IP Library Granted Patent US 12,382,976
Granted Patent B2
US 12,382,976 · App. 17/272,812 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Maceration composition and method for preparing same

Inventors: Justine Capo-Chichi (Dijon, FR); Eric Gabriel Marchal (Vittel, FR); Anne-Benoite Prevost (Vittel, FR)
Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
A23L2/02A23B70/30A23L2/60A23L2/68A23L2/72A23L27/10A23V2002/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,382,976
App. No.
17/272,812
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention concerns a method for preparing a maceration composition made from at least one component selected from the group comprising fruits, vegetables, plants and spices, said method comprising the following steps: •Macerating the component by dipping it into water in order to have the equivalent of 15 to 80 g of component for 1 L of maceration composition, at a temperature of 15° C. to 25° C. for a period of 30 to 120 minutes, thus obtaining a solid material in a maceration; •Separating the maceration from the solid material: •Acidifying the maceration and/or the water to obtain a maceration composition having a pH between 3.1 and 3.5. The invention also relates to a maceration composition obtainable according to this method, wherein said maceration comprises between 20 and 40 g/L of sugar. The invention eventually relates to a bottled beverage comprising at least one maceration composition according to the invention.

Claims (18)

1. A method for preparing a maceration composition made from at least one component selected from the group consisting of apple, banana, pear, kiwi, passion fruit, mango, pomegranate, papaya, peach, apricot, watermelon, melon, strawberry, blackcurrant, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, cherry, grape, cucumber, vegetables, plants and spices, the method comprising:

macerating the at least one component by dipping the at least one component into water in order to have the equivalent of 15 to 80 g of the at least one component for 1 L of the maceration composition, at a temperature of 15° C. to 25° C., for a period of 30 to 120 minutes, thus obtaining a solid material in a maceration;

separating the maceration from the solid material; and

acidifying the maceration and/or the water to obtain the maceration composition, the maceration composition having a pH between 3.1 and 3.5.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the maceration composition comprises an equivalent of 25 to 50 g of the at least one component for 1 L of the maceration composition.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the separating comprises at least one of a decanting step, a clarifying step, and a filtering step.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising mixing the maceration composition with sugar.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sterilizing and/or pasteurizing the maceration composition.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising diluting the maceration composition.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the maceration composition is diluted with at least one water selected from the group consisting of mineral water, spring water, treated water, and tap water.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein during the acidifying, the maceration and/or the water is acidified with citric acid, malic acid or any other suitable acid.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising mixing the maceration composition with at least one additive selected from the group consisting of natural coloring foodstuff, preservatives, and natural flavor.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the macerating, the component is introduced into pieces.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of apple, banana, pear, kiwi, passion fruit, mango, pomegranate, papaya, peach, apricot, watermelon, melon, strawberry, blackcurrant, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, cherry, grape, hibiscus, elderflower, carrot, sugar beet, fennel, cucumber, ginger, mint, basil, rosemary, fenugreek, verbena, sage, thyme, parsley, chamomile, tarragon, and spices.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of apple, banana, mango, pomegranate, peach, strawberry, blackcurrant, raspberry, blueberry, cherry, white grape, red grape, elderflower, peppermint, spearmint, Marseillais basil, Thai basil, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, lemongrass, cocoa and vanilla.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, for the macerating, the water is selected from the group consisting of mineral water, spring water, treated water, and tap water.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of apple, banana, pear, kiwi, passion fruit, mango, pomegranate, papaya, peach, apricot, watermelon, melon, strawberry, blackcurrant, currant, gooseberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, cranberry, cherry, grape, hibiscus, elderflower, carrot, sugar beet, fennel, cucumber, ginger, mint, basil, rosemary, fenugreek, verbena, sage, thyme, parsley, chamomile, tarragon, spices, peppermint, spearmint, Marseillais basil, Thai basil, cinnamon, cardamom, saffron, lemongrass, cocoa and vanilla.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one component is selected from the group consisting of strawberry, spearmint, and mixtures thereof.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2025
From: CAPO-CHICHI, JUSTINE; MARCHAL, ERIC GABRIEL; PREVOST, ANNE-BENOITE
To: NESTLE WATERS MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY S.A.S.
Reel/Frame 071670/0626 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 11, 2025
From: NESTLE WATERS MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY
To: NESTEC S.A.
Reel/Frame 071670/0664 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 11, 2025
From: NESTEC S.A.
To: SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A.
Reel/Frame 071916/0175 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 18192331 · Sep 3, 2018 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210212344A1 · Jul 15, 2021
References Cited (23)
US 20050226977A1 · Bozorgmehr · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20100092615A1 · Olalde Rangel · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20140342043A1 · Bell · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150315533A1 · Keller · 2015 [cited by examiner]
EP 3272227A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
KR 20120084422 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
RO 84959 · 1985 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2016148151A1 · 2016 [cited by examiner]
Machine translation of KR20120084422, publication date: Jul. 30, 2012. pp. 1-19. (Year: 2012). [cited by examiner]
Aneja et al. “Emerging preservation techniques for controlling spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in fruit juices”. International Journal of Microbiology, vol. 2014, published Sep. 22, 2014. pp. 1-14. (Year: 2014). [cited by examiner]
All Recipes, “Mexican Strawberry Water (Agua de Fresa)”. Available as of Mar. 7, 2017 from www.allrecipes.com, pp. 1-2. (Year: 2017). [cited by examiner]
Saddozai, et al. “Microbial count and shelf life of strawberry juice”. Pakistan J. Agric. Res., vol. 25, No. 3, 2012. pp. 1-6. (Year: 2012). [cited by examiner]
Modernist Cuisine, “Keeping it fresh: make your juice last longer”. Available as of Jan. 8, 2015 from https://modernistcuisine.com. pp. 1-19. (Year: 2015). [cited by examiner]
Wiedemann, “Here's how to macerate strawberries”. Available online as of Jul. 20, 2016 from www.refinery29.com, pp. 1-7. (Year: 2016). [cited by examiner]
Steen et al., “Carbonated Soft Drinks: Formulation and Manufacture”, 2006, pp. 59-63. [cited by applicant]
“Recipe 19—Lemon Water Soda (Homemade Sprite)”, The Homemade Soda Expert, Oct. 17, 2012, 4 Pages. [cited by applicant]
“Homemade Tonic Water for the Ultimate Gin and Tonic”, Pinch and Swirl, Sep. 15, 2017, 52 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Dias et al., “Electronic Tongue: A Versatile Tool for Mineral and Fruit-Flavored Waters Recognition”, Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization, vol. 10, Issue No. 2, 2016, pp. 264-273. [cited by applicant]
Krieger, “Why Flavored Waters are Bad for Your Teeth”, The Washington Post, Apr. 25, 2017, 3 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Reddy et al., “The PH of Beverages in the United States”, The Journal of the American Dental Association, vol. 147, Issue No. 4, 2016, pp. 255-262. [cited by applicant]
“Volvic Zest Citron”, Volvic Zest, Sep. 15, 2017, p. 1. [cited by applicant]
“Enhanced Water”, Wikipedia, Aug. 21, 2018, 4 Pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Opposition Received for Application No. EP19762762.3, mailed on Feb. 14, 2024, 22 Pages of Official Copy. [cited by applicant]