Cacao pod pericarp (CP) is used to produce a food ingredient, or flour, using convective-heat or freeze-drying and/or microwave drying methods. The observed physical and technological properties of dried CP revealed its potential application as an ingredient in manufactured food products. The levels of bioactive compounds are significantly increased in the dried CP samples compared to the raw material, especially in the case of the freeze dried methods. The commercially advantageous use of the cacao pod waste material can be used in treatments for humans and animals in order to improve several anthropometric measurements or cardiometabolic markers in the blood and to improve the composition and mass of the body. Embodiments for treating humans and animals include administering orally to decrease LDL/HDL ratios or triglyceride/HDL ratios, or administering topically as a cosmetic to treat fine lines, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and other skin conditions.

The present invention relates to a stable emulsion of an aqueous phase in a lipid phase wherein non-fatty cocoa solids and/or non-fatty milk solids are present in the lipid phase. The present invention further relates to a process for making an emulsion, said process comprising adding the lipid phase in two steps.

A process for producing powdered cocoa shells as a food ingredient, as replacer for cocoa powder, to impart coloration in food products, and as fat bloom inhibitor in cocoa-based products.

The invention relates to a method of producing dark cocoa powder comprising the steps of separating cocoa butter from cocoa solids and mixing an alkalizing agent with the cocoa solids, wherein the cocoa solids contain equal to or less than 7 wt % fat, the alkalizing agent is added in an amount of equal to or less than 7 wt %, and the cocoa solids are alkalized to an L-value of equal to or less than 9.

In the present application, alkalization of cocoa natural products may be carried out by using a stable alkaline water (pH levels of up to 10.5 or more) with the aim to produce alkalized chocolate products with pleasant organoleptic, less sugar content, less acidity, high antioxidants contents, and addition of novel soluble ingredients to chocolate. This can be achieved by using the stable alkaline water produced by a Natralysis Process in alkalizing cocoa nibspre, during and post grinding, alkalizing the cocoa liquor and alkalizing the natural cocoa powder. The present application discloses a method or apparatus (3, 9, 15) in which a cocoa natural product and/or one or more of its derivatives is alkalized by using stable alkaline water.

A spreadable food product based on chocolate and hazelnuts is described, comprising hazelnut paste in a weight percentage included between 35% and 40%, sugar in a weight percentage included between 32% and 40%, cocoa powder in a weight percentage included between 9% and 10%, extra-virgin olive oil in a weight percentage included between 7% and 10%; the use of the spreadable food product based on chocolate and hazelnuts is further disclosed, for reducing glycemia and for increasing the dilatation of blood vessels.

The use of ultrasound or acoustics applied at a level below that which causes cavitation to control the energy balance between particles and the liquid phase in a metastable liquid.

The present invention provides food compositions such as jellied food pastes comprising cacao pod husk (CPH). More specifically, the present invention provides compositions comprising from 5.0 to 70.0% (dry matter weight/w) of one or more sugars; from 0.150 to 7.50% (dry matter weight/w) of CPH; from 0.10 to 4.0% (w/w) of pectin; from 0.10 to 7.0% (w/w) of one or more co-texturizers; from 0.030 to 3.0% (w/w) of citrate ions; from 0.0010 to 0.50% (w/w) of calcium ions; from 0.0 to 2.0% (w/w) of preservative; and water up to 100.0%; wherein the composition has a Brix comprised from 45 to 75 and a pH from 2.8 and 4.5. The present invention further relates to food products comprising such compositions and processes to obtain them.

Natural, dark brown cocoa products are disclosed. Processes for producing such natural, dark brown cocoa products are also disclosed, as well as foods including such cocoa products.

The present invention discloses a non-hydrogenated cocoa butter replacer chocolate and manufacturing method thereof consisting of the following percentages of raw materials: a non-hydrogenated vegetable oil: 35-50%; a white sugar: 30-50%; a cocoa powder: 6-30%; a milk powder: 5%-40%; a maltodextrin: 1-10%; a soybean protein: 2-8%; a glyceryl monostearate: 1-5%; a soybean phospholipid: 0.2-0.5%; a polyglycerol polyricinoleate: 0.1-0.3%; a sucrose fatty acid ester: 0.1-0.3%; a food flavor: 0.01-0.1%. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: (1) The non-hydrogenated cocoa butter replacer chocolate of the invention does not contain hydrogenated vegetable oil and does not contain trans-fatty acids and can meet people's requirements in health and nutritious foods in today's society. (2) When non-hydrogenated vegetable oil is used as a raw material to prepare cocoa butter replacer chocolate in the present invention, the synergistic effect of the emulsifier overcomes the disadvantages of non-hydrogenated vegetable oils in the process of chocolate production being a soft texture, the process being not easy to operate and the product having a bad taste, and it meets the requirements on quality by the customers.