Effects of Nanoencapsulated Carotenoid of Spirulina platensis on the Sensory Profiles of Dark and Milk Chocolate

Abstract

The addition of Spirulina platensis in chocolate bar was reported to be able to increase the carotenoid content. Unfortunately, the fortified dry biomass generated fishy odor. In recent years, we succeeded to extract carotenoid from S. platensis, which was then encapsulated using a mixture of gum arabic and WPC by nanoemulsion technique. It helped reduce the fishy odor and concentrate carotenoid content in the nanocapsules. This study aimed to determine the effect of S. platensis’s carotenoid nanocapsules on the flavor profiles of dark and milk chocolate. The S. platensis’s carotenoid nanocapsules were added at a dose of 0.37% (w/w). Flavor profiles were detected using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. A total of 79 aroma active were detected. The dark chocolate had a specific aroma of strong acidic chocolate, enriched with creamy and sweet. Meanwhile, the milk chocolate was dominated by creamy, cheesy, and sweet. The fortified chocolate had lower concentration of acids and aldehydes but had higher pyrazines and alcohols. Volatile compound that responsible for the fishy odor in Spirulina platensis was not detected in fortified chocolate. In conclusion, the fortification increased the intensity of sweet and chocolate flavor, decreased the bitter and sour flavor, and did not generate any unpleasant odor.