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Some quality characteristics of solar‐dried cocoa beans in St Lucia
Author(s) -
Bonaparte Anthony,
Alikhani Zaman,
Madramootoo Chandra A,
Raghavan Vijaya
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0010(199804)76:4<553::aid-jsfa986>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - titratable acid , open air , horticulture , chemistry , zoology , food science , biology , architectural engineering , engineering
A field comparison of solar drying and open‐air sun‐drying of cocoa ( Theobroma cocoa L) beans was carried out in St Lucia. Four methods of drying (indirect solar drier, direct solar drier, open air/perforated steel surface and open air/non‐perforated wooden surface) were examined at three loading rates: 13·7, 26·9 and 40·4 kg m −2 . Beans from the open air had a higher incidence of external mould and poorer external appearance, though differences were minor. Beans dried at the lower rate of 13 kg m −2 showed the best colour, but the highest titratable acidity. Conversely, beans dried at the higher loading rate of 40·4 kg m −2 showed significantly lower titratable acidity, but poorer colour. Differences in cut‐test score, colour, pH and titratable acidity between the open air and closed driers were small or not significant. While not significant, the indirect drier did show the highest cut‐test score and the direct drier the poorest. Beans from the indirect drier were darker and more purple, while those from the direct drier were lighter coloured and less purple. The beans from the direct drier, dried to 6% moisture (WB) were, though not significantly so, more brittle and higher in titratable acidity than those from either the open air or indirect drier. Overall the beans from the indirect drier showed the highest quality and those from the direct drier the poorest. Whether the modest improvement of the indirect drier over the open air driers is sufficient to warrant investment in such a drier is unclear. © 1998 SCI.