desorbing is carried out using a solvent selected from the group consisting of ethanol, acetone and mixtures thereof.

9 . The process of claim 2 wherein the bitter compound isolate has a pH of less than about 7.

10 . The process of claim 5 wherein the natural acid source is a plant material selected from the group consisting of coffee beans, ripe coffee berries, sweet potato leaves, potatoes, apples, pineapples, cherries, peaches and combinations thereof.

11 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound isolate has a pH of less than about 6.

12 . The process of claim 1 wherein the desorbing is carried out using ethanol.

13 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound isolate is used to enhance the flavor of a food or beverage product selected from the group consisting of instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, roast and ground coffee, ready-to-drink coffee, coffee concentrates, creamy coffees with or without additional flavors, chocolate milk, chocolate, ice cream and candy.

14 . The process of claim 1 wherein the bitter compound isolate is concentrated, purified or both, prior to being used to enhance the flavor of a food or beverage product.

15 . A process for isolating bitter compounds for use in food and beverage products comprising:

a. extracting a bitter compound composition with a solvent to remove bitter compounds from the bitter compound composition;

b. removing the solvent from the bitter compound composition to obtain a bitter compound isolate; and

c. adding the bitter compound isolate to a food or beverage product to enhance the flavor thereof.

16 . The process of claim 15 wherein the bitter compound composition comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of bitter quinides, bitter phenylindans and mixtures thereof.

17 . The process of claim 16 wherein the solvent is ethyl acetate.

18 . The process of claim 15 wherein the natural acid source is a plant material selected from the group consisting of coffee beans, ripe coffee berries, sweet potato leaves, potatoes, apples, pineapples, cherries, peaches and combinations thereof.

19 . A bitter compound isolate for enhancing flavor of food and beverage products comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of 3-O-caffeoyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-γ-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-epi-δ-quinide, 5-O-caffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 3-O-feruloyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-γ-quinide, 3,4-O-dicaffeoyl-γ-quinide, 4-O-caffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 3,5-O-dicaffeoyl-epi-δ-quinide, 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl-muco-γ-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-muco-γ-quinide, 4-O-feruloyl-muco-γ-quinide, 5-O-feruloyl-epi-δ-quinide, 3,4-O-diferuloyl-γ-quinide, 3,5-O-diferuloyl-epi-δ-quinide, 4,5-O-diferuloyl-muco-γ-quinide; quinide esterified with one or more of caffeic acid, ferulic acid, p-courmaric acid, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid; cis-5,6-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, trans-5,6-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, cis-4,5-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1-methyl-3-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)indan, and mixtures thereof.

20 . The bitter compound isolate of claim 19 wherein the bitter compound isolate is used to enhance the flavor of a food or beverage product selected from the group consisting of instant coffee, decaffeinated coffee, roast and ground coffee, ready-to-drink coffee, coffee concentrates, creamy coffee with or without additional flavors, chocolate milk, chocolate, ice cream and candy.