PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a herb extract that is a substance derived from a natural product and that can provide a functional beverage capable of improving taste by masking salty taste and being excellent in flavor balance, a method for producing a functional beverage using the herb extract, a method for masking the salty taste of a beverage using the herb extract, and a functional beverage.SOLUTION: This method for producing a herb extract for use in a functional beverage containing at least one kind of mineral component selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium includes: a process of soaking herbs in hot water for moistening a process of steam-distilling the moistened herbs obtained in the process to obtain a distillate a process of extracting the steam-distilled herbs with hot water to obtain an extract liquid, and a process of mixing the distillate with the extract liquid to obtain a herb extract.COPYRIGHT: (C)2014,JPO&INPIT【課題】天然物由来の物質であり、塩味をマスキングして呈味を改善することができ、香味バランスに優れた機能性飲料を提供可能な香草エキスの製造方法、該香草エキスを用いた機能性飲料の製造方法、該香草エキスを用いた飲料の塩味マスキング方法および機能性飲料を提供する。【解決手段】本発明の香草エキスの製造方法は、カルシウム、マグネシウム、カリウムおよびナトリウムよりなる群から選択される少なくとも1種のミネラル成分を含む機能性飲料に用いられる香草エキスの製造方法であって、香草類を温水に浸漬して、湿潤させる工程と、前記工程で得られた湿潤した前記香草類を水蒸気蒸留し、溜出液を得る工程と、水蒸気蒸留後の香草類を温水で抽出し、抽出液を得る工程と、前記溜出液と前記抽出液とを混合して香草エキスを得る工程と、を含む。【選択図】なし
