Chocolate, like many other industries, has experienced a huge customer demand for simple ingredients. Truedark, unveiled by ADM Cocoa's deZaan business at IFT 2015, gives the industry its first option for a clean label dark cocoa powder, the company claims.
The company worked for years on trying to craft the technology which allowed them to create the non-alkalized cocoa powder.
“Clean label is more simple,” Rinus Heemskerk told ConfectioneryNews at the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Chicago last week. “Customers want something darker and without alkaline, it becomes more desirable.”
Alkaline-free with a similar mouth feel
Over the past few years, food manufactures have listened to customer demands for fewer additives in desserts. However, the 180-year-old process of alkalizing chocolate meant manufacturers could not label a product purely as “cocoa,” instead having to use “cocoa processed with alkali.” This drove ADM tofigure out how to make a cocoa powder that has the same rich, brown color and familiar taste of chocolate but without the alkali, Heemskerk said.
While the long-standing alkalization process stood tall for nearly two centuries, making it difficult for chocolate manufacturers to meet the customer demands for clean label, Heemskerk said TRUEDARK will allow the production of products with all-natural cocoa that do not have to compromise quality, taste or color.
This is the company’s initial offering in non-alkalized cocoa powder, something Heemskerk said they hoped to add to in the coming years.
At IFT 2015, ADM Cocoa's booth featured samples of alkalized chocolate next to Truedark allowing attendees to compare finished products for flavor, texture and color.
"Truedark allows food manufacturers to simplify labels and improve the physical characteristics of products containing natural cocoa powder. It also performs exceptionally well in ice cream, confectionery, bakery, cookie and chocolate flavored dessert applications," said Heemskerk.
So far, no manufacturer has utilized Truedark cocoa for their products, as the launch of the natural cocoa was just last week, but Heemskerk said there were many interested companies who came to their booth during the IFT 2015 Expo.
ADM's cocoa business and deZaan brand are now part of Singapore-based Olam after the European Commission approved a $1.3bn deal last month.