Cocoa-free chocolate alternatives, also called cocoa alternatives or cacao-free alternatives, are chocolate alternatives that look, taste, and perform like chocolate but do not contain cocoa as an ingredient. Due to problems associated with the cocoa supply chain such as shortages or deforestation , chocolate alternatives without cocoa are a growing sector in the global chocolate industry.[1][2]
Sources edit
Cocoa-free chocolate alternatives come in many varieties, including milk, vegan, white and dark chocolate. The first innovator that introduced cocoa-free chocolate into the market was German company Planet A Foods, followed by UK-based Win-Win, Finnish-player Fazer and US-based company Voyage Foods.[3][4][5][6] Many producers, if not most, replace cocoa with the ingredient carob.[7][8] A few producers develop cocoa-free chocolate alternatives without carob, and use for example sunflower and oat seeds as a basis.[9] Cocoa-free chocolate alternatives are legally not allowed to be labeled as chocolate. To be labeled as chocolate, a minimum amount of cocoa mass must be used for development. The exact amount of cocoa mass required varies by country.[10]
Production process edit
The cocoa alternatives possess slightly different production processes, but are all based on the traditional chocolate production process. [11] Oats and sunflower seeds undergo a similar treatment to cocoa beans and are then grounded in several steps to get an aromatic concentrate. Afterwards, the concentrate is mixed with other ingredients like sugar and plant-based fats.[12]
History edit
In the past, cocoa-reduced products were developed after World War II due to a limited availability of cocoa and high prices.[13] In recent years, the demand for cocoa-alternatives has started to grow as cocoa prices soar due to shortages in cocoa cultivation.[14][15]
References edit
- ^ Towfighi, John (2024-03-28). "As cocoa prices soar this Easter, chocolatiers consider alternatives | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Cocoa beans are in short supply: what this means for farmers, businesses and chocolate lovers. Retrieved 12th April 2024
- ^ "WNWN Food Labs unveils a trio of look-alike cocoa-free bar ranges". Confectionery Production. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Cargill To Step Up Production Of Cocoa Alternatives With Voyage Foods". ESM Magazine. 2024-04-10. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Fazer to begin pilot sales of unique grain-based Fazer Taste the Future candy tablets with no cocoa". News Powered by Cision. 2023-05-16. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Frömmer, Ruth (2022-08-01). "Münchner erfinden erste kakaofreie Schokolade". www.abendzeitung-muenchen.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Italy's Foreverland Launches Pralines & Panettone Made With Cocoa-Free Chocolate". vegconomist.com. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Cacao-free 'alt choc' mimics the real thing, with 80% fewer CO2 emissions". foodnavigator.com. 2022-05-11. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "ChoViva cocoa-free chocolate unveils latest oat muesli series". Confectionery Production. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "How Chocolate is Regulated Differently in Different Countries – the greater goods, inc". thegreatergoods.ca. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ Christine Hall: Planet A Foods whips up more capital to take its cocoa-free chocolate global. In: TechCrunch. 1st February 2024, retrieved 12th April 2024.
- ^ Using plant-based fermentation to recreate the flavour of chocolate. Retrieved 12th April 2024.
- ^ "Strategy Study: How Ferrero Became One Of The World's Largest Chocolate Producers". www.cascade.app. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Why Cocoa Prices Spiked and What It Means for Chocolate Lovers". Bloomberg.com. 2024-03-31. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Cocoa prices soar to record high as El Niño batters West African growers". Financial Times. Retrieved 2024-04-12.