Cocoa Beans Research Articles

Amino acid profile behavior during the fermentation of Criollo cocoa beans

The study investigated the behavior of seventeen amino acids during spontaneous (SF) and starter culture (SC) fermentation of Criollo cocoa beans from Copallín, Guadalupe and Tolopampa, Amazonas-Peru. For this purpose, liquid chromatography (UHPLC) was used to quantify amino acids. Multivariate analysis was used to differentiate the phases of the fermentation process. The percentage of essential amino acids during SC fermentation (63.4%) was higher than SF (61.8%); it was observed that the starter culture accelerated their presence and increased their concentration during the fermentation process. The multivariate analysis identified a first stage (day 0 to day 2), characterized by a low content of amino acids that increased due to protein hydrolysis. The study showed that adding the starter culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) to the fermentation mass increased the concentration of essential amino acids (63.0%) compared to the spontaneous process (61.8%). Moreover, this addition reduced the fermentation time (3–4 days less), demonstrating that the fermentation process with a starter culture allows obtaining a better profile of amino acids precursors of flavor and aroma.

Apoplastomes of contrasting cacao genotypes to witches' broom disease reveals differential accumulation of PR proteins.

Witches' broom disease (WBD) affects cocoa trees (Theobroma cacao L.) and is caused by the fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa that grows in the apoplast in its biotrophic phase and later progresses into the tissues, causing serious losses in the production of cocoa beans. Therefore, the apoplast of T. cacao can provide important defense responses during the interaction with M. perniciosa. In this work, the protein profile of the apoplast of the T. cacao genotypes Catongo, susceptible to WBD, and CCN-51, resistant one, was evaluated. The leaves of T. cacao were collected from asymptomatic plants grown in a greenhouse (GH) and from green witches' brooms grown under field (FD) conditions for extraction of apoplastic washing fluid (AWF). AWF was used in proteomic and enzymatic analysis. A total of 14 proteins were identified in Catongo GH and six in Catongo FD, with two proteins being common, one up-accumulated, and one down-accumulated. In CCN-51, 19 proteins were identified in the GH condition and 13 in FD, with seven proteins being common, one up-accumulated, and six down-accumulated. Most proteins are related to defense and stress in both genotypes, with emphasis on pathogenesis-related proteins (PR): PR-2 (β-1,3-glucanases), PR-3 and PR-4 (chitinases), PR-5 (thaumatine), PR-9 (peroxidases), and PR-14 (lipid transfer proteins). Furthermore, proteins from microorganisms were detected in the AWF. The enzymatic activities of PR-3 showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in Catongo GH and PR-2 activity (p < 0.01) in CCN-51 FD. The protein profile of the T. cacao apoplastome offers insight into the defense dynamics that occur in the interaction with the fungus M. perniciosa and offers new insights in exploring future WBD control strategies.

Discriminating three lab scale dark chocolate bars from fine Cameroon cocoa hybrids using sensorial evaluation and organic acid content.

Previous studies have shown a correlation between chocolate sensory profile and certain (bio)chemical components. The aim of this study was to examine the sensorial profile and organic acid content of three lab scale chocolate brands produced from different cocoa genotypes. The sensorial evaluation was examined by a team of 12 panelists and evaluation of aroma volatiles was done by means of HS-SPME-GC-MS. On the other hand, organic acids were assessed using a high-performance ion chromatography coupled with an electrochemical detector (HPIC-ED). Results showed a variability in sensorial profile: SCA12×ICS40 chocolate (vanilla/sweet, spicy, and floral), ICS40 × SCA12 chocolate (fruity, bitter, and dry) and SNK16 × T60/887 chocolate (chocolate, honey-like, woody, sweet). Moreover, some aroma volatiles like (2-methyl, 3-methyl, iso) butanal (ICS), terpenes (SCA), and ketones (acetophenone and 2-nonanone) (SNK) allowed to discriminate dark chocolate sample according to their raw cocoa genetic group. Besides, the organic acid content differed from one chocolate brand to another, and it was obtained a high content of oxalic acid and a low lactic acid content which are good indicators of chocolate quality. Results of the current study highly recommend knowing the variety of cocoa beans with high content of some volatiles and high oxalic and low acetic acid and lactic contents to produce high aromatic (special flavor) chocolates.

