THE PRESENT INVENTION PROVIDES A BEVERAGE PRECURSOR COMPRISING TEA MATERIAL AND FOOD-GRADE ADDITIVE, WHEREIN THE BEVERAGE PRECURSOR IS PRESENT IN AN AMOUNT WHEREIN CONTACT OF THE BEVERAGE PRECURSOR WITH 250 ML WATER FOR 2 MINUTES AT 90°C PRODUCES A BEVERAGE COMPRISING CATECHINS IN AN AMOUNT OF BETWEEN 0.05% AND 2% BY WEIGHT OF THE BEVERAGE. THE PRESENT INVENTION ALSO PROVIDES A PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A BEVERAGE PRECURSOR COMPRISING MACERATING TEA LEAF AND/OR STEM WITH A ROTORVANE AND AT LEAST ONE CTC PROCESS.