Flavor Enhancer/Cocoa Replacement

Utilization of Cocoa reduction/replacer

Cocoa Reduction/Replacer has effectively demonstrated the ability to replace a portion of cocoa powder in certain applications. Its ability to do so is largely dependent on its unique flavor profile. While acidic, which is a flavor boosting attribute, Cocoa Reduction/Replacer is also quite savory andumami-like. Cocoa powder is more of a savory, astringent ingredient so when reduced, those flavors are diminished. Our pomegranate extract replaces parts of those missing flavors and reinforces those that are still present.

With other reducers cocoa will more than likely result in less of its characteristic color, something that consumers associate with the level of chocolate they expect. An additional attribute of the pomegranate extract is its color. Cocoa Reduction/Replacer, when diluted, has more of a light brownto gold hue, providing a replacement for the missing color so the final product does not appear washed out or faded in coloration.

As an example, here are two simple chocolate sauce formulations. In this application, a use level of just 0.5% of Cocoa Reduction/Replacer is used to reduce the amount of cocoa powder by almost 20%:

Control	Test
Granulated Sugar: 39.4%	Granulated Sugar: 39.4%
Cocoa Powder: 12.3%	Cocoa Powder: 10%
Salt: 0.2%	Salt: 0.25%
Water: 47.3%	Water: 47.3%
Vanilla Extract: 0.8%	Vanilla Extract: 0.8%
	Maltodextrin: 1.75%
	Cocoa Reduction/Replacer: 0.5%

Download Brochure

Functional Benefits of Cocoa Reduction/Replacer

Organic acid:

Composition: primarily Citric Acid, 5%-15% Titratable Acidity

Function: Citric Acid provide tartness and enhance flavors by impacting the overall pH

Polyphenols:

Composition: 3%-8% GAE

Function: Pomegranate polyphenols add flavor by impacting the overall mouth feel of the product, add astringency and bitterness, and impact texture through interactions with various food constituents such as oil, fiber, and proteins.

Sugar:

Composition: Fructose/Glucose, 50/50, 30%-55% w/w total sugar

Function: Sugar provides sweetness

Potassium:

Composition: 940 - 1770 mg/100 g

Function: Potassium provides saltiness and contributes to pH buffering capacity

Application	Examples	Formulation Benefits	Recommended Usage Level (%)
Sauces	Chocolate Sauce	Cocoa Powder Reduction	0.25 - 2%
Bakery	Brownie	Cocoa Powder Reduction	0.25 – 2%

Chemical/Physical – Finished Goods

Criteria	Requirement	Method or equivalent	Acceptance Criteria
Soluble Solids	65 +/- 1.0 Brix	Refractometer	Yes
Titratable Acidity (Citric)	5.0 to 15.0 wt/wt	Standard Method	Yes
pH	2.5 – 3.8	Standard Method	Yes
Total Phenolics	> 3 %	Folin-Ciocalteu (g/g GAE at 65 Brix)	Yes
Flavor / Odor	Typical of Wonderful Variety Pomegranate with no off notes	Sensory Evaluation Compared to Standard	Yes

Microbiological – Finished Goods

*Full MRL and Heavy Metal Results will be available upon requests.

Test	Requirement	Method or equivalent	Acceptance Criteria
Aerobic Plate Count	< 1000 cfu/g	FDA BAM Ch.3, AOAC 966.23; 990.12, CMMEF 7.62, SMEDP 6.040	Yes
Coliform	≤ 10 cfu/g	SMEDP 7.070, AOAC 991.14	Yes
Yeast & Mold (each)	< 100 cfu/g	FDA BAM Ch. 18, CMMEF Ch. 20	Yes
Salmonella	Negative	AOAC 2003.09, AOAC RI-100201, AOAC RI-081201, AOAC 2004.03, AOAC996.08	Yes
Genus Listeria	Negative	AOAC RI-081401, AOAC RI-030502, AOAC RI-981202, AOAC 2004.06, AOAC 999.06	Yes
E.coli	Negative(< 10 cfu/g)	SMEDP 7.070, AOAC 991.14; 998.08	Yes
Staphylococcus	Negative(≤ 10 cfu/g)	FDA BAM Ch.12, AOAC 975.55; 990.12; 2003.07; 2003.08; 20003.11, CMMEF 39.55.	Yes

Heavy Metal – Finished Goods

Analysis	Requirement	Method Reference or Equivalent
Arsenic	<50 ppb	AOAC 2013.06 (ICP-MS), EPA 3050/6020 USP730
Cadmium	<150 ppb	AOAC 2013.06 (ICP-MS), EPA 3050/6020USP730
Lead	<50 ppb	AOAC 2013.06 (ICP-MS), EPA 3050/6020 USP730
Mercury	<10 ppb	AOAC 2013.06 (ICP-MS), EPA 3050/6020USP730

Pesticide – Finished Goods

Analysis

Requirement

Method Reference or Equivalent

Multi Residue Pesticide Screening

Conforms to Standard

EN15662/CFIA PMR-006, USP/NF Current

Ver.

Ingredient Listing*: Pomegranate Extract or Pomegranate Extract Concentrate or Pomegranate Fruit Extract

*If functioning as a flavor ingredient in finished product, could be labeled as "Natural Flavor" in accordance with 21CFR 101.22(a)(3).

Additional Ingredients, Processing Aids, or Incidental Additives: Enzymes

Packaging:

Item # 98201001DR09: Single polyethylene lined 55 gallon (38lb/17kg) open top metal drums containing a Scholle Bag filled to 52 gallon volume

Item #98201001DR10: 5 gallon plastic pails with Scholle Bag filled to 4 gallons volume

Flavor Enhancer/Cocoa Replacement // YAAX International, Inc.