FLAVOR ENHANCING AGENT AND FLAVORING COMPOSITION
There are provided a flavor enhancing agent which is capable of selectively enhancing the flavor of a flavoring of interest, as well as a flavoring composition and a drink that contain the agent and which are enhanced in flavor. Specifically, a polymerized catechin is used with a flavoring.
1 . A flavor enhancing agent comprising a polymerized catechin as an active ingredient.
2 . The flavor enhancing agent according to claim 1 which is an additive for use in a drink.
3 . The flavor enhancing agent according to claim 2 , wherein the drink is a tea-based beverage.
4 . The flavor enhancing agent according to claim 1 , which is an agent for enhancing a fruit flavor.
5 . A flavoring composition comprising a flavoring and a polymerized catechin.
6 . The flavoring composition according to claim 5 , wherein the concentration of the polymerized catechin is at least 0.0050 wt % of the total composition.
7 . The flavoring composition according to claim 5 , wherein the polymerized catechin is derived from a tea leaf extract.
8 . The flavoring composition according to claim 5 , which further contains a non-polymerized catechin and wherein (a)/(b), or the ratio on a weight basis between (a) the contained polymerized catechin and (b) the contained non-polymerized catechin, is at least one.
9 . The flavoring composition according to claim 5 , wherein the flavoring is a fruit flavoring.