Physicochemical changes during controlled laboratory fermentation of cocoa (CCN-51) with the inclusion of fruits and on-farm inoculation

Abstract

Abstract Fermentation is key to developing the organoleptic characteristics of cocoa beans, as dynamic changes in metabolites have a significant impact on flavors and aromas, hence modifications of this process have been investigated. In this research, the mucilage of CCN-51 cocoa beans was replaced by a mixture of passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) pulp, and a controlled fermentation of this mixture was carried out after its spontaneous on-farm inoculation. The physicochemical changes and correlations during the five days of fermentation were evaluated. At the end of the process, the temperature reached 47 ºC in the fermentation mass and pH 5.64 was recorded in the cotyledon. In the first 48 hours, citric acid and fructose were high but at the end of fermentation were 71% and 41.17% lower than at the start of fermentation, respectively. As glucose and fructose were consumed during fermentation, acetic acid and lactic acid levels increased from day two onward, reaching values at the end of the process of 22.48 mg/g and 16.01 mg/g, respectively. In contrast, the bromatological parameters did not show greater variability when comparing each day of fermentation. The data generated and results presented in this study will contribute to the knowledge of possible sensory improvements achieved with the inclusion of pulp fruits in the fermentation stage.

Keywords

• Cocoa bean
• Modified fermentation
• Proximal composition
• Dynamics
• Cocoa quality
• Organic acids