Enzymatically Modified Beef Tallow as a Substitute for Cocoa Butter

ABSTRACT: Dark "chocolate" samples were formulated with either cocoa butter (CB), randomized tallow (RT) made with Candida antarctica (SP 435) lipase, or a beef tallow: stearic acid structured lipid (SL) made by acidolysis using Rhizomucor miehei (IM 60) lipase. Fatty acid composition, thermal profile, solid fat content (SFC), hardness, and polymorphic structure were determined for the fats and/or "chocolate" samples. An accelerated fat bloom study was performed on the "chocolate" samples. Neither of the modified tallows had a detrimental effect on the crystallization of CB after proper tempering of the "chocolates." RT did not soften the "chocolate" and both of the modified lipids reduced bloom rates.     

Combination of the Simple Additive (SAW) Approach and Mixture Design to Determine Optimum Cocoa Combination of the Hot Chocolate Beverage

Physicochemical (pH, brix, and color), sensory (color, taste, odor, mouthfeeling, consistency, bitter flavor, and general acceptability), and rheological properties of the hot chocolate beverages including different cocoa combinations were investigated in the present study. Cocoa type significantly affected all of the properties. Simple additive weighting approach was applied to obtain one score from seven different sensory parameters and simple additive weighting score was used in mixture design to determine optimum cocoa type or cocoa combination. Ostwald de Waele model described the flow behavior of the hot chocolate beverage samples with R² values ranged between 0.818 and 0.999. The consistency coefficient (K) and apparent viscosity at shear rate 50 s^?1 (η₅₀) were significantly affected by cocoa type found in the formulation of the beverage. The mixture design approach was performed in order to determine variation of the responses (physicochemical, sensory, and rheological parameters) as a function of cocoa concentration. Simple additive weighting scores were satisfactorily described by established equation as a function of cocoa concentration to be used in the formulation of the hot chocolate beverage (R² = 0.8645).     

乳化剂对可可脂结晶行为的影响

从结晶热力学、动力学及形态学3个方面考察了5种乳化剂对可可脂结晶行为的影响。结果表明:单甘脂的添加降低了可可脂在25～30℃温度范围内的固体脂肪含量,不利于巧克力的加工。山梨醇酐单硬脂酸酯(Span60)的添加使可可脂晶体的三维球晶生长方式向二维平面晶体生长方式转变,并显著加快可可脂的结晶速率。Span60和聚乙氧基硬脂酸山梨糖醇(Tween60)缩短了可可脂的半结晶时间,而单甘脂、卵磷脂及聚甘油多聚蓖麻酸酯(PGPR)使可可脂的半结晶时间延长。偏光显微镜结果表明乳化剂的添加使得可可脂球晶的直径增大。     

Oil Migration in 2-Component Confectionery Systems

ABSTRACT:  Oil migration from high oil content centers into chocolate coatings results in product quality changes. The objective of this study was to monitor and model peanut oil migration in 2-layer systems of increasing phase complexity. Three 2-layer systems were prepared: peanut oil/cocoa butter; peanut butter paste/cocoa butter; and peanut butter paste/chocolate. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure liquid oil signal as a function of position over a storage time of 193 days at 25 °C. The 3 types of samples exhibited appreciably different patterns of oil migration. The peanut oil/cocoa butter samples had mass transfer typical of oil being absorbed into a liquid/solid region. The peanut butter paste/cocoa butter magnetic resonance profiles were characterized by mass transfer with a partition coefficient greater than unity. The peanut butter paste/chocolate samples exhibited a time-dependent peanut oil concentration at the interface between the chocolate and peanut butter paste. The spatial and temporal experimental data of the peanut butter paste/chocolate samples were modeled using a Fickian diffusion model, fitting for the effective diffusivity. Values of the diffusivity for the 6 chocolate formulations ranged from 1.10 to 2.01 × 10⁻¹³ m²/s, with no statistically significant differences.     

Effect of whey and pea protein blends on the rheological and sensory properties of protein-based systems flavoured with cocoa

Whey and pea protein combined in different proportions (100W:0P, 75W:25P, 50W:50P, 25W:75P, 0W:100P) were used to prepare protein-based systems flavoured with cocoa and containing κ-carrageenan or κ-carrageenan/xanthan gum as thickeners. Steady and dynamic shear rheological properties of samples were measured at 10 °C and sensory differences were evaluated. Protein-based systems exhibited a shear-thinning flow behaviour that was fitted to the simplified Carreau model. Samples showed different viscoelastic properties, ranging from fluid-like to weak gel behaviour. For both types of system (with and without xanthan gum) viscosity, pseudoplasticity and elasticity rose on increasing the pea protein proportion in the blend. The sample with only whey protein obeyed the Cox-Merz rule, while in the rest of the samples complex viscosity was higher than apparent viscosity. Regarding sensory properties, the protein blend ratio mainly affected sample thickness, which rose as pea protein proportion increased. However, at the same time, the chocolate flavour and sweetness decreased and the off-flavour increased.     

