Changes in nib acidification, flavour precursors development and free fatty acid concentration during drying of pulp preconditioned and fermented cocoa (Theobroma cacao) beans

Changes in nib acidification, flavour precursors development and free fatty acid concentration during drying of pulp preconditioned and fermented cocoa (Theobroma cacao) beans

Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, Evans Akomanyi, Jemmy Takrama, Agnes Simpson Budu, Firibu Kwesi Saalia

Pod storage and fermentation are critical to the development of nib acidification and flavour precursors that generate into distinctive chocolate flavour notes during industrial manufacture. This work investigated changes in nib acidification, flavour precursors development (FPD) and free fatty acids (FFA) concentrations during drying of pulp preconditioned and fermented Ghanaian cocoa beans. A 4 x 4 full factorial design with experimental factors as pod storage (0, 7, 14 and 21 days) and drying times (0, 2, 4 and 6 days) were used. pH, non-volatile (titratable) acidity, total sugars, protein nitrogen and FFA concentrations were studied using standard methods. The results showed that pod storage and drying influenced the nib acidification, flavour precursors (protein nitrogen and total sugars) and FFA levels in fermented cocoa beans. Increasing pod storage consistently decreased non-volatile acidity, protein nitrogen and total sugars with concomitant increases in pH and FFAs during drying of the fermented beans. Drying had minimal effect on protein nitrogen and total sugars but consistently increased pH and FFA of the fermented beans at all levels of pod storage. Nibs from 10 days pod storage had FFA levels exceeding 1.75% after drying, suggesting that to obtain fermented cocoa beans with acceptable FFA levels, cocoa pods should not be stored for up to 10 days. Pod storage and drying influenced nib acidification, FPD and FFA levels in fermented cocoa beans. However, the rates of change in nib acidification, sugars degeneration, protein degradation and FFA concentrations were largely dependent on pod storage than on drying.

2012

https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=EZuX1N8AAAAJ&cstart=100&pagesize=100&citation_for_view=EZuX1N8AAAAJ:C6rTQemI8T8C

English