Tea-based beverage
The invention relates to a tea-based beverage precursor comprising tea solids and at least 0.01% w/w water-dispersible biopolymer, wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 300, preferably 400, more preferably 450 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20 degrees Celsius, wherein the weight ratio of tea solids to water-dispersible biopolymer is at least 2:1, preferably at least 3:1. The invention also relates to a tea-based beverage comprising water and the tea-based beverage precursor of the first aspect of the invention, wherein the tea-based beverage comprises 0.0001 to 0.1% w/w of the water-dispersible biopolymer.
1. A tea-based beverage precursor comprising tea solids and ≥0.01% w/w water-dispersible biopolymer,
wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 300 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20 degrees Celsius,
wherein the weight ratio of tea solids to water-dispersible biopolymer is at least 2:1, and
wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer is selected from the group consisting of okra pectin and prickly pear cactus juice.
2. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the tea solids originate from tea leaves and/or stem selected from the group consisting of white, green, oolong and black tea.
3. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein when the tea solids originates from tea leaves and/or stem from black tea, the tea-based beverage precursor comprises milk solids, milk protein, or non-dairy creamer.
4. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , comprising tea leaves, wherein the tea leaves comprise the tea solids.
5. A tea-based beverage comprising water and the tea-based beverage precursor of claim 1 , wherein the tea-based beverage comprises 0.01 to 0.1% w/w of the water-dispersible biopolymer.
6. The tea-based beverage according to claim 5 , comprising 0.05 to 3% w/w tea solids.
7. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 400 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20 degrees Celsius.
8. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 450 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20 degrees Celsius.
9. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of tea solids to water-dispersible biopolymer is at least 3:1.
10. The tea-based beverage according to claim 5 , comprising at least 0.06 to 0.5% w/w tea solids.
11. The tea-based beverage according to claim 5 , comprising at least 0.08% w/w tea solids.
12. The tea-based beverage according to claim 5 , comprising at least 0.1% w/w tea solids.
13. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the tea-based beverage precursor is in the form of a powder, granules or a liquid concentrate.
14. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 13 , wherein the tea-based beverage precursor is in the form of a powder.
15. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 1 , wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer is obtained from okra.
16. A tea-based beverage precursor comprising tea solids and ≥0.01% w/w water-dispersible biopolymer, wherein
the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 450 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20° C.,
the weight ratio of tea solids to water-dispersible biopolymer is at least 2:1, and
the water-dispersible biopolymer comprises okra pectin.
17. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 16 , wherein the tea solids originate from tea leaves and/or stem selected from the group consisting of white, green, oolong and black tea.
18. A tea-based beverage comprising water and the tea-based beverage precursor of claim 16 , wherein the tea-based beverage comprises 0.01 to 0.1% w/w of the water-dispersible biopolymer.
19. The tea-based beverage precursor according to claim 16 , comprising 0.05 to 3% w/w tea solids.
20. A tea-based beverage precursor comprising tea solids and ≥0.01% w/w water-dispersible biopolymer,
wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer has a Trouton ratio of at least 450 measured as a 0.2% w/w aqueous solution at 20° C.,
wherein the weight ratio of tea solids to water-dispersible biopolymer is at least 2:1, and
wherein the water-dispersible biopolymer comprises prickly pear cactus juice.