A process for infusing a consumable substance is described. The process includes the steps of placing a desired amount of an infusion material into a chamber at atmospheric pressure, placing a desired amount of consumable substance into said chamber, sealing said chamber from the surrounding atmosphere, and applying at least one reduced pressure cycle within said chamber. Methods for separating the infusion material from the consumable substance after completion of the infusion process are also described. In addition, devices for infusing liquids or consumable substances, and/or brewing beverages are described. The present invention relates to an apparatus for brewing beverages or infusing a consumable substance comprising a vessel, said vessel comprising a sealable chamber for holding a brewing or infusion material and a liquid or consumable substance, and a filter assembly connected to the sealable chamber; a liquid supply and conduit for introducing at least a portion of said liquid supply into said sealable chamber; and a vacuum source and conduit for reducing pressure in said sealable chamber.

A process for infusing a consumable substance is described. The process includes the steps of placing a desired amount of an infusion material into a chamber at atmospheric pressure, placing a desired amount of consumable substance into said chamber, sealing said chamber from the surrounding atmosphere, and applying at least one reduced pressure cycle within said chamber. Methods for separating the infusion material from the consumable substance after completion of the infusion process are also described. In addition, devices for infusing liquids or consumable substances, and/or brewing beverages are described. The present invention relates to an apparatus for brewing beverages or infusing a consumable substance comprising a vessel, said vessel comprising a sealable chamber for holding a brewing or infusion material and a liquid or consumable substance, and a filter assembly connected to the sealable chamber; a liquid supply and conduit for introducing at least a portion of said liquid supply into said sealable chamber; and a vacuum source and conduit for reducing pressure in said sealable chamber.

A method for producing powderized cannabis oil, powderized cannabis oil, and edible products and beverages comprising the powderized cannabis oil. Powderized cannabis oil contains cannabis oil and maltodextrin in a ratio of at least three grams of maltodextrin for every one-eighth of a gram of cannabis oil. Edible products and beverages incorporating the powderized cannabis oil are human-consumable products that contain an emulsified, tasteless, and odorless dose of cannabis oil providing CBD, THC and/or THCA.

A method for producing powderized cannabis oil, powderized cannabis oil, and edible products and beverages comprising the powderized cannabis oil. Powderized cannabis oil contains cannabis oil and maltodextrin in a ratio of at least three grams of maltodextrin for every one-eighth of a gram of cannabis oil. Edible products and beverages incorporating the powderized cannabis oil are human-consumable products that contain an emulsified, tasteless, and odorless dose of cannabis oil providing CBD, THC and/or THCA.

A hardstock fat composition for use in making edible water-in-oil emulsions such as spreads, in particular (but not exclusively) when produced using the hardstock in the form of micronized fat powder, and process to use such hardstock fat to make a fat slurry and to make a water-in-oil emulsion (like spreads) using such hardstock fat. The hardstock fat may give improved properties of the resulting emulsion.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining a lecithin-containing material (derived from a crude refining stream) comprising 15-50% water, 10-30% acetone insoluble matter, and 10-20% free fatty acid; adding a fatty acid source (also derived from a crude refining stream) to the lecithin-containing material composition to obtain a lecithin/fatty acid reaction mixture; and blowing dry gas through the gum/fatty acid reaction mixture to obtain a resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend having a water content of less than 2%. The resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend may be used in asphalt or oil field applications.

Aspects of the present invention provide methods of drying lecithin in a batch reaction, comprising the steps of obtaining a lecithin-containing material (derived from a crude refining stream) comprising 15-50% water, 10-30% acetone insoluble matter, and 10-20% free fatty acid; adding a fatty acid source (also derived from a crude refining stream) to the lecithin-containing material composition to obtain a lecithin/fatty acid reaction mixture; and blowing dry gas through the gum/fatty acid reaction mixture to obtain a resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend having a water content of less than 2%. The resultant dried lecithin fatty acid blend may be used in asphalt or oil field applications.

Provided is an insulin secretion-promoting agent comprising, as an active ingredient, a triglyceride represented by the following formula (I):

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wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each denotes a saturated fatty acid residue, at least one of which is a pentadecanoic acid residue. An insulin secretion-promoting action of the pentadecanoic acid triglyceride at the time of elevated blood glucose level is discovered, and pharmaceuticals and health foods for improving blood glucose level and diabetes are provided using this triglyceride.

Provided herein are pongamia oil compositions suitable for animal consumption, in particular human consumption, as well as methods of producing such compositions. The compositions are edible and non-bitter tasting, and have certain attributes that make such compositions suitable for use as and/or in various food and beverage products. Provided herein are also methods of analyzing pongamia oil.

The invention relates to a method of extracting oil from plant matter including treating a liquid or liquefied plant material to a high pressure extraction step by contacting the plant material with CO.sub.2 at a pressure between 100 and 3000 psig. And then separating the CO.sub.2 and the extracted oil to form an extracted plant meal. Preferably the extracted plant meal comprises less than 2 wt % of residual oil. The plant material preferably has not been previously extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent and is not heat treated during the extraction step.