An installation and method for producing and/or processing confectionery masses which are made from at least one liquid raw material and granular and/or powdery raw materials. The installation includes at least a first mixing container and at least one further product-processing device. The first mixing container has at least one raw-material inlet and a product outlet and a mixing device for mixing the raw materials at least largely homogeneously. At least the mixing container includes at least one spraying device in an upper container region, which at least one spraying device serves to feed the at least one liquid raw material, wherein at least one outlet cone of the spraying device is directed, at least in some regions, toward an inner wall surface of the first mixing container.

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.

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 method for treating a viscous mass comprising solid components in a grinding system, especially a fatty mass with solid components, comprising a mixer and a grinding device, comprising the steps of: feeding into a mixer the mass to be treated; repeatedly circulating the mass to be treated by means of a displacement device from the mixer through a supply pipe to the grinding device and through a return pipe back to the mixer for reducing the size of the solid components in the grinding device; removing from the system at least part of the treated mass through a branch-off provided in the return line when a predetermined grinding fineness has been obtained; and feeding into the mixer a new mass to be treated and at least partly displacing the new mass to be treated in the grinding device via the displacement device and as a consequence removing at least another part of the treated mass from said system.

A method for treating a viscous mass comprising solid components in a grinding system, especially a fatty mass with solid components, comprising a mixer and a grinding device, comprising the steps of: feeding into a mixer the mass to be treated; repeatedly circulating the mass to be treated by means of a displacement device from the mixer through a supply pipe to the grinding device and through a return pipe back to the mixer for reducing the size of the solid components in the grinding device; removing from the system at least part of the treated mass through a branch-off provided in the return line when a predetermined grinding fineness has been obtained; and feeding into the mixer a new mass to be treated and at least partly displacing the new mass to be treated in the grinding device via the displacement device and as a consequence removing at least another part of the treated mass from said system.

The invention concerns a kitchen appliance comprising a stirring unit 5, 6 and a pot 2. An insert pot 3 is provided, which can be inserted in the pot 2 such that an interspace 4 remains between the pot 2 and the insert pot 3, wherein the stirring unit 5, 6 has a tool 5 for blending and/or chopping that is located in the interspace 4 when the insert pot 3 is inserted. The invention further comprises the use of the kitchen appliance for the preparation of chocolate and an insert system for a kitchen appliance.

The invention concerns a kitchen appliance comprising a stirring unit 5, 6 and a pot 2. An insert pot 3 is provided, which can be inserted in the pot 2 such that an interspace 4 remains between the pot 2 and the insert pot 3, wherein the stirring unit 5, 6 has a tool 5 for blending and/or chopping that is located in the interspace 4 when the insert pot 3 is inserted. The invention further comprises the use of the kitchen appliance for the preparation of chocolate and an insert system for a kitchen appliance.

A multi-purpose food grinding machine having springs for exerting compressive force upon grinding rollers having various surfaces and configurations and including apparatus for adjusting and monitoring the compressive force.

The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus to prepare aerated (preferably micro-aerated) fat based edible product, in particular confectionery product, and to the use of seeding to promote bubble nucleation in fat based edible mass comprising dissolved gas under pressure and/or cooling to achieve a solid fat content of at least 10% by weight of the total fat mass.

A device for processing a product mass, including a container for receiving the product mass, at least one product mass processing tool in the container, which is provided to act on the product mass, and at least one sensor means having a dielectric sensor, wherein the sensor means is arranged and formed in such a way that dielectric properties of the product mass can be detected continuously or at least temporarily by means of the dielectric sensor in an environment of the dielectric sensor. The invention further relates to a method for processing a product mass, in particular by means of a device of this type.