FoodNet

Experimental cookery

1932

Page 407

Presented as published in 1932. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
Though the amount of sugar added to chocolate liquor varies greatly and the blends of chocolate are unlimited, Zenlea makes the following classifications of general types: bitter-sweet, dark-sweet, medium-dark sweet, light-sweet, milk, ice cream bar, skim milk, buttermilk, malted milk, imitation, and lecithin coatings. Bywaters states that the tannin group of substances is a very important constituent of cacao matter, "for it deter- mines to a great extent the colour and the taste of the product. Cacao catechin and cacao tannin are present in the fresh unfermented bean." The catechin gives a very b'tter flavor. Adam and Jensen have both determined the amount of catechin and cacao tannin in the unfermented bean and in the manufactured chocolate and cocoa. During fermentation the cacao catechin is transformed to cacao tannin. The amount of cacao tannin found in the fully fermented beans averages 1.9 per cent. Bywaters states that cacao tannin in the presence of oxygen is trans- formed into a phlobaphene, which is insoluble in water and reddish in color. The red color of cocoa is chiefly due to the presence of this phlobaphene. To make cocoa the chocolate liquor is put in a hydraulic press and part of the cocoa butter is removed, leaving a cake containing less than one-half as much cocoa butter as the chocolate. This cake is pulverized. Cocoa. Zenlea states that there are many kinds of cocoas, but depending on processing they may be separated into two main classifications: (a) natural and (b) Dutch. Natural-process cocoas have had no alkalies or **Dutching agents" added during manufacture. Schaal states that probably about 75 per cent of the cocoas used by bakers are natural-processed cocoas. Some chocolate is also "Dutch" processed. Dutch-process cocoas have been treated with an alkaline solution such as potassium carbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, or sodium carbonate or bicarbonate. In some instances, according to Zenlea, the cleaned nibs are actually boiled in an alkali solution as strong as 3 per cent, based on the weight of the nibs. In commercial practise 2 per cent of alkali is more commonly used. To complete the treatment, the water is evaporated and the Dutch nibs dried in a roaster. The nibs are then treated in the same manner as nibs for natural-process cocoas. Bywaters gives the object of the Dutch process as follows : ( 1 ) To im- prove the flavor, (2) to improve the color, (3) to improve the solubility, and (4) to improve the digestibility. The proportion of cocoa that can be dissolved is less than 25 per cent, even after treatment. The treatment 514 BATTERS AND DOUGHS darkens the color. Zenlea states that natural cocoas have a pH value of 5.2 to 6.0; chocolate 5.1 to 6.2; ''Dutched" cocoas have a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 ; and chocolate a pH 6.0 to 7.8. The reaction depends on the original pH of the nibs and the quantity and kind of alkali added. Chocolate and cocoa contain some organic acids such as acetic and tartaric. The reaction of the cocoa determines the amount of soda that can be neutralized by the cocoa or chocolate in cooking. Less soda should be used with a Dutched cocoa in such products as cake and cookies in which soda is used, for the natural acidity of the cocoa has been lessened by the creatment.