Anaerobic tea steeper and method of use
First Claim
1. A method of brewing intact or fragments of dried tea under generally anaerobic conditions, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a quantity of intact or fragments of dried tea into a container apparatus which comprises a container which has a closable opening and which is made of inert materials that can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, which container is formed in such a way that when the tea leaves and water are placed therein there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped within the container in contact with the water;
(b) filling the container with water having a temperature of between about 70°
C.-100°
C.;
(c) allowing the tea leaves to be extracted in the water for at least about 10 minutes or until the water temperature cools to a safely drinkable temperature; and
(d) optionally, pouring the liquid of step (c) onto ice and storing in an air-tight container in temperatures below about 37°
C. for consumption within about 24 hours.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention introduces a container in the form of a mug with a lid or in the form of an enclosed vessel of any size and shape for tea steeping wherein the dried tea leaves are extracted with hot water neither in contact with oxygen in the free air nor in contact with oxygen in a pocket of free air in order to maximize the preservation of the antioxidants in the aqueous tea extract to be used as a health-promoting beverage. In accordance with a special aspect of the invention, a standard method of using the novel anaerobic tea mug for preparation of tea extract to be consumed in humans and in dogs for the purpose of disease prevention is described.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of brewing intact or fragments of dried tea under generally anaerobic conditions, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a quantity of intact or fragments of dried tea into a container apparatus which comprises a container which has a closable opening and which is made of inert materials that can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, which container is formed in such a way that when the tea leaves and water are placed therein there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped within the container in contact with the water;
(b) filling the container with water having a temperature of between about 70°
C.-100°
C.;
(c) allowing the tea leaves to be extracted in the water for at least about 10 minutes or until the water temperature cools to a safely drinkable temperature; and
(d) optionally, pouring the liquid of step (c) onto ice and storing in an air-tight container in temperatures below about 37°
C. for consumption within about 24 hours.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of brewing intact or fragments of dried tea under generally anaerobic conditions, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a quantity of intact or fragments of dried tea into a container apparatus which comprises a container which is made of inert materials that can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 10020 C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, and which has a top opening for receiving a quantity of water, and a lid sized to fit releasably on the top-opening of the container, which is made of inert materials that can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water;
(b) filling the container with water having a temperature of between about 70°
C.-100°
C.;
(c) immediately placing the lid onto the top-opening of the container so that there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped under the lid in contact with the water;
d) allowing the tea leaves to be extracted in the water for at least about 10 minutes or until the water temperature cools to a safely drinkable temperature; and
(e) optionally, pouring the liquid of step (d) onto ice and storing in an air-tight container in temperatures below about 37°
C. for consumption within about 24 hours.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of brewing intact or fragments of dried tea leaves under generally anaerobic conditions, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a quantity of loose green tea leaves into a container apparatus which comprises a container which is made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metals or heat-resistant plastics, which can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, which has a top opening for receiving a quantity of water, which has a handle, which has a spout to facilitate pouring of tea steeped within the container apparatus, and which is optionally pre-marked to show the user the level to which the container should be filled with water,a lid sized to fit releasably on the top-opening of the container, which is made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metals or heat-resistant plastics, which can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, and which has a downward protruding bottom adapted to extend below the surface of water contained within the container, anda dish which has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the container, which dish is adapted for the container to rest on and to catch any overflowing water when the lid is placed on the top-opening of the container;
wherein when intact or fragments of dried tea leaves and water are placed into the container and the lid is placed on the top-opening of the container, the lid is adapted such that the downward protruding bottom extends below the surface of the water and there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped under the lid in contact with the water, (b) filling the container with water having a temperature of between about 70°
C.-100°
C. so that the water level is at least at or near the top-opening or up to a pre-marked position on the container;
(c) immediately placing the lid onto the top-opening of the container so that there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped under the lid in contact with the water;
(d) allowing the tea leaves to be extracted in the water for at least about 10 minutes or until the water temperature cools to a safely drinkable temperature; and
(e) optionally, pouring the liquid of step (d) onto ice and storing in an air-tight container in temperatures below about 37°
C. for consumption within about 24 hours.- View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of brewing intact or fragments of dried tea leaves under generally anaerobic conditions, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a quantity of intact or fragments of dried tea leaves into a container apparatus which comprises a container which is made of inert materials that can withstand contact with water having a temperature of at least 100°
C. without releasing components or odors of the materials into the water, which container is formed in such a way that when the tea leaves and water are placed therein there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped within the container in contact with the water,an air outlet, a tea leaves inlet, a water inlet, a tea extract outlet, and an optional closable opening for cleaning the container;
(b) placing intact or fragments of dried tea leaves in the tea leaves inlet, (c) filling the container with water through the water inlet, which water has a temperature of between about 70°
C.-100°
C.;
(d) releasing any air present in the container through the air outlet;
(e) allowing the tea leaves to be extracted in the water for at least about 10 minutes;
(f) releasing tea extract through the tea extract outlet; and
(g) optionally, pouring the tea extract onto ice and storing in an air-tight container in temperatures below about 37°
C. for consumption within about 24 hours.
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Specification