PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a raw tea leaf-extracted essence exhibiting strong tea leaf feeling, and refreshing feeling, having reduced astringency and peculiar flavor, and also having excellent flavor having balanced flavor and easy to drink as a whole, and to provide a food and drink such as tea drink containing the raw tea leaf-extracted essence.SOLUTION: The method for producing the raw tea leaf-extracted essence having the flavor balance and the easily drinkable property includes (A) a step for rapidly freezing the raw teas leaves, (B) a step for extracting the raw tea leaf-extracted essence from the frozen unpulverized raw tea leaves, and optionally, (C) a step for adding en enzyme to the raw tea leaf-extracted essence. As a result, the raw tea leaf-extracted essence having freshness and sweet perfume besides the above-mensioned feelings is provided. The method for producing the raw tea leaf-extracted essence provides the raw tea leaf-extracted essence having the whole flavor balance and the easily drinkable property by a practicable method without passing complicated process.COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT【課題】茶葉感が強く、爽やかさを有し、渋味や雑味が低減され、全体的な風味・バランスや飲みやすさを備えた優れた香味の生茶葉抽出エキス、及び該生茶葉抽出エキスを含有させた茶飲料のような飲食品を提供すること。【解決手段】生茶葉抽出エキスの製造方法において、(A)生茶葉を急速冷凍する工程、及び(B)凍結された不粉砕生茶葉から生茶葉抽出エキスを抽出する工程、或いは、更に、(C)生茶葉抽出エキスに酵素を添加する工程、による処理を採用することにより、風味バランスと飲みやすさを備えた生茶葉抽出エキスを製造する。本発明は、茶葉感が強く、爽やかさ、みずみずしさ、甘い香りを有し、渋味や雑味が低減され、全体的な風味・バランスや飲みやすさを備えた優れた香味の生茶葉抽出エキスを提供すると共に、本発明の生茶葉抽出エキスの製造方法は、複雑な工程を経ることなく、実用的な方法で風味・バランスや飲みやすさを備えた生茶葉抽出エキスを提供する。【選択図】なし
