JPH11192076A - Frozen drink - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a frozen drink capable of allowing a cryopreservation of a drink to be readily carried out without adding a preservative while keeping the flavor of the drink, and capable of being readily defrosted by sealing ice fragments and a liquid in the interior of a container, and cooling the container to freeze the liquid. SOLUTION: The frozen drink having ice fragments and a container sealing the ice fragments is obtained by packing the ice fragments including a part or the whole of the ice fragments seasoned or colored, and a liquid having >=5.0% solid content and the volume of <=1/2 of the container volume in the interior of the container, and cooling the container to freeze the liquid. The frozen drink has a little volume expansion even if the frozen drink is subjected to the frozen preservation, because the frozen drink has the ice fragments packed therein, and thereby the drink can be readily subjected to the frozen preservation while reducing the load on the container. Further, the frozen drink facilitates readily providing the drink with good flavor by an easy defrosting operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a frozen beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It has been known that a beverage is preferably frozen in order to preserve the flavor while preserving the beverage. However, conventionally, it has not been practiced to freeze (that is, freeze) beverages such as coffee and juice, store them, and sell them directly at stores. Usually, beverages are sold in liquid form in cans, bottles, or plastic bottles. One possible reason is that when a beverage that is a liquid is frozen and stored, the volume of the beverage expands during freezing, so that the performance required for the container becomes severe and the cost becomes unreasonable. Because it takes
Consumers' demands for immediate drinking can be difficult to answer. Therefore, in conventional beverages (beverages sold to final consumers), they are rarely sold as frozen. Generally, in order to maintain the flavor of the beverage, measures such as adding a preservative and filling with nitrogen have been taken.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a frozen beverage in which a beverage can be easily stored in a frozen state and can be easily thawed. .

[0004]

The frozen beverage according to the first aspect of the present invention has an ice piece and a container in which the ice piece is enclosed. Here, the drink may be any drink such as coffee, tea, juice, soup, and water. Further, the beverage may be drunk at a low temperature (normal temperature or lower) or may be drunk at a high temperature (normal temperature or higher).
As the ice pieces, granular ice, sliced (scale-like or mica-like) ice (for example, ice obtained by the method of the embodiment of JP-B-5-1691), ice that has been shaved, and the like can be used. To obtain a flavored or colored beverage in the present invention, a flavored or colored ice piece may be used as the ice piece itself, or an ice piece consisting of simple ice and a small amount of flavored or colored liquid The mixture with the above may be filled in a container. It is preferable that the size of the ice pieces be 10 g or less per one ice piece from the viewpoints of ease of filling work, ease of melting, and the like. The container is preferably made of a material that can withstand heating, and more preferably a material (for example, paper) that can withstand heating in a microwave oven. The frozen beverage of the present invention is heated by an arbitrary heating means such as a microwave oven to melt ice pieces. This frozen beverage has the advantage that it dissolves quickly because it encloses small pieces of ice per piece. Further, in this frozen beverage, since the solid ice pieces are enclosed, the amount of increase in the volume of the frozen beverage during frozen storage can be suppressed to a low level. Therefore, there is an advantage that the burden on the container can be reduced, and the cost for the container can be reduced. After the temperature of the frozen beverage of the present invention is raised to a desired temperature according to the beverage, the frozen beverage is used as a normal beverage.

[0005] A frozen beverage according to a second aspect is the frozen beverage according to the first aspect, wherein an ice block larger in volume than ice pieces is further enclosed in the container.

A frozen beverage according to a third aspect is the frozen beverage according to the first or second aspect, wherein a part or all of the ice pieces are flavored or colored ice.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a frozen beverage, wherein ice pieces and a liquid are sealed in a container, and then the container is cooled to freeze the liquid.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for producing a frozen beverage according to the fourth aspect, the volume of the liquid is set to not more than 1/2 of the volume of the container.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the frozen beverage manufacturing method according to the fourth or fifth aspect.
The solid content (so-called Brix) of the liquid was set to 5.0% or more (% is used in the specification in terms of% by weight).
Here, when the solid content is 4.5% or less, if the liquid is frozen and then thawed, the solid content is 5.0%.
There are disadvantages that the thawing time is increased as compared to the above case, and that the frozen liquid is likely to remain along the bottom and side portions of the inner surface of the cup even when the thawing operation is performed.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beverage providing method according to any one of the first to third aspects.
The frozen beverage produced by the method for producing a frozen beverage according to any one of Items 1 to 6, is heated in a microwave oven to obtain a beverage.

[0011]

Example 1 In a paper cup (container), 127 g of ice pieces obtained by ordinary ice cutting (for example, ice cutting by a drum with a blade as shown in FIG. 5 of JP-B-5-1691) and solid content 12 g of 22% coffee extract and 40 cold water (2 ° C)
g. Here, the coffee extract and the cold water were mixed before being put in the container. The solids content (Brix) of the mixture of coffee extract and cold water is about 5.3% in this example. In this example, the ice piece weighed about 0.5 to 7 g per piece. Further, since the ice piece of this example was obtained by shaving ice, it was relatively elongated and thin. Then, the inside of the paper cup was closed with a lid. Then, the paper cup was placed in a temperature atmosphere of -20 ° C (in a freezer). Thereby, the mixture of the coffee extract and the cold water was completely frozen. In this state, the paper cup swelled very slightly. However, since the volume of the liquid could be reduced by the amount of the ice pieces, in this example, the amount of expansion could be kept low within a range in which there was no problem in terms of strength and appearance. . One week later, the paper cup was taken out of the freezer and heated in a microwave oven having an output of 1400 W for 45 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined. Then, inside the paper cup, coffee (that is, iced coffee) having a temperature of approximately 6 ° C. almost uniformly, and small ice particles having a diameter of about 5 mm (of ice chips, those remaining partially unthawed) ) Was floating. When this iced coffee was tasted, it was excellent in flavor. Further, unlike Example 4 and Comparative Examples described later, ice blocks did not remain on and adhere to the inner surface of the container, and all except for the small floating ice particles described above could be melted, so that the commercial value was high. there were. Table 1 shows the presence / absence of ice blocks attached to the bottom of the container in each Example and Comparative Example.

[0012]

[Table 1]

That is, the frozen beverage of Example 1 could provide a flavorful iced coffee. Also,
The frozen beverage could be provided without burdening the container. Furthermore, compared with the comparative example described later, the beverage could be sufficiently dissolved even if the heating time was shortened. Further, in this example, since not only ice pieces but also cold water is added, there is an advantage that the volume of the beverage obtained by thawing can be increased as compared with the case where only ice pieces are added.

[0014]

Example 2 In a paper cup (container), 10 g of flavored and colored small ice blocks (ice pieces), 12 g of a 22% solids coffee extract, and 38 g of cold water (2 ° C.) were prepared.
And 120 g of ice chips obtained by the same ice shaving. Here, the flavored and colored small ice blocks are the ice itself with the taste and color of coffee. Such a small ice block can be obtained, for example, by crushing a colored ice block obtained by the manufacturing method disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-70066. As for the size of the crushed ice blocks, the weight per piece is about 0.5 to 10
g. The average volume per crushed ice block is set to be about 50% larger than the average volume per ice piece obtained by ordinary ice shaving. Of course, the shape of the crushed ice block was irregular, but many were block-shaped. Also in this example, the iced coffee extract and the cold water were previously mixed before being put into the paper cup. The solids content (Brix) of the mixture of coffee extract and cold water is about 5.6% in this example. Next, the inside of the paper cup was sealed with a lid. Then, the paper cup was placed in a temperature atmosphere of -20 ° C (in a freezer). Thereby, the mixture of the coffee extract and the cold water was frozen. In this state, although the paper cup swelled very slightly, the volume of the liquid was small, so the swelling was within a range without any problem. One week later, the paper cup was taken out of the freezer and heated in a microwave oven having an output of 1400 W for 40 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined. Then, in the inside of the paper cup, coffee (that is, iced coffee) having a temperature of about 6 ° C. almost uniformly regardless of the place is added with a diameter of 5-1.
Ice particles of about 0 mm and larger colored ice (residual colored ice blocks) were in a floating state. Colored ice blocks are blocky unlike ice that has been shaved,
It is thought that it was easy to survive. When this iced coffee was tasted, it was excellent in flavor.

That is, the frozen beverage of Example 2 had the same advantages as those of Example 1. Further, in the frozen beverage of the second embodiment, since coffee-colored ice can be floated, there is an advantage that the commercial value can be further improved. In addition, since ice having the taste of coffee is used, the amount of coffee extract or cold water added can be reduced accordingly, and therefore, the amount of ice blocks formed at the bottom of the container can be reduced. . Therefore,
There is also an advantage that the thawing time can be shortened.

[0016]

Example 3 A frozen beverage obtained under the conditions described in Example 1 was heated in a 1400 W microwave oven for 80 seconds.
As a result, hot coffee heated at a temperature of about 80 ° C. almost uniformly was obtained. In this example, no ice chips remained.

