A process for producing a tea extract containing non-polymer catechins, comprising the steps of immersing unfermented tea leaves in ethanol or an ethanol-water solution having an ethanol concentration of from 85 to 99.5 vol% to obtain unfermented tea leaves such as herein described having a percentage catechin residue of at least 80 wt % based on a catechin content of said unfermented tea leaves before said immersion in said ethanol or ethanol-water solution, and extracting said unfermented tea leaves with warm water or hot water.