Effect of Pod Storage and Drying Temperature on Fermentation Dynamics and Final Bean Quality of Cacao Nacional in Ecuador.

The impact of pod storage (PS) and two drying temperatures of fermented cocoa beans was investigated in Ecuador. Therefore, four variations were simultaneously carried out three times at two locations, independently: 0, 3, and 5 days of PS, dried at 60 °C and 0 days of PS, dried at 80 °C. Pod weight during storage, pulp content, pH, temperature, microbial counts, total free amino acids, protein profiles, sugars, organic acids, cut-test, fermentation index, and sensory profiles were analyzed. Minor differences in fermentation dynamics and bean quality were found between variations with and without PS. A rather accelerated fermentation with pod-stored beans was observed (e.g., faster color change, slightly lower pH in cotyledon after 48 h), along with a significantly higher maximal temperature during 24-42 h (43.1 ± 3.2 °C compared to 39.2 ± 2.0 °C without PS). More well-fermented beans were reached with PS (52.3 ± 22.6%) than without (62.7 ± 9.2%). Differences during fermentation were observed between the locations (e.g., pH, acids, sugars), but sensory evaluation indicated that the impact of location was mitigated with PS. Drying at 80 °C showed no adverse effects, as evidenced by the results of the cut-test and fermentation index. However, sensory evaluations revealed significant differences between 80 °C and 60 °C, with the former exhibiting more bitter and astringent cocoa liquor.

Innovation in Cocoa Fermentation: Evidence from Patent Documents and Scientific Articles

This review aims to analyze the technological and scientific applications regarding cocoa fermentation through a prospective study of patent documents and research articles. The Espacenet database was used as a patent research tool by searching both the IPC code “A23G1” and the terms “cocoa” and “ferment*”. A total of 130 documents were found—49 were related to the subject. The Scopus database was also searched for scientific articles using the terms “cocoa” and “fermentation”. A total of 812 articles were found—517 were related to the subject. Cocoa fermentation has not yet reached technological maturity, despite the growth in patent documents and scientific research observed in the last two decades. The creation of the Cacao of Excellence Program (2009), among others, has incentivized sustainability and quality in cocoa-producing countries. Brazil, Colombia, and Indonesia are leading with scientific publications in the last 5 years, despite the lack of patents filed. The United Kingdom, France, China, Canada, and Germany, despite not being cocoa-producing countries, are the main holders of the technology. Patent documents analyzed relate to food science, biotechnology, engineering, and chemistry. Microbial biotechnology has gained attention as a key factor to produce a higher-quality cocoa bean. Saccharomyces is the most frequent genus of yeast used as a starter culture in patent documents. Some patent documents propose the addition of fruits during cocoa fermentation, but a few scientific studies have been found on the matter. Overall, technological applications and scientific studies have focused on improving cocoa quality. The cocoa market is expected to increase significantly in the next few years, representing an opportunity to develop high-quality cocoa using novel fermentation techniques.

Circular bioeconomy for cocoa by-product industry: Development of whey protein-cocoa bean shell concentrate particles obtained by spray-drying and freeze-drying for commercial applications

The revalorization of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) processing wastes, mainly cocoa bean shells, involve some strategies to obtaining maximum benefits of the bioactive compounds and reducing the amounts of waste through its use in new products in the context of the circular bioeconomy. Cocoa bean shells were used to obtain a phenol concentrated and formulate a matrix with isolated whey protein particles. Spray-drying and freeze-drying were used to pulverize the samples. The results indicated that both methods improve the stability of the compounds and the antioxidant capacity of the phenol-protein matrix powder, with significative differences (p<0.05), being the spray-dried matrix the sample with the higher amounts of the total polyphenols. Different amounts of the phenol-protein matrix powder obtained by spray-drying and freeze-drying were used for the formulation of the cookies, and significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the physicochemical characteristics, proximal analysis, bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity, among the formulations. The cookies with the highest protein content were those to which a 12.5 and 20% of the matrix obtained by freeze-drying was added. While the cookies with the highest content of total phenolic compounds (4118.72±27.43) and highest values of antioxidant capacity (521.33±33.68 mmol Trolox/g and 4249.10±51.24 FeSO4/g, by DPPH and FRAP assay, respectively) were those that were added with 20% matrix obtained by spray drying. Likewise, the discriminating variables identified between the cookie formulations were the results of polyphenols, DPPH, FRAP and proteins. This indicate that the addition of a phenol-protein matrix powder as an ingredient in cookies, as comercial application, exhibited an increasing of proteins and polyphenols content, including higher values of antioxidant capacity, in the final product.

