Cocoa composition

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a cocoa-derived material comprising a soluble cocoa powder and a cocoa extract, wherein said extract comprises more than 25 wt % based on the extract of polyphenols. The cocoa-derived material can be a syrup, a ready to use beverage or a powder composition. The invention also relates to uses of this cocoa-derived material for preparing carbonated beverages containing cocoa. The invention further relates to a carbonated beverage comprising said cocoa-derived material and to methods for preparing such cocoa-derived materials and beverages.

1 . A cocoa-derived material comprising a soluble cocoa powder and a cocoa extract, whereby said cocoa extract composes polyphenols in an amount of more than 25% by weight based on the extract, and whereby said soluble cocoa powder has a solubility in an aqueous solvent at a temperature of 20° C. of at least 70%,
 wherein the weight ratio of soluble cocoa powder to cocoa extract in said material is comprised between 3:1 and 1:3, and 
 wherein said cocoa-derived material is a syrup or is a powder, and 
 wherein said material, when provided as a syrup has an ORAC value of between 50 and 250 μmol TE/g syrup, and when provided as powder has an ORAC value of between 10 and 10000 μmol TE/g powder. 
 
     
     
         2 . Cocoa-derived material according to  claim 1 , whereby said soluble cocoa powder has a solubility in an aqueous solvent at a temperature of 20° C. of at least 90%. 
     
     
         3 . Cocoa-derived material according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the weight ratio of soluble cocoa powder to cocoa extract in said material is comprised between 2:1 and 1:2, and preferably is 1. 
     
     
         4 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , further comprising one or more additional ingredients selected from the group comprising sugars, sweeteners, caffeine, vitamins, flavouring agents and colouring agents. 
     
     
         5 . Cocoa-derived material according any of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein said cocoa extract is a solvent-derived extract and whereby said solvent is ethanol and water, acetone and water, 2-butanol and water or 2-propanol and water. 
     
     
         6 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein said cocoa extract is obtained from non-defatted cocoa beans, preferably from non-fermented, non-defatted cocoa beans. 
     
     
         7 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein said cocoa extract comprises more than 35 wt % of polyphenols. 
     
     
         8 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein said cocoa extract comprises between 5 and 15% by weight of the extract of polyphenol monomers whereby said monomers comprise between 5 and 15% by weight of the extract of epicatechin and between 0.5 and 5% by weight of the extract of catechin. 
     
     
         9 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein said soluble cocoa powder comprises between 1 and 24 wt % by fat-free dry weight of polyphenols. 
     
     
         10 . Cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein said soluble cocoa powder comprises an amount of glucose, glucose oligomers and/or dextrines comprised between 10 and 60% by fat-free dry weight. 
     
     
         11 . Use of a cocoa-derived material is as defined in any of  claims 1  to  10  for the preparation of a beverage. 
     
     
         12 . Use according to  claim 11  wherein said beverage is a carbonated drink which comprises a suitable amount of carbonated water and/or carbon gas. 
     
     
         13 . Cocoa-derived beverage comprising
 between 10 and 30% by weight of a cocoa-derived material, wherein said cocoa-derived material is as defined in any of  claims 1  to  10 , and   between 70 and 90% by weight of a liquid, preferably water, most preferably carbonated water.   
     
     
         14 . Cocoa-derived beverage according to  claim 13  having an ORAC value of at least 1000 μmol TE/100 ml, preferably of at least 2000 μmol TE/100 ml, and most preferably having an ORAC value of between 2500 and 3500 μmol TE/100 ml. 
     
     
         15 . Beverage according to any of  claims 13  to  14 , having a pH of less than 5, preferably less than 4, and most preferably having a pH of between 3.0 and 3.5. 
     
     
         16 . Beverage according to any of  claims 13  to  15 , having an amount of polyphenols of at least 0.05% by weight. 
     
     
         17 . Beverage according to any of  claims 13  to  16 , comprising a suitable amount of carbonated water and/or carbon gas. 
     
     
         18 . Method for preparing a cocoa-derived beverage according to any of  claims 13  to  17  comprising the steps of
 a) providing a cocoa-derived material according to any of  claims 1  to  10 , 
 b) admixing water to said cocoa-derived material under aseptic conditions, while optionally also adding other ingredients such as sugar and/or CO 2 , and 
 c) optionally filling the mixture of step b) in suitable recipients.