This invention provides edible compositions comprising pharmaceutically or nutraceutically active agents in particulate form homogeneously dispersed in a fat matrix, such as chocolate or chocolate compound coating.

Systems for dispensing chocolate, in one aspect including an exterior housing with first volume; a vertical support member; a base support member; a dispenser guiding member within the first volume; an extruder connection member extending through the housing and having a first end within the housing and a second end outside of the housing, defining a pivot axis; an extruder member connected to the first end; a lever connected to the second end; at least one extruder guide member within the first volume and connected to the extruder member; and at least one extruder guide rail connected to the housing within the first volume and capable of receiving the at least one extruder guide member; and where manual actuation of the lever pivots the extruder member in cooperation with the at least one extruder guide member.

A conching apparatus having: a container, which forms an accommodating space for a product mass, a shaft, which is accommodated, at least in part, in the container and is designed to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and at least one conching tool, which is coupled to the shaft for joint rotation therewith, the conching tool therefore, during conching operation of the conching apparatus, moving in a first direction of circulation along a circulatory path. The conching tool here includes an operative surface, which is directed towards the inner wall of the container and is designed such that a radial gap between the inner wall of the container and the operative surface decreases, at least in part, counter to the first direction of circulation. The invention also relates to a method for conching a product mass.

Methods and systems for providing processed cocoa nibs are provided. The methods involve coarse grinding cocoa nibs to form a slurry and subjecting less than all of the cocoa slurry to refining. The refined and unrefined volumes or portions of cocoa slurry are then recombined to provide a recombined cocoa product. The cocoa nibs produced by the method may be further processed to provide cocoa liquor or chocolate.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a chocolate dough in a melted liquid state, wherein a polyglycerin-condensed ricinoleic acid ester and a phospholipid, which are contained in the chocolate dough, have at least an intermediate state in which the mass ratio of the content of the polyglycerin-condensed ricinoleic acid ester to the content of the phospholipid is 100:0 to 70:30. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a chocolate dough in a melted liquid state, wherein a polyglycerin-condensed ricinoleic acid ester and a phospholipid are contained in the chocolate dough such that the mass ratio of the content of the polyglycerin-condensed ricinoleic acid ester to the content of the phospholipid is 70:30 to 25:75.

A coating apparatus having a rotatable drum with at least one moveable separating element arranged on an end side, and granular bodies can be transferred into the drum and/or out of the drum by a movement that leads to release. A separating element can be moved from a closed position into an open position by rotation about an axis of rotation. In the closed position, a subregion lies with its underside against an inner wall of the drum or has a small gap there. In the open position, the subregion on the underside is spaced apart from the inner wall of the drum and there is an opening there through which granular bodies can pass. On the end sides of the drum there are stop elements with which a drum of at least one further module is connectable in order to form a coating apparatus and/or a closure element.

Some embodiments include a chocolate and tocotrienol composition. In some embodiments, a chocolate and tocotrienol composition may be prepared by a process comprising: mixing melted cocoa butter with about 200 mg of tocotrienol at a temperature of about 57 C.; mixing the mixed melted cocoa butter and tocotrienol mixture with a cocoa mass to create a chocolate and tocotrienol composition; and conching the chocolate and tocotrienol composition. Various other embodiments are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a chocolate product involving the use of hydrated salt, hydrated sugar or hydrated sugar alcohol in the underlying chocolate mass and comprising the steps of refining, conching and optionally tempering of the chocolate mass. The invention further relates to a chocolate product comprising a chocolate mass comprising certain weight proportions of hydratable salt, hydratable sugar or hydratable sugar alcohol, as obtainable by the process of the invention.

The invention provides a device (1) for processing and treating chocolate, with a container (2) and stirring means (3) arranged therein, wherein the container (2) has a processing interior (2a) with a cylindrical wall (4) and an outwardly curved bottom (5) and is set up obliquely, i.e., the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical wall (4) is inclined with respect to the vertical, and wherein the stirring means (3) comprises at least one stirring arm (7), which is rotatable about this center axis (ZA), while projecting from the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical container (4) at least also in the radial direction, and a conching tool (6), which is rotatably arranged at or near the bottom (5) or the lowest vertical point of the container (2) about a an axis of rotation (DA), and wherein the conching tool (6) rotates faster than the stirring arm (7) during operation. In a method according to the invention for processing and treating chocolate, it is provided that a starting mass or an intermediate product of chocolate is filled in an inclined cylindrical container (2) and rotating therein along with at least one stirring arm (7), which rotates about this center axis (ZA), while projecting from the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical container (2) at least also in the radial direction, as well as processed simultaneously by means of a rotatable conching tool (6), which rotates faster than the at least one stirring arm (7) about an axis of rotation (DA), which is inclined relative to the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical container (2). Furthermore, the invention provides for the use of a universal machine for processing and treating nutritional and food products, processing and treating chocolate, wherein the universal machine comprises a container (2) and stirring means (3) arranged therein, and wherein the container (2) has a processing interior (2a) with a cylindrical wall (4) and an outwardly curved bottom (5), and arranged obliquely, i.e. the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical wall (4) is inclined with respect to the vertical, and wherein the stirring means (3) comprise at least one stirring arm (7), which is rotatable about the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical wall (4), while projecting from the center axis (ZA) of the cylindrical container (2) at least also in the radial direction, and wherein it is further provided that the stirring means (3) comprise a conching tool (6) rotatably arranged at or

The disclosure extends to systems, methods, and devices for mixing a fluid. The system comprises a tank conduit suspended in a tank for receiving a mixture comprising a liquid, wherein the tank holds the mixture. The system comprises a rigid casing configured to surround the tank and a pump attached to the rigid casing. The system includes a suction inlet and a discharge outlet attached to the pump, wherein the pump creates a negative pressure that draws the mixture into the pump through the suction inlet and the pump creates a positive pressure that dispels the mixture out of the pump through the discharge outlet.