A food and beverage bottle assembly is described. A food collar is adapted to slip onto the neck of a beverage bottle to create and a food and beverage bottle assembly. The assembly is particularly useful for gifts or special occasions such that particular food and beverage combinations, such as wine and chocolate or cheese may be paired and assembled together in a unique assembly.

In an embodiment, a bloom engine is created that can detect the formation of both fat bloom and sugar bloom in a chocolate product. A Raman spectrometer is used to generate a first or reference spectrum of a chocolate product. Based on peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with sugar and peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with fat, a ratio of sugar to fat for the chocolate product is determined based on the reference spectrum. Later, a second spectrum is generated from the chocolate product, and a ratio of sugar to fat is similarly determined for the second spectrum. Changes in the ratios between the two samples are used to detect fat or sugar bloom. Other features of the bloom engine including removing or reducing bloom from the chocolate product using a laser associated with the spectrometer and applying a design to the chocolate product in bloom using the laser.

In an embodiment, a bloom engine is created that can detect the formation of both fat bloom and sugar bloom in a chocolate product. A Raman spectrometer is used to generate a first or reference spectrum of a chocolate product. Based on peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with sugar and peaks of the spectrum known to be associated with fat, a ratio of sugar to fat for the chocolate product is determined based on the reference spectrum. Later, a second spectrum is generated from the chocolate product, and a ratio of sugar to fat is similarly determined for the second spectrum. Changes in the ratios between the two samples are used to detect fat or sugar bloom. Other features of the bloom engine including removing or reducing bloom from the chocolate product using a laser associated with the spectrometer and applying a design to the chocolate product in bloom using the laser.

The invention is directed to a method of forming a moulded item said method comprising the steps of (a) providing a mould former comprising an indentation having an inner surface and a bottom face and made of plastics and manufactured by a 3-dimensional printing process, said mould former being shaped to form a mould having (i) an indentation corresponding to the desired shape of said moulded item; and (ii) a series of holes extending between the inner surface and the bottom face of the mould former, (b) forming a mould in said mould former from a plastics material; (c) positioning an elongate member in said mould; (d) introducing a volume of liquid into said indentation; (e) positioning a cover over said mould and sealing it thereto; (f) causing said liquid to solidify.

A method for printing a three-dimensional crystalline structure such as a chocolate layer wherein, after printing, the material has a desired crystal structure. An embodiment can include printing a liquid first layer of material with a printer onto a second layer of mate al having a crystal structure. Subsequently, the printed liquid first layer is processed to solidify. The first layer. During the processing of the printed liquid first layer, the second layer functions as a crystal seed layer through physical contact with the printed liquid first layer and the second layer crystallizes with the crystal structure.

A method for printing a three-dimensional crystalline structure such as a chocolate layer wherein, after printing, the material has a desired crystal structure. An embodiment can include printing a liquid first layer of material with a printer onto a second layer of mate al having a crystal structure. Subsequently, the printed liquid first layer is processed to solidify. The first layer. During the processing of the printed liquid first layer, the second layer functions as a crystal seed layer through physical contact with the printed liquid first layer and the second layer crystallizes with the crystal structure.

The invention relates to the preparation of a drink by melting or dissolving a food product floating on a liquid, such as for instance a hot drink.

The present invention provides a heat resistant fat based confection wherein at least a portion of a natural and/or artificial sweetener or milk or cocoa solids component thereof has an average particle size of greater than 50 microns. Premixes are also provided including the unmilled sweetener or milk or cocoa solid and a polyol are also provided, and in those embodiments wherein the premixes are used to prepare the fat based confection, heat resistance of the same may be further enhanced. Methods of making the fat based confection, with or without using the premix, are also provided.

In a first aspect the application discloses a confectionery product in the form of a segmented bar comprising a substantially planar raft and a series of discrete raised portions projecting therefrom and separated by channels, wherein the raft is of non-uniform thickness. In a second aspect the application discloses a process for producing a segmented confectionery product comprising a) creating a prototype segmented confectionery product design; b) creating a stress profile of said prototype confectionery product design; c) creating a modified design by increasing thickness of the raft in areas prone to breakage in the prototype design; and d) producing a confectionery product according to the modified design.

In a first aspect the application discloses a confectionery product in the form of a segmented bar comprising a substantially planar raft and a series of discrete raised portions projecting therefrom and separated by channels, wherein the raft is of non-uniform thickness. In a second aspect the application discloses a process for producing a segmented confectionery product comprising a) creating a prototype segmented confectionery product design; b) creating a stress profile of said prototype confectionery product design; c) creating a modified design by increasing thickness of the raft in areas prone to breakage in the prototype design; and d) producing a confectionery product according to the modified design.