Cocoa solids

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Press cake after extraction of cocoa butter Cocoa press cake.jpg
Press cake after extraction of cocoa butter

Dry cocoa solids are the components of cocoa beans remaining after cocoa butter, the fatty component of the bean, is extracted from chocolate liquor, roasted cocoa beans that have been ground into a liquid state. Cocoa butter is 46% to 57% of the weight of cocoa beans and gives chocolate its characteristic melting properties. Cocoa powder is the powdered form of the dry solids with a small remaining amount of cocoa butter. Untreated cocoa powder is bitter and acidic. Dutch process cocoa has been treated with an alkali to neutralize the acid.

Contents

Cocoa powder contains flavanols, amounts of which are reduced if the cocoa is subjected to acid-reducing alkalization. [1]

Other definitions of cocoa solids, especially legal ones, include all cocoa ingredients (cocoa mass, cocoa powder and cocoa butter). In this case, cocoa solids without cocoa butter are specified as non-fat cocoa solids. [2]

Physical properties

Dutch process cocoa (left) compared to Broma process, or "natural", cocoa (right) Dutch process and natural cocoa.jpg
Dutch process cocoa (left) compared to Broma process, or "natural", cocoa (right)

Natural cocoa

Natural cocoa powder is extracted with the Broma process where after the cocoa fats have been removed from the chocolate nibs the remaining dry cocoa beans are ground into cocoa powder, which is sold to consumers. Natural cocoa powder has a light-brown color and an extractable pH of 5.3 to 5.8. [1] [3]

Because of its acidity, natural cocoa is often paired in recipes with baking soda. This neutralizes the acidity and creates carbon dioxide which in cakes helps them rise.

Dutch process cocoa

Dutch process cocoa or Dutched cocoa [4] is cocoa powder that has been treated with an alkalizing agent to modify its color, neutralize its pH and give it a milder taste compared to natural cocoa. [4] It forms the basis for much of modern chocolate, and is used in ice cream, hot chocolate, and baking.

The alkalization process reduces bitterness and improves solubility, which is important for beverage product applications. [3] Alkalizing agents employed vary, but include potassium carbonate and sodium carbonate.

Nutrition

Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy 954 kJ (228 kcal)
57.90 g of which fibre approx. 33 g
Fat
13.70 g
19.60 g
Vitamins and minerals
Minerals Quantity
%DV
Calcium
10%
128 mg
Iron
77%
13.86 mg
Magnesium
119%
499 mg
Manganese
167%
3.837 mg
Phosphorus
59%
734 mg
Potassium
51%
1524 mg
Sodium
1%
21 mg
Zinc
62%
6.81 mg
Other constituentsQuantity
Water3.00 g
Caffeine 230 mg
Theobromine 2060 mg

Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults, [5] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from the National Academies. [6]

Cocoa powder is 58% carbohydrates, 14% fat, 20% protein, and 3% water (table). It contains several minerals in rich content (having a Daily Value of 20% or higher), including manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc, while calcium levels are moderate (table). [7]

Flavonoids

Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids (especially flavan-3-ols), [8] a subset of polyphenols. The amount of flavonoids depends on the amount of processing and manufacturing the cocoa powder undergoes. Alkalization, also known as Dutch processing, causes its content of flavonoids to be substantially reduced. [1] [9] [10]

Safety

Cadmium content

Cocoa powders may contain cadmium, a toxic heavy metal and probable carcinogen, found naturally in high levels in the soil of some regions of cocoa-producing countries. The European Union has imposed a limit (as of 1 January 2019) for cadmium in cocoa powder of 0.6 μg per gram of cocoa powder and 0.8 μg per gram for chocolate with ≥ 50% total dry cocoa solids. [11] In Canada, a daily serving of a natural health product must contain no more than 6 μg of cadmium for an individual weighing 150 pounds (68 kg) and 3 μg for a 75 lb (34 kg) individual. [12] While the US government has not set a limit for cadmium in foods or health products, the state of California has established a maximum allowable daily level of oral cadmium exposure of 4.1 μg and requires products containing more than this amount per daily serving to bear a warning on the label. [13] One investigation by an independent consumer testing laboratory found that seven of nine commercially available in the US cocoa powders and nibs selected for testing contained more than 0.3 μg of cadmium per serving gram; five of these products exceeded the EU limit of 0.6 μg per gram. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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