Hydrothermal Hydrolysis of Cocoa Bean Shell to Obtain Bioactive Compounds

Cocoa bean shell (CBS), a by-product from the chocolate industry, is an interesting source of bioactive compounds. In this work, the effects of time and pH on the hydrothermal hydrolysis of CBS were evaluated with the aim of maximizing the extraction of antioxidant and functional compounds from this biomass. In general, all treatments tested led to improvements in the extraction of bioactive compounds compared to untreated samples. The maximum values for antioxidant activity (187 µmol TE/g CBS dw) and phenolic compounds (14.5 mg GAE/g CBS dw) were obtained when CBS was treated at pH 4 for 10 min. In addition, maximum amounts of flavonoids (10.1 mg CE/g CBS dw), tannins (6.5 mg CE/g CBS dw) and methylxanthines (9 mg/g CBS dw) were obtained under mild pH conditions (4–5). It is noteworthy that these values are higher than those reported in the literature for other vegetable substrates, highlighting the potential of CBS to be valorized as a source of different value-adding products.

Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak caused by contaminated chocolate highlights the importance of food hygiene and a socially responsible food chain

Recent global salmonella outbreak was linked to chocolate products but potential role of cocoa beans has been neglected. Chocolate related salmonella outbreaks have occurred mostly during low cocoa price levels. Food business operators should ensure hygiene at all production stages. These outbreaks highlight corporate social responsibility while demonstrating the need of multi-professional approaches.

Advances in the individual authentication of cocoa beans: Vis/NIR spectroscopy as a tool to distinguish fermented from unfermented beans and classify genotypes in the eastern Amazonia

Reliable analytical methods to authenticate high-quality and economically valuable cocoa beans are highly desirable, and NIR spectroscopy stands out as a rapid and non-destructive alternative. This study employs NIR for the authentication and differentiation of 19 whole Forastero cocoa beans from Eastern Amazonia (Pará, Brazil), based on their fermentation status and genetic profiles. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) models in wavelength ranges of 400–700 nm, 1400–1600 nm, and 1900–2500 nm, demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating fermented from unfermented beans, regardless of genotype. Various compounds, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, anthocyanins, and theobromine, provide crucial insights into the spectral regions essential for distinction. The variable importance in projection (VIP) score value greater than 1 was used to select relevant variables, and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) was performed in both the visible (472 nm and 636 nm) and infrared ranges (2096 nm and 2278 nm), demonstrating that absorbances at two specific wavelengths are sufficient for discrimination. The t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) indicated a segregation trend of the genotypes based on classification by major genetic groups in unfermented beans, suggesting that the biochemical characteristics shared by them are more prominent before fermentation. The PLS-DA models based on complete vis/NIR spectra showed comparable results in discriminating the 19 cocoa genotypes in both fermented (0.14% prediction error) and unfermented beans (0.16% prediction error). The model's classification errors can be attributed to shared genetic ancestry among the samples, primarily in unfermented beans. This research corroborates the effectiveness of vis/NIR spectroscopy as a straightforward tool for whole cocoa bean authentication, providing rapid insights into genetic diversity regardless of their fermentation state.

Flavor Precursor and Volatile Compounds Formation of Unfermented Cocoa Beans Hydrolyzed by Papain

Fermentation is notably crucial stage in the production of cocoa flavor precursors. Nevertheless, some cocoa plantations in Indonesia skip fermentation as the raw material is relatively small, and the fermentation period is extremely long. This study aimed to improve the flavor precursors in unfermented cocoa beans (var. forastero). Unfermented cocoa beans were hydrolyzed using papain at different concentrations and incubation times. The conditions to obtain the highest degree of hydrolysis were 3.3 U/mL (papain conc.) at 10 h incubation. After papain treatment, it exhibited lower reducing sugars and polyphenol content than unfermented cocoa beans. Besides, hydrophobic amino acids such as phenylalanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine was increased. After roasting, volatile compounds for chocolate aroma were also presented. However, pyrazines, aldehydes, and esters, were still less than those in fermented cocoa beans. The results proved that the papain hydrolysis of unfermented cocoa beans can improve their flavor precursors and volatile compounds.

