Nutritional Profile and Organoleptic Qualities of Milk Chocolate Incorporated with Different Spices

An innovative spicy chocolate was developed in this study by partial replacement of cocoa nibs with different selected spice powders of: Ginger (G11), Garlic (G12), Clove (C13), Cinnamon, (C14), Turmeric (T15), Aframomum danielli (A16), Aframomum melegueta (A17), Thyme (T18), Black Pepper (B19) and Clappertonia (C20). Milk chocolate without spices (C10) served as Control. The proximate compositions were carried out using standard methods. The Total Calorific values (TCV) was determined using the Atwater factors (physiological fuel values) of 4kcal, 4kcal and 9kcal per gram of carbohydrate, protein and fat respectively. The sensory evaluation was carried out by panel of tasters consisting of 13 males and 18 female staff of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria who were used to consuming chocolates. The result showed significant differences in the proximate chemical compositions of the chocolates (p<0.05). Apart from black pepper with a An significantly lower protein and ash contents when compared to the control chocolate, all the other spices significantly caused an increase in percentage protein and ash in the control milk chocolate. The trend of protein increase is T18 > G11 > T15 > C20 =A17 > A16 > C14 > C13 > G12 > C10 > B19 > respectively. The range of values obtained for the proximate compositions were (%)The Total Calorific Value (TCV) also showed significant differences among all the samples at p<0.05 with the TCV of the control chocolate being the highest. The addition of spices contributed to acceptable tastes, aroma, flavor and general acceptability of milk chocolates. In Conclusion, this study showed that the incorporation of Spices in chocolate increased the protein and ash content of milk chocolate, the organoleptic acceptance while reducing the TCV values This is a desirable findings in view of the fear of high calorific values of Milk Chocolate which may predispose consumers to Obesity when consumed.in large quantities.