Methods for producing brewed beverages include brewing the beverage, degassing the beverage prior to storing the beverage in a sealed container, and freezing the beverage. A frozen brewed beverage is configured to be reheated prior to consumption and does not require reconstituting. A brewed beverage is in a sealed container, has a dissolved oxygen content less than about 2 ppm, is configured to be reheated prior to consumption, and does not require reconstituting.

Methods for producing brewed beverages include brewing the beverage, degassing the beverage prior to storing the beverage in a sealed container, and freezing the beverage. A frozen brewed beverage is configured to be reheated prior to consumption and does not require reconstituting. A brewed beverage is in a sealed container, has a dissolved oxygen content less than about 2 ppm, is configured to be reheated prior to consumption, and does not require reconstituting.

An aseptic method of preparing high acid and low acid fruit and non-fruit beverages to improve flavor profiles and retain organoleptic properties of the fresh ingredients is provided, as well as the fruit and non-fruit beverages obtained through this process with the benefit of extended shelf-life.

An aseptic method of preparing high acid and low acid fruit and non-fruit beverages to improve flavor profiles and retain organoleptic properties of the fresh ingredients is provided, as well as the fruit and non-fruit beverages obtained through this process with the benefit of extended shelf-life.

A brewed beverage product is provided that, in some embodiments, may comprise an oxygen permeable container containing a frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage, the frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage including a coffee or tea based beverage or concentrate having been its dissolved oxygen content reduced to less than 2.0 parts per million (ppm) in order to reduce oxidation of coffee or tea-based flavor compounds in the degassed coffee or tea based beverage or concentrate. The frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage may further have an exterior surface formed from a frozen deoxygenated liquid so as to be substantially void-free in order to limit the ingress of oxygen into the frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage.

A brewed beverage product is provided that, in some embodiments, may comprise an oxygen permeable container containing a frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage, the frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage including a coffee or tea based beverage or concentrate having been its dissolved oxygen content reduced to less than 2.0 parts per million (ppm) in order to reduce oxidation of coffee or tea-based flavor compounds in the degassed coffee or tea based beverage or concentrate. The frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage may further have an exterior surface formed from a frozen deoxygenated liquid so as to be substantially void-free in order to limit the ingress of oxygen into the frozen deoxygenated brewed beverage.

The present invention is directed to supercritical fluid extraction systems that provide methods of extraction that further reduce total extraction time and improve yield efficiency as compared with existing methods. Such systems and methods utilize substantially increased pressures and flow rates that afford high intensity targeting of extractable material using supercritical carbon dioxide. Surprisingly, the present invention has identified and demonstrated dramatic improvements in the rate and efficiency of dissolution of the target compounds by increasing the pressure of supercritical fluid extraction systems to several times industry standards (e.g., 1000 bar versus 150-300 bar).

The present invention relates to a browning-inhibiting composition containing a compound represented by the following formula (1):

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.21, R.sup.22, R.sup.23, R.sup.24, R.sup.26 and R.sup.27 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, and at least one of R.sup.21 or R.sup.23 is a hydrogen atom; when R.sup.23 represents a hydrogen atom, at least one of R.sup.22 or R.sup.24 represents a substituent; R.sup.25 represents a hydrogen atom, an oxygen atom, or a substituent; R.sup.22 and R.sup.23, or R.sup.23 and R.sup.24 may be bonded together to form a ring with an oxygen atom and a carbon atom to which these Rs are bonded; R.sup.25 and R.sup.26, or R.sup.26 and R.sup.27 may be bonded together to form a ring structure with carbon atoms to which these Rs are bonded; X represents an oxygen atom or CH.sub.2; and a dashed line may represent a double bond.

Included is a brewing system that utilizes a curved pedestal that allows brewed effluent to drain in a manner that travels toward the center of the curved pedestal to maximize the exposure of the effluent to the organic material used for brewing, while also maximizing yield. The pedestal 112 sits above the lowest effluent level to allow the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material that is used for brewing to maximize the amount of effluent obtained. By allowing the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material, the weight and size of the organic material is reduced, so that the filter bag can be removed from the brewing system without ripping or tearing. The brewing system eliminates the need for a separate mesh bag and allows the effluent to drain without squeezing the filter bag and which would otherwise cause the release of harsh oils and acids, which can also be unsanitary as a result of a user handling the bag filter.

Included is a brewing system that utilizes a curved pedestal that allows brewed effluent to drain in a manner that travels toward the center of the curved pedestal to maximize the exposure of the effluent to the organic material used for brewing, while also maximizing yield. The pedestal 112 sits above the lowest effluent level to allow the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material that is used for brewing to maximize the amount of effluent obtained. By allowing the brewed effluent to drain from the organic material, the weight and size of the organic material is reduced, so that the filter bag can be removed from the brewing system without ripping or tearing. The brewing system eliminates the need for a separate mesh bag and allows the effluent to drain without squeezing the filter bag and which would otherwise cause the release of harsh oils and acids, which can also be unsanitary as a result of a user handling the bag filter.