JP4884130B2 - Food composition - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a food composition in which an unpleasant flavor of an ingredient that is difficult to ingest due to an unpleasant flavor is masked.

  In recent years, health foods have attracted much attention, and various food materials that promote health have been actively developed. As an effect of ingesting such health foods, for example, it is known that if you take turmeric before drinking alcohol, you will not get a hangover, garlic is nourishing and good, etc. Opportunities are increasing. However, many food ingredients that are considered good for health have a problem with flavor, and those that have been processed as they are, or those that have only been slightly processed, feel an unpleasant taste and aroma (flavor) when ingested. Sometimes. Moreover, it is difficult to ingest continuously due to the unpleasant flavor.

  As a method for masking an unpleasant flavor at the time of ingestion, for example, several patents using cocoa powder and sweeteners have been filed as a method for relieving taste discomfort caused by a chemical ingredient at the time of taking a pharmaceutical product ( For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). All of these techniques aim to improve the taste by using the bitter taste of cocoa powder and the sweetness of sugars and sweeteners, and are useful for overcoming the unpleasant flavor of drugs. However, these are techniques for making it easier to take the ingredients of pharmaceuticals. In fact, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is to be taken in the form of a cocoa beverage, and the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 is intended to prepare a chewable tablet containing cocoa powder. .

  According to the technique disclosed in the patent document, it is known that a certain taste improvement can be performed. However, in the case of a cocoa beverage, it is necessary to disperse in water or hot water, and the preparation is troublesome. Moreover, there exists a problem that an unpleasant flavor will be felt strongly by disperse | distributing to water. On the other hand, those prepared in the form of chewable tablets and the like need to be chewed in the mouth, and when chewed, they become powdered and mixed with saliva, which causes a strong unpleasant flavor of the chemical component.

Moreover, in order to make it easy to ingest turmeric, adding turmeric powder to chocolate is examined (for example, refer patent document 3). However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 is intended to reduce the off-flavor and bitterness characteristic of turmeric when it is mixed with chocolate by pre-processing turmeric. On the other hand, when untreated turmeric powder is blended with chocolate, it has been confirmed that it is incomplete in terms of flavor improvement.
JP 2002-193839 A JP 2000-95710 A JP 2001-163793 A

  The present invention masks an unpleasant flavor of an ingredient that is difficult to ingest because it has an unpleasant flavor and can be easily and continuously ingested, a method for producing the food composition, and an unpleasant The main purpose is to provide a flavor masking method.

  The present inventors have conducted intensive studies and found that uncomfortable flavors such as turmeric can be masked and easily ingested by combining a specific bitter component and a specific amount of fats and oils. The present invention has been completed as a result of further research based on such findings.

The present invention provides the following food composition, method for producing the food composition, and method for masking unpleasant flavors.
Item 1. Food composition containing the following components (A) to (C):
(A) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, meshimakobu, mekabu, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean An ingredient having at least one unpleasant flavor selected from:
(B) a component having at least one bitter taste selected from the group consisting of cocoa powder, cacao mass, green tea ground product, green tea extract, coffee bean ground product and coffee bean extract; and (C) 12-44% by weight Oils and fats.
Item 2. Item 2. The food composition according to Item 1, comprising 15 to 50% by weight of the component (B) having the bitter taste.
Item 3. Claim | item 1 or 2 foodstuff composition which contains 1-6 weight part of fats and oils with respect to 1 weight part of component (A) which has the said unpleasant flavor.
Item 4. Item 4. The food composition according to any one of Items 1 to 3, further comprising a saccharide.
Item 5. A method for producing a food composition comprising the following steps:
(I) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, mesimacob, mekab, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean At least one selected from the group (A) having an unpleasant flavor, cocoa powder, cacao mass, green tea ground product, green tea extract, coffee bean ground product and coffee bean extract A step of mixing the component (B) having a bitter taste of 12 to 44% by weight of a fat (C); and (ii) a step of heating and kneading the mixture to a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the fat (C).
Item 6. An unpleasant flavor masking method comprising blending the following components (A) to (C):
(A) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, meshimakobu, mekabu, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean An ingredient having at least one unpleasant flavor selected from:
(B) a component having at least one bitter taste selected from the group consisting of cocoa powder, cacao mass, green tea ground product, green tea extract, coffee bean ground product and coffee bean extract; and (C) 12-44% by weight Oils and fats.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the food composition by which the unpleasant flavor was masked can be provided. That is, according to the present invention, an unpleasant flavor is masked by combining an ingredient that is considered to be good for health but is difficult to ingest due to its unpleasant flavor, a bitter ingredient, and a specific amount of fat. A food composition that can be easily and continuously ingested can be provided. Moreover, since the food composition of the present invention can be provided, for example, in a solid or semi-solid form, it can be easily taken on a daily basis.

