The Manufacture of Chocolate and other Cacao Preparations. Paul Zipperer

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СКАЧАТЬ sugar, into an equally amyloids colour stuff (the so-called cacao-red), and the nitrogeneous alkaloids Theobromine and Kaffein; a change probably incidental to the fermentation.10 The sugar might further split up into Alcohol and Carbonic Acid Gas, although this is by no means established.

      Whilst we have lost our bearings as far as the chemical aspect of this process is concerned, we are much more firm in respect to the biological, thanks to researches which Dr. v. Preyers has conducted on the spot in Ceylon. Preyer’s11 experiments leave absolutely no room for objection, and it can safely be accepted that there are no bacteria present in fermentation, but a fungus-like growth rich in life, a kind of yeast by him called Saccharomyces Theobromae, and described in passing;12 facts which constitute the gist of his findings. He further establishes that the presence of bacteria often noticed is absolutely undesirable, and that better results are obtained when all life is energetically combated, and especially these bacteria. We should, then, be confronted with the same phenomenon in the preparation of cacao as are already met with in beer brewing, and the pressing of wine and which are still waited for in the preparing of tea and tobacco.

      The kernel of the fresh bean, “Nips”, is white and has a bitter taste and alternates in colour between whitish yellow, rose and violet; the mere influence of solar heat is sufficient to produce the brown cacao pigment, but drying is not so effective as fermentation in removing the harsh bitter taste and hence fermented beans are always to be preferred. These have often acquired a darker colour in the process, their weight is considerably diminished, and their flavour modified to an oily sweetness, without losing an atom of the original aroma13.

      Commercially and for manufacturing purposes only the seeds of the cacao tree are of importance. The root bark is said by Herr Loyer of Manila to be of medicinal value as a remedy for certain common female complaints and is employed by the natives of the Philippine Islands as an abortifacient. According to Peckoldt14 the fruit shell contains a considerable amount of material that yields mucilage and might therefore be utilised as a substitute for linseed.

      e) Description of the Beans.

      The varieties of the cacao tree which yield the beans at the present time occurring in commerce are.

      Theobroma cacao, Linné the true cacao, spread over the widest area, and almost exclusively cultivated on plantations, with many varieties (Crillo, Forastero etc.) and Theobroma bicolor, a party-coloured cacao tree the seeds of which are mixed with Brazilian and Caracas beans.

      Theobroma speciosum Wildenow, which yields, like Theobroma cacao, Brazilian beans (magnificent tree).

      Theobroma quayanense, yielding Guiana beans.

      Theobroma silvestre or forest cacao.

      Theobroma subincanum, white-leaved-cacao, and Theobroma microcarpum, small-fruited cacao, are met with as admixtures in Brazilian beans.

      Theobroma glaucum, grey cacao, fruits of which variety are found among Caracas beans.

      Theobroma angustifolium the narrow-leaved and Theobroma ovatifolium, oval leaf, may be regarded as characteristic of Mexican cacao.

      Before describing the commercial kinds of cacao, a knowledge of which is of first importance to manufacturers, it is desirable to consider the beans in regard to external form and microscopial structure, in order that the use of some indispensable scientific expressions in the subsequent description of particular commercial kinds of cacao may be intelligible.

      The bean, page 3 Fig. 2 C-G, consists, according to Hanousek15, of a seed-shell, a seed-skin and the embryo or kernel with the radicle. The oval-shaped seed is generally from 16 to 28 mm. long, 10 to 15 mm. broad and from 4 to 7 mm. thick. At the lower end of the bean there is a depressed, flattened and frequently circular hilum visible, from which a moderately marked line extends up to the apex of the bean where it forms the centre of radiating longitudinal ribs—vascular bundles-extending to the middle of the bean through the outer seed-coating back to the hilum.

      The outer seed shell (cf. Fig. 3) is of the thickness of paper, brittle, scaly externally and reddish brown, lined with a colourless translucent membrane peeling to the so-called silver membrane (previously but falsely known as seed envelope) and penetrating into the convolutions of the kernel in irregularly divided folds. The shells of some of the better sorts of beans, such as Caracas, are frequently covered with a firmly adherent, dense, reddish-brown powder, consisting of ferruginous loam originating from the soil on which the beans have been dried and serving as a protection against the attacks of insects. But opinions are divided as to, the utility of this process.

      The fermented kernel consists of two large cotyledons occupying the whole bean; it is of fatty lustre, reddish grey or brown colour and often present a superficial violet tinge; and under gentle pressure readily breaks up into numerous angular fragments the surfaces of which are generally bordered by the silver membrane. The fragments can be easily recognised when laid in water. At the contact of the lobes there is an angular middle rib and two lateral ribs are connected with the radicle at the broader end of the bean. The ripe fresh-gathered cacao-kernel is undoubtedly white and the reddish brown or violet pigment is formed during the fermenting of the bean. But there is also a white cacao, though seldom met with. According to information furnished by Dr. C. Rimper of Ecuador, it is of rare occurrence and is not cultivated to any great extent. In Trinidad also a perfectly white seeded cacao, producing large fruit and fine kernels, was introduced from Central America by the curator of the Botanic Gardens in 1893.

      The microscopic structure of the shell, Fig. III., presents no remarkable peculiarity that requires to be noticed here.

      The delicate inner membrane (fig. 3) coating the cotyledons and penetrating into their folds consists of several layers. Connected with it are club-shaped glandular structures, fig. 4, consisting of several dark coloured cells that are known as the Mitscherlich particles. According to A. F. W. Schimper16 they are hairs fallen from the epidermis (fig. 4) of the cotyledon and do not originate, as was formerly supposed, in the inner silver membrane.

      These structures, named after their discoverer, were formerly supposed to be algae, or cells of the embryo sac, unconnected with the tissues of the seed cells. They are, however, as true epidermoid structures, similar to the hairs of other plants.

      Fig. 3. Cross Section of Shell of Cacao Bean (Tschirsch).

gfb	vascular bundles	fe	endocarp, or inner coat of fruit	st	sklerogenous, or dry cells
co	cotyledon	se	epicarp, or skin	is	silver membrane
pc	ducts	sch	mucilagenous, or slime cells	co	cotyledon
f	pulp	lp	СКАЧАТЬ В начало < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 > В конец