Influence of cocoa butter refining on the quality of milk chocolate

A refining step is often crucial for the removal of undesired components in fats and oils. More flexible refining technologies are required due to a global decline in cocoa butter quality and to meet industry’s demand for cocoa butters with improved properties. The aim was to investigate the impact of the cocoa butter refining process on milk chocolate quality. Therefore a crude cocoa butter was subjected to a steam refining at different temperatures and this with or without a silica pretreatment. The major effect of the silica pretreatment was the complete removal of phosphorus (thus phospholipids), iron and alkaline components. During the steam refining step mainly Free Fatty Acids (FFA) were removed at increased temperatures (T ? 200 °C). The refining of the cocoa butter influenced the rheological properties of the chocolate. An increased packed column temperature, coinciding with the removal of FFA, resulted in a lower yield stress and a higher viscosity. Reduction of FFA positively influenced the crystallization kinetics and the formation of the crystal network, resulting in differences on a macroscopic scale.     

Comparative study of cytotoxic and cytoprotective activities of cocoa products affected by their cocoa solids content and bioactive composition

Polyphenolic profile and antioxidant properties of water extracts of milk, semisweet and dark chocolates, as well as cocoa liquor, were determined and examined for potential biological activity. Non-fat cocoa solids (NFCS), phenolic compounds content and the antioxidant capacity of cocoa product extracts were determined using UV/Vis spectrophotometric methods and HPLC analysis. The increase in NFCS was consistent with the increase in polyphenol content and antioxidant properties. Methylxanthines, theobromine and caffeine constituted the most abundant bioactive compounds, followed by flavan-3-ols epicatechin and procyanidin B2. Cytotoxic and antioxidative/prooxidative effects of cocoa product extracts were determined on human laryngeal carcinoma cell line (HEp2). Cocoa liquor containing the highest NFCS exhibited the lowest HEp2 cell viability, while milk chocolate characterized by the lowest NFCS exhibited no cytotoxic effect. Experiments revealed a strong relationship between the type of product/concentration/time of exposure and antioxidant/prooxidant character of cocoa products. Lower concentrations of semisweet, dark chocolate and cocoa liquor induced an increase in ROS formation, while the higher concentrations resulted in a decrease in ROS formation when compared with control (growth medium). Principal component analysis of the obtained results revealed specific grouping of samples (milk chocolate and cocoa liquor), while the observed dispersions indicated that the outcome of cytotoxic and cytoprotective activities of cocoa products are greatly affected by their concentration.     

OBSERVATIONS OF CHOCOLATE DURING CONCHING BY SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY AND VISCOMETRY

Dark semi-sweet chocolate samples, obtained at various times during conching, were cooled and prepared for examination by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in an attempt to observe structural changes during conching. In addition, ingredient mixtures containing known amounts of cocoa solids, microcrystalline cellulose, starch, sucrose and lecithin were studied to correctly identify the components of chocolate. Pulverized sucrose particles were easily characterized by their smooth surfaces and heterogeneous shapes. Defatted chocolate liquor was rougher in appearance and smaller in size than sucrose. Cellular detail of the cocoa bean was evident in liquor even after the disruptive effect of refining. Lecithin, when added to liquor-sugar and cocoa butter-sugar mixtures, had a remarkable and rapid effect in reducing three-dimensional structure. When processed chocolates from four different conches were examined by SEM, little or no differences were observed in the size or shape of the sugar or liquor particles as conching proceeded. Surface smoothening, however, was noted and attributed to the homogenization or spreading of cocoa butter during conching. When lecithin was added to chocolate during conching the surfaces were reduced and appeared to flatten. The effect of lecithin in reducing surface tension was also supported by viscometry. Viscometric measurements taken at this time showed that the increase in fluidity was accompanied by a sharp and rapid decrease in plastic viscosity.     

Occurrence of ochratoxin A in cocoa by-products and determination of its reduction during chocolate manufacture

This work reports an investigation carried out to assess the natural occurrence of ochratoxin A in 168 samples from different fractions obtained during the technological processing of cocoa (shell, nibs, liquor, butter, cake and cocoa powder) and the reduction of ochratoxin A during chocolate manufacture. Ochratoxin A analyses were performed with immunoaffinity columns and detection by high performance liquid chromatography. Concerning the natural ochratoxin A contamination in cocoa by-products, the highest levels of ochratoxin A were found in the shell, cocoa powder and cocoa cake. The cocoa butter was the least contaminated, showing that ochratoxin A seems to remain in the defatted cocoa solids. Under the technological conditions applied during the manufacture of chocolate in this study and the level of contamination present in the cocoa beans, this experiment demonstrated that 93.6% of ochratoxin A present in the beans was reduced during the chocolate producing.     