(1) Food composition The present invention contains an unpleasant flavor component (A), a bitter component (B), and an oil (C), so that the unpleasant flavor caused by the component (A) can be obtained. The present invention relates to a masked food composition.

Hereinafter, each component of the food composition of the present invention will be described.
(A) Ingredients having an unpleasant flavor In the present invention, an unpleasant flavor is an odor that causes a sense of incongruity as a food such as odor, bitterness, taste, astringency, sourness, hotness, astringency (sensation of numbness), etc. It means a taste that cannot be tasted when eating food.

  The raw material of such an unpleasant flavor component is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include turmeric (including spring turmeric, autumn turmeric and gadget), ginseng, ashwaganda, kanka, nanana ginseng, ginger, maca and garlic. , Agaricus, Ezoukogi, Meshimabubu, Mekabu, Alame, Honda Walla, Akamok, Mozuku, Hijiki, Indian Dates, licorice, and hash bean. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The raw material of the component having an unpleasant flavor may be used as it is, and a dry pulverized material of the raw material, a dry powder of the extract, a freeze-dried material of the raw material or the extract, etc. may be used. From the viewpoint of easy dispersion and mixing, it is preferable to use a dried product having a low water content (preferably containing no water).

  Examples of the extraction method of the extract include a method of extracting a raw material dried product with water or hot water, or extracting with an organic solvent and filtering. The extraction conditions are not particularly limited as long as they are generally applied to plant extraction. Furthermore, after extraction and filtration, the extract may be concentrated as necessary. As a concentration method, a conventional method such as an evaporator can be used. Moreover, refining operations such as deodorization and decolorization can be added as long as the nutrition of each raw material is not lost. When preparing the composition of the present invention, it is easier to disperse and mix in the fats and oils (C) when the water content is lower (preferably not containing water). It is desirable to use a product obtained by re-dissolving a dry powder of the extract in a solvent other than water (for example, ethanol).

  In the food composition of the present invention, the blending amount of the component having an unpleasant flavor is not particularly limited as long as the effect of each raw material is obtained, but for example, about 1 to 20% by weight, preferably 1 to 15% by weight. %. For example, when turmeric powder is used as a component having an unpleasant flavor, it is about 5 to 20% by weight, preferably 5 to 15% by weight, from the viewpoint of its effective amount and the intake of the food composition per serving. .

(B) Ingredient having bitterness In the present invention, the ingredient having bitterness is not particularly limited as long as it is conventionally used as a food. For example, cocoa powder (cocoa powder), cacao mass, pulverized green tea or green tea extract Products, ground coffee beans, and coffee bean extracts. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more. The green tea extract or coffee bean extract can be obtained from the green tea or coffee bean pulverized product by the above extraction method.

  The content of the bitter component in the food composition of the present invention is about 15 to 50% by weight, preferably about 20 to 36% by weight, more preferably about 20 to 32% by weight, more preferably 22 to 30% by weight. It is. With such a content, it is possible to mask an unpleasant flavor based on the component (A), and the food composition is made semi-solid or solid from the relationship with the blending amount of the fat (C). can do. Here, the semi-solid form or the solid form means a state in which a certain shape is maintained as a food composition at 15 ° C.

  Moreover, for example, the cocoa powder used as the component (B) having a bitter taste in the present invention contains about 10 to 20% by weight of fats and oils such as cocoa butter. Therefore, in such a case, “content of the component having bitterness” refers to an amount obtained by subtracting the amount of fats and oils from the total weight of the component having bitterness.

(C) Fats and oils The fats and oils used in the food composition of the present invention are solid at room temperature and preferably dissolve properly when put in the mouth, and use fats and oils having a melting point of about 30 to 50 ° C. Is more preferable. In the present invention, edible oils and fats having the above properties can be used without particular limitation. For example, cocoa butter, palm oil, coconut oil, shea fat and other vegetable oils, lard and other animal fats, shortening, etc. Of the hardened oil. These fats and oils can be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among them, shortening and cocoa butter can be preferably used because they can effectively mask an unpleasant flavor and dissolve appropriately when put in the mouth.

  The amount of fats and oils in the food composition of the present invention is about 12 to 44% by weight, preferably about 14 to 42% by weight, more preferably about 20 to 42% by weight, and further preferably about 25 to 40% by weight. If it exists in this range, the food composition obtained can be made into semi-solid form or solid form, and an unpleasant flavor can be masked effectively.

