Cocoa-Free Chocolate Replicas from Controlled Organic Compounds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional chocolate production methods are lengthy, costly, and inconsistent due to geographical and climatic variability, crop diseases, and contamination, leading to batch-to-batch inconsistencies and the need for ingredient adulteration to mask imperfections.

Innovation Solution

A method for producing chocolate replicas using individually added volatile and non-volatile organic compounds, derived from plant-based solid substrates, which can be derived from food stream waste products, to create reproducible and customizable chocolate-like products without cocoa, allowing for precise control over flavor, aroma, and texture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional chocolate production methods are used, then the process involves harvesting, processing, fermenting, drying, grinding, refining, tempering, and molding steps, but the result is batch-to-batch inconsistency and high cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebatch-to-batch consistencyVSAvoidproduction time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the complex chocolate production process into individual chemical compound components. Instead of processing whole cocoa beans through multiple steps, the method isolates and reproduces specific volatile and non-volatile organic compounds that create chocolate's flavor and aroma profiles, allowing precise control over each component's contribution to the final product

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the fundamental parameters of chocolate production from biological material processing to chemical compound synthesis. By controlling the concentration, purity, and combination of specific organic compounds, the method achieves consistent flavor and aroma profiles across batches while eliminating variability introduced by agricultural factors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional chocolate production methods are used, then the process follows geographical and climatic constraints, but the result is variability and contamination risk

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveconsistencyVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential flavor and aroma characteristics of chocolate by identifying and isolating specific volatile and non-volatile organic compounds. This extraction separates the desired sensory properties from the biological material, eliminating contamination risks associated with crop disease, climate variability, and geographical constraints while maintaining authentic chocolate profiles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates accurate copies of chocolate's chemical fingerprint by synthesizing and combining specific organic compounds in controlled proportions. This copying approach reproduces the complex flavor and aroma profile of traditional chocolate without requiring actual cocoa beans, ensuring consistency and eliminating contamination risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional chocolate production methods are used, then the process involves imprecise practices, but the result is need for ingredient adulteration to mask imperfections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveingredient controlVSAvoidprocess steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the chocolate flavor profile into discrete volatile and non-volatile organic compound components, allowing precise control over each ingredient's contribution. This segmentation eliminates the need for adulteration by enabling exact reproduction of desired flavor characteristics through controlled compound combinations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system by combining multiple purified organic compounds in specific ratios. This composite approach allows precise control over the final product's sensory properties while eliminating variability, replacing the need for imprecise traditional practices and adulteration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12369599B2Chocolate replicas produced from individual components
Publication Date: 2025.07.29 VOYAGE FOODS INC

AI summary

Materials and methods for producing chocolate replicas from individual components are provided herein.