Analysis and occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in cocoa

The primary objective of this study was to establish a current situation assessment of the possible occurrence of deoxynivalenol in cocoa and cocoa products. Since there was no analytic method for determining DON in cocoa and cocoa products, a special method was developed. The applicability and consistency of the method was confirmed by performing recovery assays on various cocoa products. A special post-column derivatisation procedure was used to increase selectivity and raise sensitivity by a factor of 80. The method’s limit of detection (LOD) was thereby reduced to 7 μg/kg; the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 14 μg/kg. The method was used to test 230 samples for possible DON content, ranging from cocoa beans to cocoa bean shells, nibs, cocoa liquor and cocoa powders through to finished cocoa-based products. In the case of cocoa beans and cocoa bean shells, DON content close to the detection limit was only determined in isolated cases. No DON content was detected in nibs, cocoa liquor, cocoa powders and finished cocoa-based products. Analogous to ochratoxin A and aflatoxins, the results show DON is more likely to be found in cocoa bean shells. Separation of shells during cocoa processing can reduce potential DON contents. Since no DON was determined in the fractions relevant for chocolate production, these assays show it does not represent a considerable issue for the cocoa and chocolate industry.     

纯脂巧克力用脂及其分析、应用研究进展

近年来纯脂巧克力日渐受欢迎,但可可原料面临产量有限且不稳定的制约因素,限制了纯脂巧克力的发展。作为与可可脂组分及特性最为接近的可可脂替代品,类可可脂的原料来源广泛,产品稳定性有提升空间,并且在提升纯脂巧克力品质方面有改善作用,因此类可可脂的相关研究也获得国内外广泛关注。通过对可可脂及类可可脂的组成、结晶特性、分析方法及纯脂巧克力的耐霜、抗热品质改善等方面进行综述,以期对纯脂巧克力用脂、巧克力品质改善等提供相关参考。     

The role of nonfat ingredients on confectionery fat crystallization

Confections such as chocolate and biscuit fillings are composed of a continuous fat phase that contains dispersed nonfat ingredients such as sugar and cocoa powder. Research on fat crystallization and rheology in confections often extrapolates crystallization and textural properties from bulk to mixed systems while overlooking the important role of composition or particle interactions. For example, in chocolate processing the fat phase aids dispersed phase lubrication and fluidity whereas the dispersed particles assist in fat crystallization by providing many nucleation sites. In confections with a high dispersed phase volume fraction, fat crystallization may be hindered due to reduced triacyglycerol mobility, confinement, and increased tortuosity. This is further complicated in systems with slow crystallizing fats such as palm oil whose crystallization is exceptionally sensitive to composition and processing. This review breaks down the physical chemistry of fat-based confections and discusses the impact of different nonfat ingredients towards fat crystallization and rheology. The behavior of palm oil is further highlighted as it is becoming increasingly popular as a confectionery ingredient. Lastly, ingredient-ingredient interactions and their role in fat crystallization are described along with force spectroscopy as a novel tool to characterize such phenomena. Force spectroscopy utilizes atomic force microscopy to measure intermolecular forces as a function of distance but remains largely unexplored in the area of food science.     

Enzymatically modified tea seed oil as cocoa butter replacer in dark chocolate

Cocoa butter replacer (CBR) was prepared by enzymatic interesterification of hydrogenated and solid fraction (SF) of tea seed oil at weight percent ratio of 30:70, using sn‐1,3 specific lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus. Dark chocolate samples were then prepared with the prepared CBR as a replacement for 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of cocoa butter (CB) and the effect of the replacement on hardness (as a key quality factor in chocolate) of the chocolate samples was investigated. Results showed that chocolate samples containing 5% and 10% of interesterified sample (EIS), had the closer texture to that of CB chocolate than other samples. The solid fat content (SFC) profiles also revealed that blending 10% of EIS with CB in chocolate formulation dose not affect the sharp melting point of CB. Based on the results taken from bloom formation, polymorphic structure and sensory evaluation, adding up to 10% of EIS in chocolate formulation reduces the bloom development without adverse affecting the desirable β crystal formation and sensory qualities in the chocolate samples.     

