Apparatus for producing a tea beverage employng a continuous mixing chamber

The present invention relates to a mixing chamber for producing a non-carbonated tea beverage, wherein the tea beverage is susceptible to growth of detrimental microorganisms, comprising: a tea concentrate feed line having a check valve; a hot water feed line; a cold water feed line having a check valve; and wherein the non-carbonated tea beverage is better than an acceptable microbial count and is a substantially homogeneous non-carbonated tea beverage. The present invention also relates to a method of producing a non-carbonated tea beverage, wherein the tea beverage is susceptible to growth of detrimental microorganisms, comprising the steps of: continuously feeding hot water into a mixing chamber; continuously feeding tea concentrate into the mixing chamber; continuously feeding cold water into the mixing chamber; continuously mixing the tea concentrate, hot water and cold water in the mixing chamber; and continuously dispensing a non-carbonated tea beverage wherein the non-carbonated tea beverage is better than an acceptable microbial count and is a substantially homogeneous non-carbonated tea beverage.