New low carbon chocolate production can reduce carbon emissions and improve nutritional value.
A new study reveals that using the entire cocoa pod for chocolate production creates a more sustainable and potentially healthier treat. This groundbreaking research in low carbon chocolate could significantly impact the chocolate industry, transforming it into a model of sustainability and nutritional innovation.
Traditionally, chocolate production focuses exclusively on cocoa beans, which are harvested, fermented, and processed to create cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder. However, this method leaves behind most of the cocoa pod, including the husks, pulp, and other components, discarded as waste. This practice contributes significantly to environmental issues, as vast quantities of organic material are left to rot, releasing greenhouse gases and occupying valuable land space. Many consumers today are also exploring new chocolate variations, such as those looking for shroom chocolate in Canada, which blends traditional cocoa with innovative ingredients.
Moreover, this conventional approach overlooks the potential nutritional benefits contained in the unused parts of the cocoa pod. The husks, for instance, are rich in dietary fiber and antioxidants, while the pulp contains natural sugars, vitamins, and minerals. By discarding these unused parts, the chocolate industry misses an opportunity to create a more nutritious product that could provide added health benefits to consumers.
Additionally, the pulp, often discarded despite its sweet flavor and high nutrient content, could serve as a natural sweetener, reducing the need for added sugars in chocolate products. This would enhance chocolate’s nutritional profile and address growing health concerns related to excessive sugar consumption. This natural sweetener could also be used to produce natural sweeteners, beverages, and dietary supplements.
A new study by researchers from ETH Zurich has found a way to use the unused parts of the cocoa pod to make low carbon chocolate, which would help reduce waste and overall carbon emissions. To do so, the team extracted the endocarp (the final layer of the shell that surrounds the cacao beans and pulp), dried it, and milled it into a very fine powder. They collected the soft white pulp that surrounds the bean, pressed it to extract juice, and then concentrated it.
The juice was mixed with the endocarp flower and heated. They found that it formed a sweet gel that tasted similar to the sugar typically added to chocolate. After fine-tuning their recipe, they also found that if the gel was added up to a maximum of 20% of the chocolate weight, the chocolate matched a sweetness approaching that of conventional dark chocolate. This new chocolate version also contains 20% more fiber and 30% less saturated fat compared to the average European dark chocolate.
By utilizing the entire cocoa pod, the study estimates that this method could reduce cocoa waste by up to 70%, a substantial improvement for an industry often criticized for its environmental footprint. In comparison, the carbon footprint for a kilogram of dark chocolate can range from 1.25 to 46.7 kilograms of CO2. This wide range reflects the considerable environmental impact associated with chocolate production, from deforestation for cocoa plantations to the energy-intensive processes of fermenting, drying, and roasting cocoa beans.
As the industry explores these more sustainable practices, consumers can still indulge in delicious treats like chocolate gift baskets, perfect for gifting or enjoying on special occasions. Whether or not they’re made with low-carbon chocolate, these baskets offer a great way to enjoy high-quality chocolate in all its forms.
By extracting value from the entire pod, cocoa farmers—especially small-scale producers—could see a significant boost in their income. The study suggests that utilizing the whole pod could increase farmer incomes by up to 20%, providing much-needed financial stability and encouraging sustainable farming practices. This sustainable approach to low carbon chocolate production not only benefits the environment by minimizing waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also helps maintain soil health and fertility, leading to better crop yields in the long run.
This new approach to low carbon chocolate production offers a win-win scenario for the environment, consumer health, and cocoa farmers and can be a sign of a promising future for the beloved chocolate industry. We look forward to seeing this “new” type of sustainable chocolate hit the shelves near us in the future.