[0017]

Example 4 In a paper cup (container) were placed 12 g of a coffee extract having a solid content of 22%, 58 g of cold water (2 ° C.), and 110 g of ice chips obtained by ice-cutting as in Example 1. . Also in this example, the coffee extract and the cold water were mixed in advance before being put into the paper cup. The solids content (Brix) of the mixture of coffee extract and cold water is about 3.9% in this example. Next, the inside of the paper cup was sealed with a lid. Then, the paper cup was placed in a temperature atmosphere of -20 ° C (in a freezer). Thereby, the mixture of the coffee extract and the cold water was frozen. In this state, although the paper cup swelled very slightly, the volume of the liquid was small, so the swelling was within a range without any problem.
One week later, remove the paper cup from the freezer and output 140
Heated in a 0 W microwave for 45 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined. Then
Inside the paper cup, coffee (i.e., iced coffee), which has a temperature of about 6 ° C almost uniformly, has a diameter of 5 m.
About m m of ice particles were floating. When this iced coffee was tasted, it was excellent in flavor.

However, in the frozen beverage of Example 4,
Some amount of massive ice (mixture of coffee extract and cold water) remained on the side and bottom of the inner surface of the container as if sticking.
This itself does not substantially reduce the flavor, but causes a problem of lowering the commercial value.
The problem is that the mixture of coffee extract and cold water (ie, the part that freezes at the bottom of the container) has a solid content of 5.0%.
It is thought to be due to lower.

[0019]

Example 5 In a paper cup (container), 127 g of ice pieces obtained by ice-cutting in the same manner as in Example 1, 11 g of orange-concentrated fruit juice concentrated to 1/5, 20 g of liquid sugar, and a little A mixture of sourness and flavor and 22 g of cold water (2 ° C.) was added. The solids content (Brix) of the mixture of orange juice, liquid sugar and cold water is about 38 in this example.
%. Next, the inside of the paper cup was sealed with a lid. Then, the paper cup was placed in a temperature atmosphere of -20 ° C (in a freezer). As a result, the mixture of the concentrated orange juice, liquid sugar, and cold water was frozen. In this state, although the paper cup has expanded very slightly, the volume of liquid is small,
This expansion was within a range without any problem. One week later, the paper cup was taken out of the freezer and heated in a microwave oven having an output of 1400 W for 30 to 40 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined. Then
Inside the paper cup, orange juice with a temperature of approximately 6 ° C. is almost uniformly floated with ice particles of about 5 to 10 mm in diameter (some of the ice chips remain unthawed). Had become. When the orange juice was tasted, it was excellent in flavor.

That is, in the frozen beverage of the fifth embodiment, the same advantages as those of the first embodiment were obtained except that the kind of the beverage was different.

[0021]

Example 6 In a paper cup (container), 120 g of ice chips obtained by ice-cutting in the same manner as in Example 1, 10 g of orange-concentrated fruit juice concentrated to 1/5, 20 g of liquid sugar, and a little A mixture of sourness and flavor, 22 g of cold water (2 ° C.), and 15 g of a small colored ice block colored orange and colored orange was added. The production method and the size of the colored ice block are the same as those in the second embodiment. The solid content (Brix) of the mixture of orange concentrated juice, liquid sugar and cold water is
In this example, it is about 37%. Next, the inside of the paper cup was sealed with a lid. Then, put the paper cup at -20 ° C.
Temperature atmosphere (freezer). As a result, the mixture of the concentrated orange juice, liquid sugar, and cold water was frozen. In this state, although the paper cup swelled very slightly, the volume of the liquid was small, so the swelling was within a range without any problem. One week later, the paper cup was taken out of the freezer and heated in a microwave oven having an output of 1400 W for 30 to 40 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined. Then, inside the paper cup, orange juice whose temperature is approximately uniform at about 6 ° C is added to the orange juice with a diameter of 5
Ice particles of about 10 to 10 mm and a larger orange small ice block (remaining colored ice block) were in a floating state. When the orange juice was tasted, it was excellent in flavor.

That is, the frozen beverage of Example 6 had the same advantages as the frozen beverage of Example 5. Furthermore, in the frozen beverage of Example 6, similarly to the frozen beverage of Example 2,
Since orange colored ice can be floated, there is an advantage that commercial value can be improved. In addition, since ice having an orange flavor is used, the amount of orange juice or cold water added can be reduced accordingly, and therefore the amount of ice blocks at the bottom of the container can be reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that the thawing time can be shortened.

[0023]

[Comparative example]

In a paper cup (container), 167 g of cold water
A mixture with 12 g of coffee extract having a solid content of 22% was added. The solids content (Brix) of the mixture of coffee extract and cold water is about 1.5% in this example. Then, the inside of the paper cup was closed with a lid. Then, the paper cup was placed in a temperature atmosphere of -20 ° C (in a freezer). Thereby, the mixture of the coffee extract and the cold water was completely frozen. In this state, the paper cup was in a considerably expanded state due to expansion of the frozen beverage, and was not only low in commercial value in appearance but also high in risk of breakage. One week later, the paper cup was taken out of the freezer and heated in a microwave oven having an output of 1400 W for 50 seconds. After heating, the lid of the paper cup was removed, and the internal state was examined.
Then, inside the paper cup, a large ice block that has not been thawed,
The beverage remained so as to stick from the bottom to the side of the inner surface of the container, and had no commercial value as a beverage. Then, when the frozen beverage similarly frozen was heated for 80 seconds, the remaining ice blocks were very small, but the variation in the temperature of the thawed beverage became extremely large depending on the location. For example, immediately after thawing, there were partially a place near 40 ° C and a place at about 5 ° C. Of course, the temperature could be uniform if stirred, but it was rather difficult to drink before stirring and the commercial value was low. Furthermore, if the thawing time is lengthened, it becomes difficult to thaw a beverage (such as iced coffee or juice) to be served at a low temperature to an appropriate temperature.

