The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for drying and/or roasting beans for foodstuff, such as cocoa beans, or parts of beans, such as cocoa nibs, comprising a frame, a drum (2) for receiving the beans or parts of beans rotatably mounted in the frame and at least partially closed at one end (3) and open at the other (4), a shell (5) enveloping the drum (2), a door (7) for closing the open end (4) of the drum (2), a heater (19) for heating the drum (2), and a fan and a valve (26) for maintaining an underpressure in the space (20) between the drum (2) and the shell (5). A seal (30) is located in the clearance between the drum (2) and the shell (5).

Systems and methods for processing food products. One aspect is a system for processing food products including a base member, a vessel member defining a vessel volume, an opening formed through the vessel member, a vessel lip surrounding the opening; a vessel lid connected to the vessel member to substantially seal the opening; a motor shaft, at least one mixing member connected to the motor shaft and within the vessel volume; a motor connected to the motor shaft; and grinding media within the vessel volume for grinding and mixing food products, where energizing the motor urges the motor shaft and the at least one mixing member to rotate within the vessel volume to agitate the grinding media; and where the grinding media includes first grinding media and second grinding media

In one aspect, with a sounding rocket, a space-capsule bean roasting system is placed into a sub-orbital flight path. The space-capsule bean roasting system includes a re-entry capsule. The re-entry capsule includes a bean roasting system and a payload of raw beans. The re-entry capsule re-enters the Earth's atmosphere at a specific trajectory. The re-entry heat is transferred to the bean roasting system. The payload of raw beans is roasted with the re-entry heat.

A multilayered, flexible, and generally flat pouch for transporting and dispensing chocolate, including first and second elongated generally rectangular multilayered portions sealed together to yield a deformable generally rectangular fluid-tight sachet defining an internal volume and separating the internal volume from an external environment. The sachet further defines a top end, an oppositely disposed bottom end, and first and second sides extending therebetween. An untempered chocolate portion is contained within the internal volume. A tear notch is formed through at least one side and disposed adjacent the top end and a weakened tear strip extends between the second side and the bottom end. The sachet is substantially fluid-tight, and first and second elongated generally rectangular multilayered portions each further comprise an outer layer, an inner high-slip layer, a printable binding layer disposed between the inner and outer layers, and a metal vapor barrier layer disposed between the inner and outer layers. When actuated, the first weakened tear strip produces a corner pour spout through which molten chocolate may be extracted from the sachet. When actuated, the second weakened tear strip produces a central aperture through which molten chocolate may be extracted from the sachet.

A food product includes first and second shells containing multiple ingredients. The first and second shells are attached to each other by an edible bonding agent. The shells are configured to be dissolved or melted into a heated liquid to release the multiple ingredients and the edible bonding agent is configured to be dissolved or melted into the heated liquid in order to form a heated beverage. The multiple ingredients include a first ingredient that dissolves into the heated liquid and a second ingredient.

Provided are: a composition having an excellent anti-norovirus effect; use of a theaflavin compound for the preparation of the composition; and a method for preventing infection with a norovirus using a theaflavin compound. A theaflavin compound is used as an active ingredient for preventing infection with a norovirus. The theaflavin compound is preferably used together with an alcohol. The theaflavin compound is preferably one or more members selected from the group consisting of theaflavin, theaflavin-3-O-gallate, theaflavin-3′-O-gallate and theaflavin-3,3′-O-digallate that are derived from tea components.

The present invention provides the use of a composition obtainable from the pulp of a plant in the theobroma genus or an extract of said pulp, as an ingredient in a chocolate product.

The present invention provides the use of a composition obtainable from the pulp of a plant in the theobroma genus or an extract of said pulp, as an ingredient in a chocolate product.

Proposed is a self-optimizing, adaptive industrial chocolate production system (1), and method thereof. The system comprising a chocolate mass processing line (11) with at least dosing means (2), one or more mixers (3), one or more refiners (4), one or more conches (5), and liquefying and tempering means (6). Appropriate inter-dependent operational parameters of the various devices (2/3/4/5/6) are measured by real-time measuring devices and transmitted to a controller device 12. The measured inter-dependent operational parameters are mutually optimized and dynamically adjusted providing an optimal operation at least in terms of the characteristics of the end chocolate mass 7 and/or throughputs of the chocolate production line 11 and/or other operation conditions as energy consumption.

The invention relates to a composition for coating a frozen confection, the composition comprising, expressed in weight % (based on the total weight of the coating), 50 to 60 wt % of non-fat solids, 40 to 50 wt % of fat, which comprises a fat blend of hardening fat and liquid oil, wherein the fat blend consisting of 45 to 55 wt % of liquid fat and 55 to 45 wt % of hardening fat, and wherein the hardening fat comprises at least 8% anhydrous milk fat, preferably 8 to 22% milk fat, and wherein the composition is free from water. The invention also relates to a method for making the coating composition.