US4758444A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for the processing of cacao beans
Assignee: Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd
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Filing: 1986-01-15
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Granted: 1988-07-19
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Expires: 2006-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A process for producing cocoa powder is disclosed wherein alkali treated cacao mass or cocoa powder is mixed with hot water maintained at 70° to 130° C. to dissolve a water-soluble portion of the cacao beans in hot water. Alternately the cacao mass or cocoa powder is mixed with hot water containing an alkali and maintained at 70° to 130° C. to dissolve the water-soluble portion in hot water and simultaneously to treat the cacao mass or cocoa powder with the alkali. The water-soluble portion/fine particle portion mixture is isolated and dried to produce a cocoa powder.
Inventors
- 👤 Masakazu Terauchi
- 👤 Gentarou Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:01
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G1/00; A23G1/02; A23G1/04; A23G1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A process for producing cocoa powder comprising: (1) uniformly mixing (a) alkali-treated cacao mass having a pH of about 6.0 to about 8.5 or (b) alkali-treated cocoa powder having a pH of about 6.0 to about 8.5, with (c) about 3 to about 10 times by weight of hot water based on the weight of the cacao mass or cocoa powder, in the absence of (d) ethanol, (2) maintaining the resulting mixture of step (1) at a temperature of 70° to 130° C. for about 1 hour to dissolve a water-soluble portion of the cocoa mass or cocoa powder; (3) separating the dissolved water-soluble portion from the resulting mixture of step (2); and (4) drying the resulting dissolved water-soluble portion of step (3) to obtain said cocoa powder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for producing cocoa powder comprising: (1) uniformly mixing (a) alkali-treated cacao mass having a pH of about 6.0 to about 8.5 or (b) alkali-treated cocoa powder having a pH of about 6.0 to about 8.5, with (c) about 3 to about 10 times by weight of hot water based on the weight of the cacao mass or cocoa powder, in the absence of (d) ethanol, (2) maintaining the resulting mixture of step (1) at a temperature of 70° to 130° C. for about 1 hour to dissolve a water-soluble portion of the cocoa mass or cocoa powder; (3) separating the dissolved water-soluble portion from the resulting mixture of step (2); and (4) drying the resulting dissolved water-soluble portion of step (3) to obtain said cocoa powder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alkali is a carbonate, a hydrogen carbonate or a hydroxide of ammonia, magnesium, sodium or potassium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step (1) is carried out at 90° C. for one hour.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (3) is carried out by centrifugal separation with a centrifugal force of at least about 1,000 G.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for producing cocoa powder comprising: (1) uniformly mixing (a) cacao mass with (b) about 3 to about 10 times by weight of hot water based on the weight of the cocoa mass, wherein said hot water contains an alkali in an amount of about 1 to 2% by weight of the cocoa mass in the absence of (c) ethanol, (2) maintaining the resulting mixture of step (1) at a temperature of 70° to 130° C. for about 1 hour to dissolve a water-soluble portion of the cocoa mass while simultaneously treating the cocoa mass with the alkali; (3) separating the dissolved water-soluble portion from the resulting mixture of step (2); and (4) drying the resulting dissolved water-soluble portion of step (3) to obtain said cocoa powder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A process for producing cocoa powder comprising: (1) uniformly mixing (a) cacao mass with (b) about 3 to about 10 times by weight of hot water based on the weight of the cocoa mass, wherein said hot water contains an alkali in an amount of about 1 to 2% by weight of the cocoa mass in the absence of (c) ethanol, (2) maintaining the resulting mixture of step (1) at a temperature of 70° to 130° C. for about 1 hour to dissolve a water-soluble portion of the cocoa mass while simultaneously treating the cocoa mass with the alkali; (3) separating the dissolved water-soluble portion from the resulting mixture of step (2); and (4) drying the resulting dissolved water-soluble portion of step (3) to obtain said cocoa powder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the alkali is a carbonate, a hydrogen carbonate or a hydroxide of ammonia, magnesium, sodium or potassium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process as claimed in claim 5, wherein step (3) is carried out by centrifugal separation with a centrifugal force of at least about 1,000 G.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-07-19 | 1992-01-18 | 1992-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-07-19 | 1996-01-18 | 1996-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-07-19 | 2000-01-18 | 2000-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |