Zurich researchers develop healthier chocolate
Published: Tuesday, May 21st 2024, 12:10
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Chocolate from the research lab: Scientists at ETH Zurich have developed a new type of chocolate that is more sustainable and richer in nutrients than conventional chocolate, according to a study published on Tuesday.
For their chocolate, the researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) replaced granulated sugar with parts of the cocoa fruit that are not used in conventional chocolate. They presented the new recipe in a study in the specialist journal "Nature Food".
In addition to the cocoa beans, the pulp and parts of the fruit skin are also found in the chocolate, as the university writes in a press release on the study. The researchers processed the shell of the cocoa beans into a powder, which they mixed with the pulp to create a jelly. The researchers used this extremely sweet jelly to replace the sugar that is normally added.
The laboratory chocolate contains more fiber and less saturated fatty acids than normal chocolate, as the researchers were able to show in the study. This makes it healthier. Small farmers could also benefit, according to the ETH. They could diversify their product range and increase their income by utilizing other parts of the cocoa fruit.
Complicated procedure
According to the ETH, finding the perfect recipe for the cocoa fruit chocolate was not easy for the researchers. This is because too much of the fruit juice extracted from the pulp causes the chocolate to clump together, while too little of it does not make it sweet enough. The scientists therefore had to systematically test the consistency of the different compositions in the laboratory.
The experiments showed that a maximum of 20 percent jelly can be added to a chocolate, which corresponds to the sweetening power of a chocolate with around 5 to 10 percent granulated sugar. In comparison: 30 to 40 percent granulated sugar is quickly added to conventional dark chocolate.
However, it will be some time before the chocolate can be bought in stores. First, the entire value chain must be completed, explained the ETH. But a first step has been taken: the recipe for the cocoa fruit chocolate has been registered as a patent by the ETH.
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