A total of 494 samples of cocoa, corresponding to the stages of
primary processing on grower farms (226 samples), secondary
processing at the manufacturing plants (168 samples) and chocolate
sold on the market in the form of powder and bars (100
samples) were evaluated.
The 226 samples of integral cocoa beans (beans and pulp) (not
less than 200 g each sample), from the primary processing stage,
were collected in the cocoa producing region of Ilheus-Bahia
(Brazil). The cocoa samples came from three major farms and
represented the different stages of production: 25 samples before
fermentation, 51 samples with different times of fermentation (1e6
days), 85 samples collected at different times of sun drying on
movable roof platforms (1e14 days) and 65 samples during the
storage period (up to one year).
One hundred and sixty-eight samples from secondary processing
were evaluated at the different stages of cocoa processing. The
cocoa samples were collected as follows: 19 testa (shell) samples,
29 of nibs, 25 of liquor, 25 of cocoa butter, 26 of cake and 44 of
powder. These samples came from three Brazilian manufacturers
located in the same region of the farms.
The 100 samples of chocolate were acquired from the market,
corresponding to dark (25), milk (25) and white (25) chocolate in
bars; and in powder (25).