CHARACTERIZATION OF MARKET KHEER MOHAN

Abstract

Physico-chemical, sensorial, microbial and textural quality attributes of Kheer Mohan have been characterized. It is a chhana based, traditional sweetmeat, highly popular in eastern region of Rajasthan . Five cities (Gangapur city, Kurgaon, Chhoti Udai, Sapotra and Karoli) from the vicinity of the traditional manufacture region were randomly selected for this study. Initially, four samples from reputed manufacturers of each city were procured followed by popularity identification and screening of these samples through consumer’s preference survey. Wide variations in the c o m po sit i o n o f t h e market samples were observed. Fat , p r o t ein , l ac t o s e , s u c r o se , ash and total solids c on t e n ts of the market samples were in the range of 3.07-10.95, 5.12-10.50, 1.14- 1.90, 53.75-64.53 , 0.63-1.06 and 70.79-78.93 % , r e s p ec ti ve l y . Proximate composition of the most preferred Kheer Mohan , sold at Gangapur city, was 77.78% total solids, 10.70% fat, 10.32% protein, 1.20% lactose, 1.03% ash and 54.52% sucrose content. Observed weight of its single ball having average diameter 4.93 cm was 105.68 g. Average values of water activity, L * , a * and b * were 0.79, 46.77,13.64, and 30.60 respectively. Variations in hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, weight and diameter of the market Kheer Mohan balls were in the range of 46.85-123.03 N, 0.35-2.54 mm, 0.14-0.38, 13.97-32.86 N 10.04-14.12 N.mm, 59.61-108.34 g and 2.34- 5.02 cm respectively. Microbial analysis showed presence of TPC, coliform, yeast and mold counts in market sample of Kheer Mohan . Sensory attributes of highly preferred Kheer Mohan sample includes moderate t o light b r o w n ball colour from surface to core, cooked and moderate caramelized flavour, pleasant taste with heated note. It had fairly tough, close knit, dense and chewy, non-elastic, granular body and texture with moderate sweetness and juiciness. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE HI /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Table Normal; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri,sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}