PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF EPITHEAFLAGALLIN, AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF BEVERAGE CONTAINING EPITHEAFLAGALLIN

摘要

[PROBLEMS] To provide a simple process for production of epitheaflagallin and epitheaflagallin-3-O-gallate which can be used in a food directly, and a process for production of a beverage containing epitheaflagallin and epitheaflagallin-3-O-gallate by utilizing the above-mentioned process. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] Disclosed is a process for production of an epitheaflagallin compound, which comprises reacting epigallocathechin and/or epigallocathechin gallate with polyphenol oxidase in the presence of gallic acid to convert the epigallocathechin and/or epigallocathechin gallate into epitheaflagallin and/or epitheaflagallin-3-O-gallate, respectively. Also disclosed is a process for production of a beverage containing an epitheaflagallin compound, which comprises adding gallic acid to a tea leaf extract and reacting the mixture with polyphenol oxidase to convert at least a part of epigallocathechin and/or epigallocathechin gallate contained in the tea leaf extract into epitheaflagallin and/or epitheaflagallin-3-O-gallate, respectively.