Two European industry associations - the Industrievereinigung für Lebensmitteltechnologie und Verpackung (IVLV) and the Fraunhofer-Institut for Production Technology and Packaging (FhIVV) - have named Archer Daniels Midland subsidiary ADM Cocoa's De Zaan cocoa liquor as the standard in joint research on chocolate production.
Following analytical and sensory experiments on a range of commercially available cocoa liquors, De Zaan cocoa liquor was selected for trials on conching involving major European chocolate manufacturers, according to a statement from ADM.
These trials reportedly included experiments on flavour and rheology within the conch and the economical use of conching time. Other planned research topics include crystallisation and the storage of liquid goods.
Confirming these claims, G. Ziegleder, head of the department for food technology for the FhIVV, commented: "Premium quality cocoa liquor is a critical factor in chocolate production, so we use only the highest quality cocoa liquor in our research trials. De Zaan cocoa liquor has proved itself as the optimal raw material for the production of milk and bitter chocolate and we now plan to use it in a number of other projects."
Cocoa liquor is the key raw material for chocolate production and plays a predominant role in determining the ultimate flavour of the chocolate. It also can be used as an alternative to cocoa powder in applications such as ice cream, ice cream coatings, bakery products, chocolate drinks and in desserts.
ADM Cocoa supplies a range of cocoa liquors from a variety of bean sources as well as cocoa powders and butters.
For more information contact ADM Cocoa.