Caramel precursors and chocolate-containing caramel precursors which have a low viscosity and are easy to dispense, pump and meter, but which thicken up on boiling in such a way that resulting caramels or chocolate-containing caramels are of sufficiently high viscosity, and also a method for their manufacture.

A system and method for producing a caramel food colorant according to one example embodiment exhibits improved stability against precipitation and provides a rich brown color. The colorant is particularly useful for modifying the color of alcoholic beverages but has many other potential uses, including uses as an antioxidant. The novel caramel food colorant is produced from a variety of Sorghum bicolor that accumulates deoxyanthocyanidins in the leaves, and varieties that accumulate deoxyanthocyanidins in seed bran. The pigments are extracted from the leaves or bran in acidified water or a solution containing water, alcohol and acid, the pH is then adjusted to basic pH, the solution is briefly heated, then the pigment is used without further purification or purified by adsorption to a commercially available hydrophobic resin, and eluted from the resin with a solution containing water and alcohol.

A system and method for producing a caramel food colorant according to one example embodiment exhibits improved stability against precipitation and provides a rich brown color. The colorant is particularly useful for modifying the color of alcoholic beverages but has many other potential uses, including uses as an antioxidant. The novel caramel food colorant is produced from a variety of Sorghum bicolor that accumulates deoxyanthocyanidins in the leaves, and varieties that accumulate deoxyanthocyanidins in seed bran. The pigments are extracted from the leaves or bran in acidified water or a solution containing water, alcohol and acid, the pH is then adjusted to basic pH, the solution is briefly heated, then the pigment is used without further purification or purified by adsorption to a commercially available hydrophobic resin, and eluted from the resin with a solution containing water and alcohol.

Methods and apparatus are described for the partitioning of difficult to handle materials such as viscous and sticky materials. The partitioning is accomplished accurately and precisely using an apparatus to extrude the material in portions on or in receptacles disposed on a stage.

Methods and apparatus are described for the partitioning of difficult to handle materials such as viscous and sticky materials. The partitioning is accomplished accurately and precisely using an apparatus to extrude the material in portions on or in receptacles disposed on a stage.

A method for removing 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) from solution may include contacting an alkaline earth metal silicate with a solution containing 4-MEI and adsorbing at least some of the 4-MEI using the alkaline earth metal silicate. The method may further include removing at least some of the alkaline earth metal silicate having the adsorbed 4-MEI from the solution. The alkaline earth metal silicate may include magnesium silicate or calcium silicate. A method for removing 4-MEI from solution may include contacting an adsorbent clay material with a solution containing 4-MEI and adsorbing at least some of the 4-MEI using the adsorbent clay material. The method may further include removing at least some of the adsorbent clay material having the adsorbed 4-MEI from the solution. The adsorbent clay material may include smectite, bentonite, or an activated or un-activated AOCS day material.

A method for removing 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) from solution may include contacting an alkaline earth metal silicate with a solution containing 4-MEI and adsorbing at least some of the 4-MEI using the alkaline earth metal silicate. The method may further include removing at least some of the alkaline earth metal silicate having the adsorbed 4-MEI from the solution. The alkaline earth metal silicate may include magnesium silicate or calcium silicate. A method for removing 4-MEI from solution may include contacting an adsorbent clay material with a solution containing 4-MEI and adsorbing at least some of the 4-MEI using the adsorbent clay material. The method may further include removing at least some of the adsorbent clay material having the adsorbed 4-MEI from the solution. The adsorbent clay material may include smectite, bentonite, or an activated or un-activated AOCS day material.

The present invention provides a method for forming caramels having reduced low molecular weight species such as 4-MeI. The low-4-MeI caramels produced by this method have improved stability and taste relative to those known in the art. The invention also extends to the caramels produced by the disclosed methods and the use of such caramels in food and beverages.

The present invention provides a method for forming caramels having reduced low molecular weight species such as 4-MeI. The low-4-MeI caramels produced by this method have improved stability and taste relative to those known in the art. The invention also extends to the caramels produced by the disclosed methods and the use of such caramels in food and beverages.

Class IV caramel color with reduced 4-MeI content is formed by combining carbohydrate with ammonium bisulfite and acid in an amount effective to establish a pH of less than 5. This is heated in a closed reactor vessel and heated to a temperature and for a time effective to provide the desired intensity caramel color. A base is injected into the closed reaction vessel during heating to control the caramelization reaction.