Method for making juice concentrates

Claim 1

A PROCESS OF PRODUCING A CONCENTRATE FROM A BEVERAGE LIQUID CONTAINING FLAVORING ESTERS, WHICH PROCESS COMPRISES INTRODUCING AND RECIRCULATING THE BEVERAGE LIQUID IN A CLOSED RECIRCULATORY SYSTEM WHILE SUBJECTING THE LIQUID TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES, MAINTAINING THE RECIRCULATING LIQUID IN A STATE OF CONTINUOUS AGITATION TO CONVERT IT INTO A PUMPABLE SLURRY HAVING AN ICE CRYSTAL SIZE OF LESS THAN ABOUT 1/32 INCH IN THE GREATEST DIMENSION, CONTINUOUSLY REMOVING A PORTION OF THE SLURRY SO FORMED FROM THE RECIRCULATORY SYSTEM AND SUBJECTING IT TO CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATION TO REMOVE THE ICE CRYSTALS FROM A LIQUID CONSTITUTING A FIRST CONCENTRATE HAVING A HIGHER BRIX VALUE THAN THE ORIGINAL BEVERAGE LIQUID AND CONTAINING SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FIAVORING ESTERS PRESENT IN THE ORIGINAL BEVERAGE LIQUID EXCEPTING FOR THE PORTION THEREOF WHICH CLINGS TO THE ICE CRYSTALS, AND THEREAFTER SUBJECTING THE ICE CRYSTALS TO A SINGLE WASHING TREATMENT WITH WATER CONDUCTED WITH THE ICE CRYSTALS AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE FREEZING POINT AND WITH THE WASHING WATER AND AT TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE FREEZING POINT, THE QUANTITY OF WATER EMPLOYED BEING PROPORTIONED TO PROVIDE A SECOND CONCENTRATED HAVING A BRIX VALUE CLOSELY APPROACHING THE BRIX VALUE OF THE FIRST CONCENTRATE, AND AN ICE RESIDUE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY NO BRIX VALUE.