PRODUCTION OF TEA LEAF PRODUCT REDUCED IN VIABLE CELL NUMBER

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a tea leaf product such as ground tea reduced in microorganism content without deteriorating its quality such as color, scent and taste. ;SOLUTION: Crushed or ground tea leaves 13 after subjected to steaming and drying processes are directly irradiated in the atmosphere with electron beams 11 withdrawn at an energy of 1 MeV using an electron beam irradiator 10; thereby the tea leaves 13 can be sterilized without deteriorating its quality. The above sterilization process is excellent in germicidal ability, etc., compared to other sterilization processes such as heat steaming sterilization.;COPYRIGHT: (C)1999,JPO