  Further, for example, the cocoa powder used as the component (B) having a bitter taste in the present invention is obtained by refining and degreasing cocoa beans and then powdering it. Contains about 20% by weight. Therefore, if the component having bitterness such as cocoa powder already contains fat and oil, the amount of fat and oil (C) is adjusted as necessary, and the total amount of fat and oil in the food composition of the present invention is It is preferable to be within the above range. Moreover, when the fats and oils contained in the raw material of the component which has a bitter taste correspond to the compounding quantity of the said fats and oils in the food composition of this invention, it is not necessary to add fats and oils (C).

  The blending ratio of the component (A) having an unpleasant flavor and the fat (C) in the food composition of the present invention is such that the fat (C) is 1 when the component (A) having an unpleasant flavor is 1 part by weight. About 6 parts by weight, preferably about 2 to 5.5 parts by weight, more preferably about 3 to 5 parts by weight. With such a blending ratio, components having an unpleasant flavor can be wrapped with fats and oils, and when the food composition is ingested, it dissolves moderately in the mouth and diffuses slowly so that it is difficult to feel an unpleasant flavor.

(D) Other components Carbohydrate can be further included in the food composition of the present invention as a component other than those described above. By including a saccharide, not only can an unpleasant flavor be masked more effectively, but also a food composition with excellent palatability can be provided.

  Examples of the saccharide used in the present invention include conventionally known saccharides and are not particularly limited. For example, aspartame, amacha, amacha powder, licorice, licorice extract, licorice crude extract, licorice powder, liquid sugar, fructose, glucose (Including fructose glucose liquid, glucose fructose liquid sugar, etc.), reduced maltose (including reduced maltose water candy sugar), glycine, glycerin, dipotassium glycyrrhizinate, disodium glycyrrhizinate, trisodium glycyrrhizinate, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, Brown sugar, high fructose liquid sugar, glucose, powdered reduced maltose water candy, water candy, reduced water candy, high glucose water candy, lactose, sucrose (sugar), refined sucrose, refined sucrose spherical granules, honey, refined honey, saccharin, Saccharin sodium, trehalose, stevia, sucralose Erythritol, xylitol, D- sorbitol, D- sorbitol solution, maltitol, maltitol solution, maltose, D- mannitol, simple syrup and the like. These carbohydrates can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In the food composition of the present invention, the saccharide is not necessarily required to suppress unpleasant flavors, but is preferably blended appropriately in order to effectively mask unpleasant flavors. For example, when sugar is used as the saccharide, the blending amount is about 20 to 45% by weight, preferably about 20 to 42% by weight, more preferably about 30 to 40% by weight.

  Further, in the food composition of the present invention, components such as conventionally known colorants, preservatives, fragrances, flavoring agents, coating agents, emulsifiers, milk (including whole milk powder, skimmed milk powder, etc.) are optionally included in the food composition of the present invention. Can also be blended.

  The food composition of the present invention is preferably prepared in a solid or semi-solid state. If it is solid or semi-solid, it diffuses slowly in the mouth when ingested, and it is difficult to feel an unpleasant flavor.

  As an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as component (A) having an unpleasant flavor, turmeric powder is about 1 to 20% by weight; as component (B) having bitterness, cocoa powder is about 15 to 50% by weight; Examples thereof include solid or semi-solid food compositions containing about 12 to 44% by weight of C). Such a food composition is preferably taken before, during or immediately after drinking for the purpose of reducing hangover based on the action of turmeric.

(2) Manufacturing method The said foodstuff composition of this invention can be manufactured by mixing the said component (A)-(C) and heating and knead | mixing above the melting | fusing point of fats and oils (C). For mixing and heating and kneading of each component, a conventionally known method may be appropriately selected according to the form of the food composition to be obtained. For example, each component is mixed using a mixer or the like, and then the mixture is mixed with the fat or oil. A method for obtaining a molded food composition by heating to the vicinity of the melting point and then cooling by placing in a mold or the like. When kneaded with the component (A) having an unpleasant flavor and the component (B) having bitterness while being heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the fat (C), the fat and oil are dissolved and each component is uniformly dispersed. The unpleasant flavor in the composition can be effectively masked.