EFFECTS OF CONCHING TIME AND INGREDIENTS ON PREFERENCE OF MILK CHOCOLATE

The objective of this study is to determine how the conching time and the quantity of sucrose, lecithin, cocoa butter and whole milk powder affect consumer preference for milk chocolate. Untrained panelists performed a sensory study consisting of acceptability, preference and attribute intensity. Longer conching time produced significantly smoother chocolate with smaller particle size. The longest conche times had the smallest particle size and were the most mouthcoating. There was no change in flavor with conching. The longer conche times were preferred. Panelists preferred higher sucrose levels, and increasing sucrose decreased bitterness and increased chocolate flavor. Increasing lecithin increased smoothness, but less lecithin was preferred, possibly due to off-flavors at high levels of lecithin. Increasing cocoa butter yielded softer chocolate but did not affect bitterness. Panelists preferred 10% over higher levels of cocoa butter. More milk powder produced smoother chocolate with more caramel flavor and was preferred.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The perceived quality of milk chocolate is affected by conching time, sucrose, lecithin, cocoa butter and whole milk powder. Texture was affected the most by conching, milk powder, lecithin and cocoa butter. Flavor was affected the most by milk powder and sugar. The only variable that did not affect acceptability and preference of milk chocolate was time for underconched samples. While this study did not determine the optimum conditions for milk chocolate, the most preferred and/or acceptable samples were conched for at least 12 h, had 35 to 50% sucrose, 0–0.5% lecithin, 5–10% cocoa butter and 13–30% milk powder.     

氢化棉籽油等温结晶动力学的研究

用脉冲核磁共振(PNMR)法测定了两种氢化条件下氢化棉籽油的固体脂肪含量(SFC)。根据不同温度下固体脂肪含量随时间的变化绘制等温结晶曲线。等温结晶曲线有两种:双曲线和反曲线。当过冷却度高时,结晶曲线为双曲线;当过冷却度低时,结晶曲线为反曲线。用Avrami方程进行氢化棉籽油的等温结晶动力学分析,结果表明:过冷却度与晶体的成核和生长方式有显著相关性。当过冷却度高时,结晶常数较小,晶体成核和生长速率快;当过冷却度低时,结晶常数较大,晶体成核和生长速率慢。研究氢化棉籽油的结晶行为对人造奶油、起酥油和可可脂替代品基料油的选择有一定的指导意义。     

Study of the structural properties of goat's milk chocolates with different concentrations of cocoa mass

The objective of this study was to assess the microstructural characteristics of goat's milk chocolates formulated with different concentrations of cocoa mass by rheological measurements and microscopy. For rheological characterization, rotational and oscillatory tests were performed, while crystal morphology was observed by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and 3D optical profilometer. It was verified that the chocolates presented pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior. The Herschel–Bulkley model adequately described the flow behavior of the formulations. In the oscillatory tests, it was found that the tangent δ (loss) decreased from 0.33 to 0.17 as a function of the increase in cocoa mass concentration. The creep recovery tests were consistent with the other rheological tests. The analysis of AFM and profilometer indicated that there are different microscopic pores on the surface of the chocolates, and that with the increase in the concentration of cocoa mass, it has a structure with greater interactions.     

Characteristics of cocoa butter and chocolates obtained from cocoa varieties grown in Bahia, Brazil

Due to the attack of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plants by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa which caused witches’ broom disease in the state of Bahia, Brazil, resistant clonal material with elevated productivity and superior physical characteristics has been selected for use in the genetic improvement program and by the cocoa producers themselves. The present study aimed to characterize the cocoa butter and chocolates produced from nine cacao varieties and also from the Amelonado cacao produced in the same region (denominated as Common), with a view to quality improvement. The cocoa butter was characterized for its solid fat content and triacylglycerol composition, and the chocolates for their moisture and protein contents, maximum particle diameter, pH value, acidity, rheological properties and instrumental texture, as well as a sensory test for acceptability with 50 consumers. A relationship was found between the triacylglycerol composition and solid fat curves of the cocoa butters and the instrumental texture of the chocolates, the highest values for the latter parameter being observed for the varieties with greater amounts of symmetrical triacylglycerols and greater solid fat contents at the temperatures evaluated. From a sensory point of view, it was shown that overall acceptance and buying intention were mainly determined by the attributes of “astringency,” “bitterness,” “acidity” and “chocolate flavor.” It was also shown that chocolates produced from varieties descendent from the Trinitario group were differentiated from those descendent from the Forastero group, showing the preference of consumers for these materials and the possibility of a gain in quality in the genetic improvement of cacao by including varieties descended from the Trinitario and Criollo groups in the crossing programs, associating disease resistance with product quality.     

A comparison of antioxidant properties between artisan‐made and factory‐produced chocolate

The antioxidant capacities and the total phenolic content in cocoa liquor directly manufactured chocolate from an artisan manufacturer were measured using different in vitro methods (BR, TEAC, and Folin–Ciocalteu Reagent). These parameters were then compared with those of a chocolate made by a leading manufacturing company producing chocolate and cocoa‐containing products. A statistical analysis of the collected data showed that the antioxidant properties of the artisan‐made chocolate are significantly better than those of the factory‐produced one. These results were ascribed to the fact that all the bioactive components in the cocoa beans are better preserved in the artisan‐made chocolate.