Changes in free amino acid, peptide-N, sugar and pyrazine concentration during cocoa fermentation

The free amino acids, peptide-N, reducing sugars (the flavour precursors in cocoa) and pyrazine profiles of mix hybrid cocoa beans fermented in a rotary drum reactor were monitored over a period of 6 days. As fermentation progressed, the acidic free amino acid concentration decreased significantly (P<0·05) by 15%, whereas total, hydrophobic and other free amino acids increased significantly by 148, 280 and 127%, respectively. In terms of hydrophobic/acidic/other free amino acids ratio, the unfermented cocoa beans contained 30%:18%: 52%, whereas those of fermented beans contained 46%: 6%: 48%. Concentrations of peptide-N and total reducing sugars were significantly (P<0·05) increased by 55 and 208%, respectively during fermentation; however, those of sucrose and total sugars decreased significantly (P<0·05) by 89% and 75%, respectively. The unfermented cocoa beans contained no pyrazine; however during fermentation, the 2-methyl-, 2,5-dimethyl-, 2,6-dimethyl-, 2,3-dimethyl-, trimethyl- and tetramethylpyrazine were formed. The two principle pyrazines were tetramethyl- (2099·30 μg kg−1) and trimethylpyrazine (692·00 μg kg−1).

Preview Text (Abstract) 51300.pdf Download (73kB) | Preview Text J Sci Food Agric - 1999 - Hashim - Changes in free amino acid peptide‐N sugar and pyrazine concentration during cocoa.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (115kB) Official URL or Download Paper: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/(S...

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