An object of the present invention is to provide a cacao bean-derived food material showing little oil seepage and various foods using the same. A composition having a particle size distribution in the range of 10 μm to 1.5 mm and containing undisrupted cacao bean cells is provided. A composition containing undisrupted cacao bean cells, which has a free fat content ratio of 60% by weight or lower based on oil content is also provided. A composition containing 30% or more of undisrupted cells in cacao bean cells is further provided. A composition containing undisrupted cacao bean cells, which has a breaking strength of 3 kgf or lower is further provided.

Provided herein are exemplary embodiments including a computing device comprising a processor, a memory and a display, the computing device being configured to dynamically display a specific, structured interactive graphical user interface paired with a prescribed functionality directly related to the interactive graphical user interface's structure, the specific structured interactive graphical user interface configured to receive input information including an entry of a desired type of food to be prepared, and a desired characteristic of the food, the computing device processor automatically generating a food preparation parameter based on the received input information, and the computing device processor automatically generating a custom recipe for preparation of the food. Additionally, the specific structured interactive graphical user interface may be configured to receive an entry to modify the food preparation parameter or the custom recipe.

Methods for hybridizing members of the Theobroma genus, and particularly to methods for hybridizing Theobroma cacao and Theobroma grandiflorum are provided. Hybrid seeds, plants and plant parts thereof, obtained from these methods are also provided. Methods for confirming that the resulting progeny are hybrids are described. Theobroma hybrid plant products, such as seeds obtained by crossing Theobroma cacao and Theobroma grandiflorum, having modified chemical compositions, such as modified fatty acid content, and/or modified alkaloid content, are provided. Products obtainable from the hybrid plants and seeds, particularly foodstuffs such as cocoa products, are also provided.

Provided are methods of removing contaminants from cocoa beans, reducing free fatty acids in cocoa butter of the cocoa beans or a combination thereof. The methods are accomplished by use of a pre-washing solution placed in contact with the cocoa beans. Cocoa products produced by such methods and systems for performing such methods on cocoa beans are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method of preventing, inhibiting or mitigating bloom in a filled chocolate product, said method comprising: a) An inline heating step comprising at least one of heating the chocolate shell at a heating temperature of at least 25° C., heating the center-filled chocolate shell at a heating temperature of at least 25° C. and heating the filled chocolate product at a heating temperature of at least 25° C. and said method comprising at least of b) A shell cooling step comprising cooling said chocolate shell at a cooling temperature below 20° C., c) A filling cooling step comprising cooling said center-filled chocolate shell at a cooling temperature below 20° C., d) A final cooling step comprising cooling said filled chocolate product at a cooling temperature below 20° C., said inline heating step being comprised in at least one of step b)-d) or being arranged between step b) and c) or between steps c) and d). The invention further relates to products obtained by said method, and a system for obtaining such product.

Use of a yeast capable of producing ethanol and acetic acid by fermentation of a carbohydrate, in a method for the fermentation of cocoa beans, is disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for optimizing the full utilization of cacao pod husks comprising the steps of debacterizing the pod surface and opening cacao the pods, separating the cacao pod husks from, cacao pulp, cacao placenta, cacao beans and cacao bean hulls, and drying separated cacao pod husks wherein separated and dried cacao pod husks are further processed by a method comprising the steps of a) grinding the cacao pod husks; b) optional acid extraction; c) a first enzymatic treatment; d) alkaline solubilization; e) a first decantation with centrifuge; f) ultrafiltration; g) acid extraction; h) a second decantation with centrifuge; i) a second enzymatic treatment; j) ultrafiltration and extract purification; k) concentration of the extract; l) drying of the concentrated extract. The invention also relates to extracts and compositions obtained thereof and their applications.

A scraped surface heat exchanger comprising a heat exchange surface, a rotatable shaft, said shaft having at least one mounting means, and a sweeping element wherein said sweeping element comprises, a blade having at least one aperture for engaging with the mounting means such that the sweeping element is connected to the mounting means and characterised in that when the rotatable shaft is rotating relative to the heat exchange surface the sweeping element has substantially no movement relative to the rotating shaft and said sweeping element has substantially no contact with the inner surface of the heat exchanger.

The present invention is intended to provide chocolate being less susceptible to a change in process conditions and having remarkably excellent heat resistance and the method for manufacturing such chocolate. The present invention relates to chocolate having a sugar skeleton and containing the following (a) to (d): (a) 28 to 44 mass % of fats and oils; (b) 30 to 58 mass % of sucrose; (c) 1 to 20 mass % of lactose; and (d) 4 to 32 mass % of powdered milk.

Spherical particles, agglomerates of spherical particles, methods of producing spherical particles, food suspensions and consumable masses which have spherical particles, and food products which contain a food suspension and/or a consumable mass are disclosed. The particles contain a matrix material composed of an amorphously solidified biopolymer, preferably having a dextrose equivalent greater than 20 and having an equilibrium water content preferably less than 10 wt %. The solid particles and/or liquid and/or gas volumes are embedded in the matrix material. The food suspension contains a substantially homogeneous carrier material in which spherical particles are embedded. A consumable mass comprises an agglomerate of particles where some of the particles are spherical particles. Use of embedded cocoa particles reduces the roughness of the cocoa particles and a flow point white eliminating the need for emulsifiers. This allows up to a 50% reduction of the fat phase and production of a low-calorie chocolate product.