Science of Chocolate Flashcards
List some major ingredients in chocolate.
cocoa butter, cocoa powder or liquor, (milk solids/ milk fat, vegetable fat)
List some minor ingredients in chocolate.
Sugar, emulsifiers, flavour, etc.
What is the microstructure of chocolate similar to?
The microstructure of concrete.
Why is the melting profile of cocoa butter unique?
It melts sharply at 37 degrees (mouth temperature) releasing the flavour and sensation to chocolate.
What is the TAG composition of chocolate?
Made up of varying degrees of Palmitic, Oleic, and Stearic oil.
Where is cocoa grown?
Around the equator.
How are cocoa beans processed into chocolate?
- Cocoa pods are harvested
- The Cocoa beans from the pods are fermented and then dried
- The dried cocoa beans are roasted.
- The roasted cocoa beans are de-shelled
- The remaining cocoa nibs are grinded and melted into cocoa liquor
- The cocoa liquor goes through hydraulic pressing and is separated into cocoa butter and cocoa solid
- Ingredients to make chocolate are blended together
- Ingredients go through conching process
- Liquid chocolate is molded and tempered
Describe the process of tempering chocolate.
Chocolate goes through a series of time-temperature sequences to ensure the formation of crystals. They can have many different forms but some are more desirable.
What are some desirable characterisitics of chocolate?
Demolding, snap, gloss, uniform melting in mouth, resistance to bloom
What is chocolate bloom?
A defectiveness that causes white marks to appear on old chocolate that isn’t kept at a proper temperature. “moldy” appearance but not hazardous to health. Caused by cocoa butter crystals growing from the surface and scattering light.
What is the tempering sequence of chocolate?
- Melt
- Cool- no crystallize
- Form mix of crystals
- Melt out unstable polymorphs and only crystallize desirable polymorph
Is chocolate a functional food?
Cocoa solids contain antioxidants and prevent cardiovascular disease. Many flavanoids present in sark chocolate but none in white chocolate.
What is unsweetened chocolate?
Purest form, made from roasted cocoa beans
What is semi-sweet chocolate
MAde from unsweetended chocolate with a small bit of surgar, refined cocoas butter and flavour
What is bitter-sweet chocolate?
Dark chocolate, made from chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, and sugar
