Anaerobic tea steeper and method of use

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.

1 . A container apparatus for steeping intact or fragments of dried tea leaves in water in substantially anaerobic conditions, comprising 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 has an air outlet positioned at the top of the container, which container is formed in such a way that when the tea leaves and water are placed therein the air exits the container through the air outlet so that 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, thereby effecting substantially anaerobic conditions.  
     
     
         2 . The container apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container is made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metals, heat-resistant plastics, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The container apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tea leaves contain green tea leaves.  
     
     
         4 . The container apparatus of  claim 1 , which further comprises a dish which has a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the container.  
     
     
         5 . A container apparatus for steeping intact or fragments of dried tea leaves in water in substantially anaerobic conditions, comprising 
 (a) 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 has an air outlet positioned at the top of the container, which container is formed in such a way that when the tea leaves and water are placed therein the air exits the container through the air outlet so that 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, thereby effecting substantially anaerobic conditions,    (b) an air outlet in communication with the container,    (c) (b) a tea leaves inlet in communication with the container,    [[(d)]] (c) a water inlet in communication with the container,    [[(e)]] (d) a tea extract outlet in communication with the container, and    [[(f)]] (e) an optional closable opening for cleaning the container.    
     
     
         6 . A container apparatus for steeping intact or fragments of dried tea leaves in water in substantially anaerobic conditions, comprising 
 (a) 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, and which has a top opening for receiving a quantity of water, and    (b) [[a]] an air regulating 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,    wherein when intact or fragments of dried tea leaves and water are placed into the container and the air regulating lid is placed on the top-opening of the container, air present in the container exits the container through the top opening lid is adapted such that there is no significant contact between the water and atmospheric air and there is no significant amount of air trapped under the air regulating lid in contact with the water, thereby effecting substantially anaerobic conditions.    
     
     
         7 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the air regulating lid has a downward protruding bottom adapted to extend below the surface of the water.  
     
     
         8 . The container apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the container and air regulating lid are made of ceramic, porcelain, glass, metals, heat-resistant plastics, or mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The container apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the container is a ceramic or porcelain mug of about 10 cm in height and about 8 cm in inner diameter, and the air regulating lid is about 8.5 cm in its outer diameter with a discoid downward protruding bottom of about 7.5 cm in diameter.  
     
     
         10 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , which further comprises a 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 hot water when the air regulating lid is placed on the top-opening of the container.  
     
     
         11 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the container has a handle.  
     
     
         12 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the container has spout to facilitate pouring of tea steeped within the container apparatus.  
     
     
         13 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the container is pre-marked to show a user the level to which the container should be filled with water.  
     
     
         14 . The container apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the tea leaves contain green tea leaves.  
     
     
         15 . A container apparatus for steeping intact or fragments of dried tea leaves in water in substantially anaerobic conditions, comprising 
 (a) 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 container is optionally pre-marked to show the user the level to which the container should be filled with water,    (b) [[a]] air regulating 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, and    (c) a 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 air regulating 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 air regulating lid is placed on the top-opening of the container, air present in the container exits the container through the top opening 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 air regulating lid in contact with the water, thereby effecting substantially anaerobic conditions.    
     
     
         16 . The container apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the tea leaves contain green tea leaves.  
     
     
         17 - 36  Canceled