GB2410998A - Ice for beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

An ice cube 10 to be put in a drink comprises inner and outer layers 12, 14 which are visually different and/or which differ in taste so that after the outer layer 14 has melted the drink will alter its appearance and/or its taste. The ice cube 10 may be formed by forming the inner core 12 by simple freezing, and subsequently suspending the inner core in a solution eg of blue food dye at the freezing point of the solution, such that the outer layer 14 is frozen around the inner core. The inner core may have an alcohol content, leading to the inner core being liquid at the temperature at which the ice cube is served.

Description

24 1 0998 Ice for Beverages This invention relates to ice for beverages.

For the avoidance of doubt, ice for use in beverages need not comprise pure frozen water. Instead, the ice may be made up of a substance in aqueous solution or suspension, subsequently frozen.

Ice is widely used to maintain the temperature of a beverage at a desirably low level. It is an object ofthe present invention to provide ice with further effects which may be attractive to a user.

According to the invention, there is provided a piece of ice for use in a beverage, the ice comprising an outer layer of a first substance, and an inner layer of a second substance, wherein the outer layer completely surrounds the inner layer.

The first substance may comprise a frozen aqueous solution of an edible agent. The second substance may also comprise a frozen aqueous solution of an edible agent. The or each edible agent may be a food dye.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first and second substances comprise frozen aqueous solutions of food dyes of different colours. In that way, as the piece of ice melts in a beverage over time, the first substance is mixed with the beverage, giving a visual effect. As the first substance melts completely, the second substance becomes exposed to the beverage, and it too melts and mixes with the beverage, resulting in a different visual effect. Combinations of colours for the two substances may be selected as required.

It will be appreciated that the piece of ice may be composed of more than two layers, if required.

Furthermore, one or both of the substances may comprises a solution of a flavouring, which will be released into a beverage in use. One of the substances, may be alcoholic, the alcohol being released into the beverage progressively as the beverage is consumed.

Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description of a specific embodiment according to the invention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ice cube in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross- sectional view of the ice cube of figure 1 in the direction of arrows II- II.

An ice cube 10 of conventional cuboidal shape consists of an inner core 12 of a yellow food dye in frozen aqueous solution, surrounded by an outer layer 14 of a blue food dye in frozen aqueous solution.

In use, the ice cube 10 will progressively melt in a beverage in which it is placed. If the beverage is initially colourless, it will gradually turn blue due to the melting ofthe outer layer 14 of the ice cube 10, and thereafter will turn green through the melting ofthe inner core 12 and subsequent mixing of the yellow and blue dyes.

The ice cube 10 may be formed by forming the inner core 12 by simple freezing, and subsequently suspending the inner core 12 in a solution of blue food dye at the freezing point of the solution, such that the outer layer 14 is frozen around the inner core.

It will be appreciated that the inner core need not remain frozen once the outer layer has been formed. In the case that the substance of the inner core has an alcohol content, it may have a greatly reduced freezing point relative the substance ofthe outer layer, leading to the inner core being liquid at the temperature at which the ice cube is served. Once the outer layer has melted such that the inner layer is exposed to the beverage in which it is placed, the liquid alcoholic substance is immediately mixed with the beverage.

Other substances, such as cordials, could be used instead of or in conjunction with the agents described above, to provide a beverage with a taste which varies with the passage of time.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS: I. An ice cube (as herein defined) for use in a drink, the cube

   comprising inner and outer layers having different characteristics of colour and/or taste, at least the outer layer being soluble and consumable and the arrangement being such that when the outer layer has dissolved in the drink the inner layer imparts to the drink a different visual and/or taste characteristic than was previously imparted to it by the outer layer.
2. 2. A cube as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner layer is also soluble and o consumable.
3. 3. A cube as claimed in either preceding claim, wherein the outer layer fully encapsulates the inner layer.
4. 4. A cube as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer layer is a frozen aqueous solution of an edible agent.
5. 5. A cube as claimed in claim 4, wherein all of the layers are frozen aqueous solutions of respective, different edible agents.
6. 6. A cube as claimed in claim 5, wherein the different agents are visually different.
7. 7. A cube as claimed in 5 or claim 6, wherein the different agents differ in taste.
8. 8. A cube as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the layers has an alcoholic content and another of the layers does not.
9. 9. A cube as claimed in claim 8, wherein the layer having the alcoholic content is the inner layer.
10. 10. An ice cube (as herein defined) for use in a drink substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawing.