Flavour characteristics of the chocolate made from 14 dried, fermented cocoa bean
samples from eight different countries of origin and the relationship with pH,
titratable acidity and acetic and lactic acid were studied. The fermented dried
cocoa beans were processed into semi-sweet dark chocolate and were evaluated for
their flavour difference by the multiple comparison test using the Ghanaian sample
as a reference. The descriptors and the intensities of the chocolate flavour
perceived by the taste panel members were also obtained. There was no correlation
between the flavour score and the pH, tritratable acidity, acetic and lactic acid
concentrations. The study found that chocolate samples made from the tow pH
(4.75-5.19) and high pH (5.50-5.80) cocoa beans have low response in strong
chocolate flavour. On the other hand, chocolate samples made from the Ghanaian
and Nigerian beans which have medium pH values of 5.20-5.49 received a high
response in strong chocolate flavour. More off-fl avour descriptors were perceived
from chocolate samples made from low-pH cocoa beans.