PRODUCING COCOA POWDERS WITH DIFFERENT COCOA BUTTER CONTENTS BY LIQUEFIED GAS EXTRACTION ON SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME PRODUCTION LINE

摘要

A process for treating cocoa mass which includes mixing cocoa mass with a saturated hydrocarbon solvent to provide a slurry and separating the slurry to provide a stream enriched in cocoa butter and a stream enriched in cocoa solids is provided. The mixing may advantageously be carried out under passive mixing conditions, at relatively low temperature, and/or with short mixing times. An advantage is that multiple cocoa powder products can be produced on substantially the same production line, but having large differences in cocoa butter contents.