That is, when ice pieces are not used as in the comparative example, there is a disadvantage that freezing and thawing are difficult. This disadvantage may also be due to the low Brix of the mixture of coffee extract and cold water. However, if the amount of the extract is increased in order to forcibly raise Brix, there is a disadvantage that the flavor is changed, and there is a problem that it is not easy to solve the problem. In contrast, Examples 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6
Since the amount of cooling water using ice chips is small, the Brix of the mixture can be easily increased to an appropriate range (5.0% or more) by adding an extract.

[0026]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a frozen beverage having ice pieces and a container in which the ice pieces are enclosed. If the liquid beverage filled in the container is simply frozen, there is a disadvantage that a load is applied to the container and it takes time to thaw the frozen beverage. Since the ice pieces made small by ice or the like are sealed in the container, there is an effect that melting quickly when heated. Further, since the ice pieces are enclosed, there is an effect that even if the frozen beverage is frozen and stored, the volume expansion is small, and the burden on the container can be reduced. Further, since the beverage can be easily stored in a frozen state, there is also an effect that a flavorful beverage can be easily provided.

[0027] The frozen beverage according to claim 2 is the frozen beverage according to claim 1, wherein an ice block larger in volume than ice pieces is further enclosed in the container.
After thawing, ice blocks can be reliably floated on the surface of the thawed beverage (liquid), and the commercial value of the beverage can be increased.

[0028] In the frozen beverage according to the third aspect of the present invention, the frozen beverage according to the first or the second aspect is formed such that a part or the whole of the ice pieces is flavored or colored ice. You can float flavored or colored ice. Therefore, there is an effect that the commercial value can be improved. In addition, when the flavored or colored ice is used as ice pieces, the amount of liquid used for flavoring and coloring the ice pieces can be reduced accordingly. Then
The amount of ice blocks formed at the bottom of the container during the cryopreservation of the beverage can be reduced. Therefore, there is also an effect that the thawing time can be shortened.

[0029] A method for producing a frozen beverage according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is configured such that after the ice pieces and the liquid are sealed in the container, the container is cooled to freeze the liquid. Here, when only ice pieces are filled in the container, air enters between the ice pieces, so that when melted, the capacity of the beverage tends to decrease. On the other hand, according to the production method of the fourth aspect, there is an effect that the volume of the beverage obtained by thawing can be increased as compared with the case where only ice pieces are used.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the method for manufacturing a frozen beverage according to the fourth aspect, the volume of the liquid is set to be equal to or less than の of the volume of the container. Has the effect that the thawing time of the frozen beverage does not increase much. Especially in microwave ovens,
Since the vicinity of the bottom of the container is easily heated, the liquid can be heated to less than half the volume of the container and frozen near the bottom of the container, thereby facilitating the heating, and thus reducing the thawing time. Can be.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the frozen beverage manufacturing method according to the fourth or fifth aspect.
Since the solid content of the liquid (so-called Brix) is set to 5.0% or more, the thawing time can be reduced.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for providing a beverage according to any one of the first to third aspects.
7. Since the frozen beverage produced by the method for producing a frozen beverage according to any one of to 6 is heated to a microwave to form a beverage, the frozen beverage is thawed in a relatively short time. , Can be provided as a beverage.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A frozen beverage comprising ice pieces and a container in which the ice pieces are enclosed. 2. The frozen beverage according to claim 1, wherein an ice block larger in volume than the ice pieces is further enclosed in the container. 3. The frozen beverage according to claim 1, wherein a part or the whole of the ice pieces is flavored or colored ice. 4. A method for producing a frozen beverage, wherein ice pieces and a liquid are sealed in a container, and the liquid is frozen by cooling the container. 5. The volume of the liquid is one of the volume of the container.
The method for producing a frozen beverage according to claim 4, wherein the ratio is not more than / 2. 6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the solid content of the liquid is not less than 5.0%. 7. The frozen beverage according to any one of claims 1 to 3 or the frozen beverage produced by the method for producing a frozen beverage according to any one of claims 4 to 6 is heated in a microwave oven. A method for providing a beverage, comprising: