MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTROL IN THE PRODUCTION OF ICE TEA

Čaj je piće koje se po konzumaciji nalazi odmah iza vode. U ljetnim mjesecima pije se ledeni čaj, kao alternativa gaziranim pićima. Ovaj osvježavajući napitak dobiva se miješanjem sastojaka kao što je prirodni ekstrakt čaja, voćni sokovi, arome, bojila i zaslađivači s vodom. Ledeni čaj je medij siromašan hranjivim tvarima i ima relativno nisku pH – vrijednost te u njemu može rasti mali broj mikroorganizama, neke vrste bakterija, kvasci ili plijesni. Mikrobiološki problemi u proizvodnji ledenog čaja najčešće se vezuju uz mikroorganizme kvarenja i narušavanje senzorskih svojstva. Stoga je cilj rada bio pratiti mikrobiološku ispravnost sirovina, tehnološki proces proizvodnje i gotovi proizvod, ledeni čaj s okusom breskve. Mikrobiološke analize obuhvatile su određivanje aerobnih bakterija, kvasce i plijesni, koliformne bakterije, Pseudomonas aeruginosa i fekalne streptokoke. Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da se iz mikrobiološki ispravnih sirovina, mikrobiološki čistog postrojenja i ambalaže dobije proizvod, ledeni čaj s okusom breskve siguran za potrošača.Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage, after water. During the summer months, iced tea is consumed as alternative to carbonated drinks. This refreshing beverage is produced by mixing ingredients as natural tea extract, juice, flavourings, food colourings and sweeteners with water. Iced tea is medium with a lack of nutrients and relatively low pH – value, so low number of microorganisms, some bacterial species and yeasts or moulds are capable to grow in it. Microbiological problems in iced tea production are related to microorganisms that induce deterioration of product and its sensorical properties. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to monitor microbiological quality of raw materials, production process and final product, peach flavored iced tea. Microbiological analysis have included determination of aerobic bacteria, yeasts and moulds, coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fecal streptococci. The obtained results show that using microbiologically confirmed raw materials, microbiologically sterile production line and packaging result in production of finished product, peach iced tea which is safe for consumer