A product having an internal substance protected by a rugged exterior shell is disclosed. The internal substance is reactive with the exterior shell but is separated therefrom by a coating on an interior surface of the external shell so that the product can be stored for a long period of time without the internal substance reacting with the exterior shell. The coating is meltable so that, when desired, the product may be heated (e.g. immersed in hot water or exposed to heat) in order to melt the coating so that the internal substance can react with the external shell so that the internal substance can excrete out of the exterior shell.

The present invention includes a method for creating a portable and quickly dissolving tea or other tea-like botanical tablet that can be used to prepare a flavorful, visually appealing, and clear cup of tea. The novel process may include the steps of: (1) extraction/infusion, (2) clarification, (3) concentrate preparation, (4) degassing the concentrate, and (5) chunkification. A spinning cone column may be used during the extraction/infusion step to preserve the aromatics and nutrients from the tea leaves, leading to better taste and improved retention of compounds thought to be beneficial to human health. A centrifuge may be used to remove suspended solids during the clarification step and a pressure chamber or sonication device may be used during the degassing step. Chunkification may involve the freezing of the concentrate followed by the removal of water from the concentrate to create a solid tablet of easily portable shape and size. The tea tablet quickly dissolves when added to hot or warm water, and it dissolves in cold water with some additional agitation.

The present invention includes a method for creating a portable and quickly dissolving tea or other tea-like botanical tablet that can be used to prepare a flavorful, visually appealing, and clear cup of tea. The novel process may include the steps of: (1) extraction/infusion, (2) clarification, (3) concentrate preparation, (4) degassing the concentrate, and (5) chunkification. A spinning cone column may be used during the extraction/infusion step to preserve the aromatics and nutrients from the tea leaves, leading to better taste and improved retention of compounds thought to be beneficial to human health. A centrifuge may be used to remove suspended solids during the clarification step and a pressure chamber or sonication device may be used during the degassing step. Chunkification may involve the freezing of the concentrate followed by the removal of water from the concentrate to create a solid tablet of easily portable shape and size. The tea tablet quickly dissolves when added to hot or warm water, and it dissolves in cold water with some additional agitation.

Disclosed are a particulate processed product of tea and a method for preparing the same. The particulate processed product of tea has a sphericity S.sub.10 value of a particle corresponding to 10% cumulative subdistribution in cumulative distribution measured for the sphericity of tea particles of 0.68 or greater. The processed product of tea is convenient to drink because it is readily wetted and dispersed in water. In addition, it can be easily packaged and used due to a low angle of repose and thus excellent flowability.

Disclosed are a particulate processed product of tea and a method for preparing the same. The particulate processed product of tea has a sphericity S.sub.10 value of a particle corresponding to 10% cumulative subdistribution in cumulative distribution measured for the sphericity of tea particles of 0.68 or greater. The processed product of tea is convenient to drink because it is readily wetted and dispersed in water. In addition, it can be easily packaged and used due to a low angle of repose and thus excellent flowability.

Disclosed is a plant material having at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral added to the plant material and at least partially contained within the plant material. The at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral may be at least partially encapsulated within one or more pores of the plant material. The at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral may be at least partially located within one or more fractures in the plant material. Also provided are methods for at least partially containing at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral within a plant material. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using plant material having at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral at least partially contained therein to make a consumable.

Disclosed is a plant material having at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral added to the plant material and at least partially contained within the plant material. The at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral may be at least partially encapsulated within one or more pores of the plant material. The at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral may be at least partially located within one or more fractures in the plant material. Also provided are methods for at least partially containing at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral within a plant material. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using plant material having at least one exogenous vitamin and/or at least one exogenous mineral at least partially contained therein to make a consumable.

A capsule for the preparation of a beverage from beverage powder, in particular of coffee from ground coffee, by introduction of water into the capsule comprises a pellet composed of a powder mixture, wherein the pellet is sheathed with at least one coating layer comprising a crosslinked polysaccharide, wherein the powder mixture of the pellet contains i) a polysaccharide-comprising powder having a first average particle size A and ii) a) a polysaccharide-comprising powder having a second average particle size B different from the first average particle size A and/or b) a filler having an average particle size C different from the first average particle size A or identical to the first average particle size A.

A capsule for the preparation of a beverage from beverage powder, in particular of coffee from ground coffee, by introduction of water into the capsule comprises a pellet composed of a powder mixture, wherein the pellet is sheathed with at least one coating layer comprising a crosslinked polysaccharide, wherein the powder mixture of the pellet contains i) a polysaccharide-comprising powder having a first average particle size A and ii) a) a polysaccharide-comprising powder having a second average particle size B different from the first average particle size A and/or b) a filler having an average particle size C different from the first average particle size A or identical to the first average particle size A.

The present invention includes a method for creating a portable and quickly dissolving tea or other tea-like botanical tablet that can be used to prepare a flavorful, visually appealing, and clear cup of tea. The novel process may include the steps of: (1) extraction/infusion, (2) clarification, (3) concentrate preparation, (4) degassing the concentrate, and (5) chunkification. A spinning cone column may be used during the extraction/infusion step to preserve the aromatics and nutrients from the tea leaves, leading to better taste and improved retention of compounds thought to be beneficial to human health. A centrifuge may be used to remove suspended solids during the clarification step and a pressure chamber or sonication device may be used during the degassing step. Chunkification may involve the freezing of the concentrate followed by the removal of water from the concentrate to create a solid tablet of easily portable shape and size. The tea tablet quickly dissolves when added to hot or warm water, and it dissolves in cold water with some additional agitation.