IP Library Granted Patent US 9,468,222
Granted Patent B2
US 9,468,222 · App. 13/867,526 · Granted Oct 18, 2016

Tea brewing and sweetening product and process

Inventors: Paul Alan Stewart (Mobile, AL); Adam Paul Stewart (Mobile, AL)
A23F3/14A23F3/18A47J31/002A47J31/0642
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,468,222
App. No.
13/867,526
Granted
Oct 18, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sweet tea brewing product and system for brewing and sweetening tea in a brewing basket of a tea making machine is disclosed comprising at least one water permeable mesh pouch for placement in the brewing basket during brewing. The tea particles and sugar granules are contained in the mesh pouch. The mesh pouch has mesh openings being generally smaller than the size of said sugar granules and said tea particles for retention of said granules and particles. The tea particles and sugar granules are brewed and dissolved in the brewing basket during steeping of the tea particles and sugar granules in hot water to produce a concentrated sweet tea solution delivered from said basket for accurate and consistent brewing of sweat tea.

Claims (42)

1. A sweet tea brewing product for brewing and sweetening tea in a brewing basket of a tea making machine comprising:

at least one water permeable mesh pouch for placement in said brewing basket during brewing;

tea particles and sugar granules contained in said at least one mesh pouch;

wherein the size of said sugar granules is in the range of U.S. mesh sieve nos. 3-35;

said mesh pouch having mesh openings being generally smaller than the size of said sugar granules and said tea particles for retention of said granules and particles; and

said tea particles and sugar granules being brewed and dissolved in said brewing basket during steeping of said tea particles and sugar granules in hot water to produce a concentrated sweet tea solution delivered from said basket.

2. The product of claim 1 wherein said at least one mesh pouch is constructed from one of a polymeric mesh and cotton mesh material.

3. The product of claim 2 wherein said polymeric mesh material includes one of nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and polyethelene mesh material.

4. The product of claim 2 wherein said mesh material has a mesh selected from a range of about 50 to 300 microns.

5. The product of claim 4 wherein the tea particles are retained by a U.S. mesh sieve no. 80.

6. The product of claim 2 wherein said at least one mesh pouch contains tea particles and sugar granules in a prescribed blend ratio.

7. The product of claim 6 wherein said at least one mesh pouch includes a mesh pouch containing said tea particles and sugar granules blended together in said blend ratio.

8. The product of claim 7 wherein said polymer material has a mesh selected from a range of about 50 to 300 microns.

9. The product of claim 6 wherein said at least one mesh pouch includes a first compartment containing said tea particles and a second compartment containing said sugar granules.

10. The product of claim 9 wherein said first and second compartments are joined together at a fold line so that the first compartment folds over said second compartment in the brewing basket.

11. The product of claim 10 wherein said mesh pouch has a mesh of 50 to 300 microns.

12. The product of claim 6 wherein the blend ratio of tea to sugar is in the range of 1:5 to 1:25.

13. A tea brewing system for brewing sweetened tea comprising:

a tea brewing machine having a removable brewing basket and a brewing urn;

a source of tea particles for placement into said brewing basket during brewing; and

a source of sugar granules for placement into said brewing basked during brewing wherein the size of said sugar granules is in the range of U.S. mesh sieve nos. 3-35;

at least one water permeable mesh pouch containing said source of tea particles and said source of sugar granules in a desired blend ratio;

a cold water pipe for dispensing water into said tea urn during brewing;

a hot water dispenser for dispensing hot water into said brewing basket to steep said tea particles and sugar granules in hot water in the basket and extract tea and dissolve sugar to produce a concentrated sweetened tea solution;

whereby said concentrated sweetened tea solution enters the urn to mix with said water from said water pipe to provide accurate and consistent sweet tea.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said at least one mesh pouch is constructed from one of a poloymeric mesh and cotton mesh material.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said mesh pouch has a mesh selected from a range of about 50 to 300 microns.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the tea particles are retained by a US mesh sieve no. 80.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein a least one water permeable pouch includes a single mesh pouch containing said tea particles and sugar granules blended together in a desired blend ratio.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said tea particles are retained by a U.S. mesh sieve of about 80.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said blend ratio is in the ratio of about 1:5 to 1:25.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one mesh pouch includes a mesh pouch containing said tea particles and sugar granules blended together in the desired blend ratio.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein at least one mesh pouch includes a first mesh compartment containing said tea particles and a second mesh compartment containing said sugar granules wherein said first compartment is placed on top of said second compartment during brewing.

22. The system of claim 21 including a fold seam between said first and second compartments, said first compartment being folded above said fold seam to overlie said second compartment when brewing in said brewing basket.

23. A method for brewing sweetened teas comprising:

providing a tea brewing machine having an urn, a brewing basket carried above the urn, a hot water dispenser for delivering hot water into said brewing basket, and a cold water dispenser for delivering cold water into said urn while brewing tea;

placing a mesh pouch containing a prescribed blend of tea particles and sugar into said brewing basket;

wherein the size of the granules of said sugar is in the range of U.S. mesh sieve nos. 3-35;

producing a flow of concentrated sweetened tea solution out of said basket by dispensing hot water into said brewing basket containing said mesh pouch and steeping the tea particles and sugar in said brewing basket; and

dispensing cold water into said tea urn simultaneously with the flow of concentrated sweetened tea solution into the urn;

whereby the sugar is more completely and consistently dissolved in contrast to the sugar being dissolved in the tea solution in the urn.

24. The method of claim 23 including providing a mesh pouch having a mesh generally between about 50 to 300 microns.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2021
From: SOUTHERN VISIONS, LLP
To: UNITED BANK
Reel/Frame 056299/0387 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT THE FIRST ASSIGNOR'S NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 047008 FRAME: 0192. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 1, 2018
From: STEWART, PAUL ALAN; STEWART, ADAM PAUL
To: SOUTHERN VISIONS LLP
Reel/Frame 047171/0575 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2018
From: STEWART, PAUL ALLEN; STEWART, ADAM PAUL
To: SOUTHERN VISIONS LLP
Reel/Frame 047008/0192 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140314912A1 · Oct 23, 2014