Effect of gamma irradiation on the nutritional composition, phenolic compounds and fatty acids profiles in raw cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) beans

AbstractThe γ-irradiation effects on nutritional composition, phenolic compounds and fatty acids profile of cocoa beans were investigated. Raw cocoa bean samples were irradiated using 60Co source at doses of 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 kGy. The examined nutrient contents were moisture, protein, ash and fat contents. A total of 10 phenolic compounds from the screening of 32 standards were identified and quantified by LC-MS/MS, with theobromine (2418.52–3506.95 µg/g) and epicatechin (444.24–1090.98 µg/g) being the most abundant. Overall, the irradiation treatment did not significantly influence the protein and moisture content of cocoa beans. On the other hand, 3 kGy irradiation dose led to a significant decrease in fat content of cocoa bean samples. Furthermore, fatty acid composition changed with increasing the irradiation dose. Gamma irradiation caused a significant increase in saturated fatty acids/unsaturated fatty acids ratio. On the whole, the analysis of phenolic compounds of cocoa beans showed that irradiation influence the phenolic compounds significantly, with a few exceptions. The quantities of epicatechin and luteolin 7 glucoside were higher in raw cocoa beans than in irradiated cocoa beans.

Evaluation of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shell against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis

Cocoa bean shells are one of the by-products produced from chocolate processing. The cocoa bean shells contain polyphenols approximately 5.8%. The study aimed to evaluate the effectivity of liquid smoke produced from cocoa bean shells against Escherichia coli and Candida utilis It is expected that liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells will have the opportunity to replace AGPs. Total phenol, saponin, and tannin compounds were analyzed and were made in three replications. To determine the inhibition of liquid smoke of cocoa bean shells (LSCBS) on E. coli and C. utilis, the diameter of the clear area on the media was measured using a ruler. The antibacterial and antifungal activity test was carried out by well diffusion methods. Ten treatments, i.e. different concentrations of the LSCBS (0, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%/non-diluted), each with four replications were performed, and the growth of the E. coli and C. utilis was observed. Statistical analysis was conducted using a completely randomized design. The results showed total phenol content was 0.17 g/100mL, saponin 0.46 g/100mL, and tannin 0.047 g/100mL in LSCBS. The antibacterial activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition (clear zone) against E. coli. Likewise, antifungal activity with a 10-100% concentration of LSCBS did not show zona inhibition against C. utilis. Not all liquid smoke from plant by-products inhibits bacterial growth. This research showed that the liquid smoke from the cocoa bean shells did not affect the growth of Escherichia coli and Candida utilis in vitro, the possible cause was the very low content of total phenols, saponins, and tannins It means liquid smoke from cocoa bean shells could not replace AGPs.

Investigation of physical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of cocoa drink with the addition of torch ginger flower (Etlingera elatior) and xanthan gum

Indonesia is one of top cacao beans producer globally. Other than chocolate, cocoa drink is one of the popular cocoa derivates. The cocoa beverage is usually produced by mixing ingredients such as cocoa powder, sugar, creamer, and stabilizer. Cocoa powder is a great source of antioxidant as it contains polyphenolic compounds. However, the bioactive compounds like polyphenols might decrease during the processing of cocoa drinks. This study aimed to investigate the effect of torch ginger or kecombrang (Etlingera elatior) and xanthan gum addition on the physical properties, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of cocoa drink. The addition of torch ginger flower powder increased the antioxidant activity of the cocoa drink, but decrease the pH of the cocoa drink and consumers’ acceptance of aroma and taste of the cocoa drink. The addition of xanthan gum at 0.09 g resulted in the increased total solubility and reduced the sedimentation of cocoa drink.

