Apparatus and methods for bulk processing items on a conveyor belt using an angled axial fan that extends obliquely into a processing chamber and includes a curved back wall forming an air flow chamber. The angled axial fan enhances air flow around a product being processed on the conveyor belt. A heater employs shrouds and a series of baffle plates held together using a connecting pin to heat circulated air in a low-pressure area below the conveyor belt. Baffles in an upper chamber mix and direct heated, circulated air over the conveyed product.

Apparatus and methods for bulk processing items on a conveyor belt using an angled axial fan that extends obliquely into a processing chamber and includes a curved back wall forming an air flow chamber. The angled axial fan enhances air flow around a product being processed on the conveyor belt. A heater employs shrouds and a series of baffle plates held together using a connecting pin to heat circulated air in a low-pressure area below the conveyor belt. Baffles in an upper chamber mix and direct heated, circulated air over the conveyed product.

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a black leaf tea product, the process comprising the steps of: providing black leaf tea having a moisture content of less than 5 wt. %; and then subjecting this black leaf tea starting material to a heat treatment step by contacting it with a heated surface at a temperature of 100° C. to 170° C. for a duration of 2 to 25 minutes. The present invention also relates to a black leaf tea product obtainable by this process.

A system and method for storing, preserving and cooking meals using the sous-vide technique. The system and method of the present invention is designed to automatically cook, upon request a meal having various ingredients by immersing bagged food in temperature-controlled liquid. The cooking time may be manually or automatically programmed from downloaded cooking direction associated with the food. The cooking request may be given by a user from the physical apparatus or using a mobile device application.

A system and method for storing, preserving and cooking meals using the sous-vide technique. The system and method of the present invention is designed to automatically cook, upon request a meal having various ingredients by immersing bagged food in temperature-controlled liquid. The cooking time may be manually or automatically programmed from downloaded cooking direction associated with the food. The cooking request may be given by a user from the physical apparatus or using a mobile device application.

Methods of preventing creaming and age gelation in heat treated dairy based products are provided herein. Heat treated dairy based products are also provided, in which physical instability is prevented.

Methods of preventing creaming and age gelation in heat treated dairy based products are provided herein. Heat treated dairy based products are also provided, in which physical instability is prevented.

A defrosting method for food, in particular meat, the food being filled into a container rotatable around a rotation axis and heated and rotated after the container is filled, heated air being supplied to the container through a supply opening for the purpose of heating the food and discharged through a discharge opening.

Provided are roasted cacao beans with high total polyphenol content and reduced bitterness and the like, and a method for roasting raw cacao beans. Roasted cacao beans are obtained by roasting raw cacao beans in a state in which the pressure has been reduced below atmospheric pressure by heating for a prescribed period using microwaves so that the bean surface temperature reaches a temperature in the range of 50-90° C. The microwave heating time is preferably in the range of five to ten minutes.

Spirulina infused gummies containing micronutrients for consumption by a person to deliver beneficial and necessary nutrients to the person and a method of preparing spirulina infused gummies to eliminate the bad odor and taste normally associated with spirulina. The gummies have pectin, water, citric acid, sugar and/or glucose and spirulina. Preservatives and flavor additives can also be included. The method of making the gummies includes heating a mixture of citric acid and water, adding pectin and sugar to the mixture and then stirring, adding hot glucose to the mixture, stirring the mixture and allowing the mixture to cool, adding spirulina to the mixture followed by continuous stirring, adding additional citric acid to the mixture, stirring until jellification begins, pouring the mixture into molds and removing the mixture from the molds when cool. Preferably, a preservative and a flavor additive are added to the mixture prior to the additional citric acid.