A low sugar content sweet food spread is provided said food spread comprising at least one of a cocoa product and a nut product, at least one vegetable oil, at least one polysaccharide, at least one flour and at least one sweetener. The at least one vegetable oil is substantially free or free of palm oil and the sugar content of the spread is less than about 20% by weight of the total spread. The food spread possesses excellent properties and is advantageously spreadable at low temperature.

A cooker for producing a chocolate solution and a method for producing a chocolate solution capable of shortening a production time is provided. The cooker for producing a chocolate solution according to the present invention includes a steam generating part generating a steam by heating water, a cylindrical member including a jetting port at a lower end for jetting a steam generated by the steam generating part, extending downward to guide the steam to the jetting port, and jetting the steam into a vessel containing a chocolate and a liquid, and a stirring shaft arranged inside the cylindrical member, extending downward, and having a stirring blade attached thereto for stirring the chocolate and the liquid.

A cooker for producing a chocolate solution and a method for producing a chocolate solution capable of shortening a production time is provided. The cooker for producing a chocolate solution according to the present invention includes a steam generating part generating a steam by heating water, a cylindrical member including a jetting port at a lower end for jetting a steam generated by the steam generating part, extending downward to guide the steam to the jetting port, and jetting the steam into a vessel containing a chocolate and a liquid, and a stirring shaft arranged inside the cylindrical member, extending downward, and having a stirring blade attached thereto for stirring the chocolate and the liquid.

The present subject matter relates to palatable beverages and compositions such as non-chocolate flavored water soluble dry powder compositions comprising a cocoa extract which comprises cocoa polyphenols, and an edible acid. The present subject matter further relates to processes for formulating said beverages and compositions.

The present subject matter relates to palatable beverages and compositions such as non-chocolate flavored water soluble dry powder compositions comprising a cocoa extract which comprises cocoa polyphenols, and an edible acid. The present subject matter further relates to processes for formulating said beverages and compositions.

Compositions and methods that relate to improved chocolate milk are provided. The chocolate milk may be shelf stable and k-carrageenan free. The chocolate milk does not undergo visually detectable phase separation for at least 7 days. The chocolate milk that does not undergo the visually detectable phase separation contains from 1%-10% micellar casein w/v. Methods for preparing shelf stable k-carrageenan free chocolate milk are also provided and include mixing cocoa powder, sugar, milk, and micellar casein to obtain a mixture, and optionally heating and homogenizing the mixture, and subsequently subjecting the mixture to High Pressure Jet Processing (HPJ) or high pressure homogenization of at least 300 MPa, thereby producing the shelf table k-carrageenan free chocolate milk. The shelf stable k-carrageenan free chocolate milk of produced using such a method may be refrigerated temperature for at least 14 days, and does not undergo detectable phase separation for at least 14 days.

Compositions and methods that relate to improved chocolate milk are provided. The chocolate milk may be shelf stable and k-carrageenan free. The chocolate milk does not undergo visually detectable phase separation for at least 7 days. The chocolate milk that does not undergo the visually detectable phase separation contains from 1%-10% micellar casein w/v. Methods for preparing shelf stable k-carrageenan free chocolate milk are also provided and include mixing cocoa powder, sugar, milk, and micellar casein to obtain a mixture, and optionally heating and homogenizing the mixture, and subsequently subjecting the mixture to High Pressure Jet Processing (HPJ) or high pressure homogenization of at least 300 MPa, thereby producing the shelf table k-carrageenan free chocolate milk. The shelf stable k-carrageenan free chocolate milk of produced using such a method may be refrigerated temperature for at least 14 days, and does not undergo detectable phase separation for at least 14 days.

Described herein is a crystalline fat comprising a powder density ranging from about 0.04 g/mL to about 0.40 g/mL at room temperature and at least 50% of particles have a particle size ranging from 10 to 50 μm in diameter. Also described herein is a shortening comprising crystalline fat having a powder density ranging from about 0.04 g/mL to about 0.40 g/mL at room temperature and at least 50% of particles have a particle size ranging from 3 to 60 μm in diameter and a liquid oil; wherein the crystalline fat ranges from about 25 wt % to about 99.9 wt % and the liquid oil ranges from about 0.1 wt % to about 75 wt %.

A low sugar content sweet food spread is provided said food spread comprising at least one of a cocoa product and a nut product, at least one vegetable oil and at least one sweetener. The at least one vegetable oil is substantially free or free of palm oil and the sugar content of the spread is less than about 20% by weight of the total spread. The food spread possesses excellent properties and is advantageously spreadable at low temperature.

The invention relates to a method of producing a food or beverage product, comprising the steps of: providing an ingredient composition comprising, micellar caseins and whey proteins and having a pH of 6.1-7.1 and a concentration of 1-15 wt. % of proteins, and wherein the ingredient composition has a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, adding 3-25 mM divalent cations to provide a concentration of 3-8 mM free divalent cations in the ingredient composition, homogenising the ingredient composition; and subsequently pasteurising and stirring the ingredient composition at a temperature of 80°-100° C. for a period of 0.5-3 min to form agglomerated proteins comprising caseins and beta-lactoglobulin from the whey proteins, the agglomerates having a size of 5-50 microns as measured by D(.sub.4,3) mean diameter. The invention relates also to a food or beverage product comprising aggregated proteins comprising micellar casein and whey protein aggregates, wherein the product has a pH of 6.1-7.1, a concentration of 6-40 wt. % milk solids, a casein to whey protein ratio of 90/10-60/40, and a concentration of 3-8 mM free divalent cations, and wherein the agglomerates having a size of 5-50 microns mean diameter D(.sub.4,3) as measured by laser diffraction.