(3) Masking method for unpleasant flavor The present invention is also characterized by blending a component (A) having an unpleasant flavor, a component (B) having bitterness, and an oil (C). A masking method is also provided. The specific raw materials, blending amounts, and the like of each component (A) to (C) may follow the description in the column of (1) Food composition. According to the unpleasant flavor masking method of the present invention, it is possible to make it easy to ingest foods having unpleasant flavors.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, Comparative Examples and Formulation Examples, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Examples According to the formulation described in Table 1, food compositions shown in Examples 1 to 8 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were produced. The manufacturing method is as follows.
(Examples 1-8 and Comparative Examples 2-5)
According to the description in Table 1, predetermined amounts of turmeric powder, cocoa powder, and sugar were mixed for 5 minutes to obtain a powder mixture. Next, a predetermined amount of shortening was mixed with the powder mixture, and the whole was uniformly blended. The kneading was carried out at 50 ° C. while uniformly accustomed to dissolve the shortening. Kneading continued for 3 minutes after the shortening dissolved. The obtained mixture was poured into a mold and allowed to stand at room temperature (about 25 ° C.) for 15 hours to obtain a solid food composition.
(Comparative Examples 1 and 6)
According to the description in Table 1, a predetermined amount of turmeric powder, cocoa powder, and sugar were mixed for 5 minutes to obtain a powdery food composition.
(Masking test)
The obtained food composition was given to nine tasters so that the intake amount as a turmeric powder was 0.2 g (effective amount) per meal. The powdery food composition of Comparative Example 1 was given in the form of a liquid beverage mixed with water. The flavor of turmeric was evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria, and the average score was calculated. If the average score exceeded 3 points, the unpleasant flavor could be effectively masked. The results are shown in Table 1.
<Evaluation criteria>
5 points 4 points I don't care at all 3 points I don't care about 2 points 2

Cocoa powder: Hershey Cocoa Powder Product name Hershey Cocoa (Oil content: average 12%)
Sugar: Granulated sugar CIM, manufactured by ITOCHU Sugar Co., Ltd.
Oils and fats: Shortening made by Cisco, USA Product name All-Vegetable Shortening
Turmeric powder: Turmeric concentrated extract powder M manufactured by Maruzen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

  A food composition containing an ingredient having a bitter taste, an ingredient having an unpleasant flavor, and fats and oils, and all of Examples 1 to 8 in which the total amount of fats and oils is 12 to 44% by weight is effective for an unpleasant flavor. It was clear from the evaluation that it was able to be masked. On the other hand, a food composition (Comparative Examples 1 to 3 and 6) having a fat content of less than 12% by weight, a food composition having a fat content of 44% by weight (Comparative Example 4) or a component having a bitter taste. In the food composition not containing (Comparative Example 5), none of the unpleasant flavors could be sufficiently masked.

  Moreover, it was shown that Examples 2-5 can mask an unpleasant flavor more effectively by prescribing | regulating the quantity of the fats and oils with respect to a turmeric compared with another Example.

  Furthermore, when Example 7 (no sugar) was compared with other examples, it was also shown that the masking effect was enhanced by containing sugar.

Formulation Examples Table 2 shows formulation examples.

Claims (4)

A food composition containing the following components (A) to (C) and having a semi-solid or solid form upon ingestion , wherein 1 to 6 parts by weight of component (A) is 1 to 6 Food composition containing by weight :
(A) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, meshimakobu, mekabu, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean An ingredient having at least one unpleasant flavor selected from:
(B) a component having at least one bitter taste selected from 15 to 50% by weight of cocoa powder and cacao mass ; and (C) 12 to 44% by weight of fats and oils. The food composition according to claim 1, further comprising a saccharide. A method for producing a food composition having a semi-solid or solid form when ingested, comprising the following steps:
(I) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, mesimacob, mekab, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean At least one ingredient (A) having an unpleasant flavor selected from 15 to 50% by weight of cocoa powder, and at least one ingredient (B) having a bitter taste selected from cocoa mass , and 12 to 44% by weight % Fat and oil (C) in such a ratio that component (C) is in a ratio of 1 to 6 parts by weight with respect to 1 part by weight of component (A) ; and (ii) the mixture of fat and oil (C) A process of heating to the melting point or higher and kneading. The following components (A) to (C) are blended at a ratio of 1 to 6 parts by weight of component (C) with respect to 1 part by weight of component (A) , and the form upon ingestion becomes semi-solid or solid An unpleasant flavor masking method, characterized in that it is prepared as follows:
(A) A group consisting of turmeric, ginseng, ashwagandha, kanka, ginseng, ginger, maca, garlic, agaricus, sorghum, meshimakobu, mekabu, arame, hondawala, akamoku, mozuku, hijiki, indian date, licorice and hash bean An ingredient having at least one unpleasant flavor selected from:
(B) 15 to 50% by weight of cocoa powder, and at least one ingredient having a bitter taste selected from cocoa mass ; and (C) 12 to 44% by weight of fats and oils.