Comparative Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Cocoa Beans Methanol Extract and its N-Butanol Fraction Obtained from Jembrana, Bali, Indonesia

This study aims to evaluate the differences in phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activity between the methanol extract of cocoa beans and the n-butanol fraction obtained from Jembrana, Bali. Maceration technique was used in this research. The crude extract of cocoa beans was partitioned based on polarity to determine which fraction has the most potential as a source of bioactive compounds. The n-butanol fraction was evaporated to obtain a polar fraction from the methanol extract of cocoa beans. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used to measure the total content of flavonoids and tannins in the methanol extract of cocoa beans and the n-butanol fraction. Research found that the methanol extract of Balinese cocoa beans had a total flavonoid content of 0.34 g/100 g and tannins of 0.37 g/100 g. However, the n-butanol fraction had a total flavonoid content of 15.34 g/100 g and tannin 20.16 g/100 g. The IC50 value of the methanol extract was 29.66 ?g/ml, while the n-butanol fraction was 2.63 ?g/ml. The AAI of the methanol extract was 1.35 and the n-butanol fraction was 2.63, indicating that the n-butanol fraction had stronger antioxidant activity with higher flavonoid and tannin content than the methanol extract. The implication of this research is that the n-butanol fraction of cocoa bean methanol extract has the potential as a source of bioactive compounds that can be utilized in the development of high added value products, especially in the context of food pharmaceuticals or other health product.

Characteristics of temperature uniformity system in multi-tier drying equipment with sharp turning technology

Drying is a process of heat and mass transfer that occurs on the surface and within the material to be dried. It helps reduce the internal moisture of the material, inhibiting the growth, damage, and chemical changes of microorganisms during storage, thus extending the shelf life of dry materials and improving the quality of raw materials. This study aims to test multi-level drying equipment using combustion heat with a square shape and racks inside it used as the drying space for the material. The raw material was placed on racks made of perforated metal. This research started from designing the drying equipment system, fabricating and testing system. The drying system was tested using fish and cocoa beans as sample materials. The tested equipment system included temperature distribution in the combustion chamber, distribution system of hot combustion gases through sharp turning technology, uniform temperature distribution in the drying chamber with 8 levels of racks, each capable of holding a load of 10 kg, and testing of the chimney system. The research findings concluded that to maintain a drying chamber temperature of 90⁰C, an average combustion chamber temperature of 339⁰C was required. The average combustion chamber temperature needed to maintain a drying chamber temperature of 80⁰C was 290⁰C. For a drying chamber temperature of 70⁰C, an average combustion chamber temperature of 314⁰C was required. The temperature distribution inside the drying chamber moves horizontally, indicating that the temperature distribution in the drying chamber was uniform for each drying rack.

THE EFFICACY OF COCOA BEAN EXTRACT MOUTHWASH CONCENTRATION IN REDUCING PLAQUE INDEX IN THE ORAL CAVITY AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AT SDN KAYEE LEU, INGIN JAYA SUBDISTRICT, ACEH BESAR

Oral and dental diseases have a high prevalence in Indonesia, with 88.8% of the population experiencing dental caries and periodontitis. Dental plaque is a soft deposit that tightly adheres to tooth surfaces and is composed of microorganisms that contribute to the development of dental caries. Preventing caries and controlling plaque can be achieved through the use of mouthwash, which is more effective when herbal mouthwash containing antioxidants and antibacterial agents is used. Cocoa bean extract (Theobroma Cacao L.) contains secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as strong inhibitory effects against S. mutans bacteria. The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of cocoa bean extract mouthwash concentration in reducing the plaque index in the oral cavity. The research methods included laboratory experiments and quasi-experiments with a post-test only control group design. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine laboratory, University of Syiah Kuala, and SDN Kayee Leu, Aceh Besar, involving 30 students. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA in the SPSS program. The results of the study indicate that the phytochemical analysis of cocoa bean extract contains alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of cocoa bean extract mouthwash on the growth of Streptococcus mutans was observed at a concentration of 1%, and no Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was found in this study. The 1% and 2% concentrations of the mouthwash effectively removed plaque compared to the 0% concentration. In conclusion, the use of cocoa bean extract mouthwash is effective in reducing the plaque index. Further research should consider clinical trials to explore its potential as an herbal remedy.

Design, development and performance evaluation of a portable cocoa seed extractor

Even though cash crops like cocoa, cotton and rubber are a major source of revenue for the nation, the unavailability of affordable and easily accessible post-harvest process machines has made it impossible to generate maximum income from these crops. A cocoa seed extractor was produced to increase the productivity of cocoa farmers and reduce the stress and dangers they are exposed to in the process of splitting the cocoa pods and separating the cocoa beans from the pods. The machine has two major chambers: A cocoa seed extractor was produced to increase the productivity of cocoa farmers and reduce the stress and dangers they are exposed to in the process of splitting the cocoa pods and separating the cocoa beans from the cocoa pods, fed into it by the conveyor belt, to crack the pods as they are forced through the centre of rotation. The sprout then conveys the cracked pod to the separating chamber where a rotating beater beats the pod, forcing the cocoa seeds out of it. The seeds then pass through the 16mm sieve in the chamber and are collected at the cocoa seed outlet while the pod is collected at the pods outlet. The machine is powered by a 3 horse power and a 0.74 horse power electric motor. The materials used in its fabrication are locally sourced. A performance evaluation of the machine reveals that it works at an efficiency of 87.5% in terms of the number of cocoa pods processed per day, and at 75% efficiency in terms of the number of cocoa seeds processed without damage. The throughput of the machine is 250kg/hr. Thus, the cocoa seed extractor can process 8,228pods/day compared to about 400pods/day that can be processed by an average person.

High potential extracts from cocoa byproducts through sonotrode optimal extraction and a comprehensive characterization

Cocoa pod husk (CPH) and cocoa bean shell (CBS) are by-products obtained during pre-processing and processing of cocoa beans. Several bioactive compounds have been identified in these by-products that can be used for commercial applications as a way to promote the circular economy. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to recover bioactive compounds from CPH and CBS by sonoextraction process, to determine the type, content, and antioxidant activity in optimized extracts. To achieve our purpose, an optimization strategy using Box-Behnken Design coupled response surface methodology (MRS) was applied. The extraction conditions were optimized. The results obtained for CBS were: TPC (193 mg GAE/g), TEAC (1.02 mmol TE/g), FRAP (1.02 mmol FeSO4/g) and ORAC (2.6 mmol TE/g), while for CPH, the reported values were: TPC (48 mg GAE/g), TEAC (0.30 mmol TE/g), FRAP (0.35 mmol FeSO4/g) and ORAC (0.43 mmol TE/g) under the optimized conditions: Time (XA): 15 min, Amplitude (XB): 80 %, Ethanol (XC): 50 %. The LC-ESI-qTOF-MS analysis results allowed the identification of 79 compounds, of which 39 represent the CBS extract, while 40 compounds were identified in CPH extract. To conclude, sonotrode based extraction could be considered as an efficient and fast alternative for the recovery of bioactive substances from CBS and CPH.

Electro-Optics Properties of Intact Cocoa Beans based on Near Infrared Technology

This study encapsulates the efficient prediction of moisture content in cocoa beans through Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression, showcasing a strong model fit with a high R square value of 0.92 and low Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.36% in calibration; these values underscore the model's accurate estimation of moisture levels. In the realm of electro-optics properties, this success highlights NIRS's capability in assessing key attributes like moisture content in cocoa beans based on their unique spectral signatures, emphasizing the technology's role in quality control for chocolate production. Furthermore, the precise predictions align with the broader objective of leveraging NIRS to evaluate and optimize the electro- optics properties of cocoa beans, fostering informed decision-making for enhanced processing and quality assurance in the cocoa industry.

Discovering fine flavour in Asian single‐origin cocoa: fast GC electronic‐nose aroma fingerprinting of cocoa liquors and consumer acceptability of Tablea in the Philippines

SummaryThe recent global cocoa supply decline calls for investigating disease‐resistant and single‐origin cocoa varieties in Asia. While genetic analysis has identified promising clones, information on bean quality and flavour remains limited. This research aims to analyse quality attributes of single‐origin cocoa beans and key volatile organic compounds in cocoa liquors and to determine consumer acceptability of indigenous cocoa beverage (Tablea) from single‐origin cocoa in the Philippines. Aroma fingerprinting of cocoa clones (UF18, BR25, W10) using fast GC electronic nose revealed distinctive profiles. Cocoa clone UF18 exhibited high‐fat content (52.1%), surpassing African cocoa clones. Even more important is the discovery of elevated levels of desirable volatile compounds in cocoa clone W10 such as methyl decanoate (fruity) and phenylacetaldehyde (honey, floral), which marks the first study that identified fine aroma components in single‐origin cocoa beans in Asia. Harnessing potential of these cocoa clones ensures consumer acceptability of the cocoa beverage Tablea.