Dark chocolate is a good source of dietary flavonoids, mainly comprised of (þ)-catechin, ()-epicatechin,
and their oligomeric and polymeric procyanidins. Nevertheless, flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity
are affected during chocolate manufacturing. In this study, the influence of manufacturing process
of dark chocolate, particularly, roasting of cocoa beans (115e135 C), conching (60e80 C), and alkalization
treatment (pH 7e9) was studied and the process conditions were optimized via Response Surface
Methodology (RSM). Validation of the model accomplished applying the conditions generated by RSM.
Considering the data obtained from the model; chocolate manufacturing process, particularly increasing
alkalization degree and roasting temperature significantly reduced phenolics and related antioxidant
capacity (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, increasing conching temperature was insignificant (p > 0.05) since
higher temperature leads to a shorter required processing time.