Process for producing a beverage comprising cocoa material with enhanced polyphenol levels
Process for producing a beverage comprising a cocoa material having an enhanced level of polyphenols, the process comprising the steps of: (a) adding a base to an aqueous phase to adjust the pH to between about 6.5 and about 7.5, (b) mixing ingredients into the aqueous phase to give a dispersion, the ingredients including the cocoa material having an enhanced level of polyphenols, (c) performing a thermal treatment on the dispersion, comprising heating the dispersion to over about 85° C. for at least about 5 seconds, and (d) cooling the treated dispersion. A beverage obtainable by the process is also disclosed.
1. Process for producing a beverage free of agglomerated protein comprising a cocoa powder containing at least 50 mg/g of polyphenols, the process comprising the steps of:
(a) adding a base to milk to adjust the pH to between about 6.5 and about 7.5,
(b) mixing ingredients into the milk to give a dispersion, the ingredients including the cocoa material having an enhanced level of polyphenols of at least 50 mg/g,
(c) performing a thermal treatment on the dispersion, comprising heating the dispersion to over about 85° C. for at least about 5 seconds,
(d) cooling the treated dispersion, and
(e) obtaining a beverage free of agglomerated protein.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the milk is low fat milk.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and/or potassium carbonate.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the milk in step (a) is adjusted to between about 6.7 and about 7.2.
5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pH of milk in step (a) is adjusted to between about 6.85 and about 7.1.
6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the pH of the milk in step (a) is adjusted to between about 6.9 and about 7.0.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the cocoa powder has an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (“ORAC”) value of greater than 1000 micromoles TE/g, wherein “TE” is Trolox Equivalents.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the cocoa powder has an ORAC value of greater than 1500 micromoles TE/g.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein the cocoa powder contains at least 80 mg/g of polyphenols.
10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the cocoa powder contains at least 100 mg/g of polyphenols.
11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ingredients are selected from the group consisting of cocoa powder, polyphenol-enhanced cocoa powder, thickening agents, flavouring agents, sugar, sugar replacers, and mixtures thereof.
12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment comprises heating the dispersion to above about 90° C.
13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment comprises heating the dispersion to between about 93° C. and 97° C.
14. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment comprises heating the dispersion for at least 10 seconds.
15. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment comprises heating the dispersion for at least 20 seconds.
16. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment comprises heating the dispersion for between about 25 and 50 seconds.
17. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thermal treatment is performed using a tubular heat exchanger and/or a plate heat exchanger.
18. A process according to claim 1 wherein an Ultra High Temperature (UHT) treatment is performed on the dispersion after the thermal treatment.
19. A process according to claim 1 further comprising homogenizing the dispersion after step (b).
20. A process according to claim 19 wherein the homogenization is performed in two steps.
21. A process according to claim 1 wherein the dispersion is cooled to a temperature of less than about 30° C. in step (d).
22. A process according to claim 1 wherein the dispersion is cooled to a temperature of between about 15° C. and about 25° C. in step (d).
23. A process according to claim 1 further comprising packaging the beverage into a container.