Physicochemical Properties of Fortified Coconut Milk Based Chocolate - Like Drinks as Influenced by Cocoa Powder and Sugar Levels

The physicochemical, proximate, vitamins and minerals composition of fortified drinks produced from coconut milk, cocoa powder, and sugar was evaluated. Drinks samples were formulated with different concentration of coconut milk, cocoa powder and sugar levels. Samples includes: “k1 (Coconut milk 100 %), k2 (Coconut milk 99.8 % cocoa powder 0.2 %), k3 (Coconut milk 99.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%), k4 (Coconut milk 98 %, sugar 2%), k5 (Coconut milk 97.8 %, cocoa powder 0.2%, sugar 2%), k6 ( Coconut milk 97.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%, sugar 2%), k7 (Coconut milk 96 %, sugar 4%), k8 (Coconut milk 95.8 %, cocoa powder 0.2%, sugar 4%), k9 (Coconut milk 95.6 %, cocoa powder 0.4%, sugar 4%)”. The samples were produced and subjected to physicochemical, proximate, vitamins and minerals analysis using standard methods. Physicochemical composition, pH ranged from 6.50 (k1) to 6.72 (k9), TTA from 0.23 (k9) to 0.41 % (k1), specific gravity from 1.03 % (k1) to 1.13 % (k9), total solid from 18.91(k1) to 22.52 g/100g (k9), SNF from 7.23 (k2) to 10.25 g/100g (k8) and energy values from 124.63 (k1) to 148 Kcal/100g (k9). The proximate composition; moisture from 77.48 % (k9) to 81.09 % (k1), protein from 3.42 (k1) to 3.96 % (k9), ash from 0.71(k1) to 0.98 %(k9), crude fiber from 0.02 % (k1) to 0.06 % (k9), fat from 10.23 % (k1) to 12.27% (k9) and carbohydrate from 4.82 to 5.58% for k1 and k9. Vitamin composition, vitamin A from 1.725 to 2.469mg/100g for samples k1 and k2, Vitamin B1 from 0.044 mg/100g (k1) to 0.205 mg/100g (k9), B2 from 0.028 to 0.0114 mg/100g for k1 and k9, vitamin C from 2.981 to 5.751mg/100g for k1 and k9 and vitamin K from 0.141 to 1.137 mg/100g for k1 and k9. Mineral composition of drinks: Calcium ranged from 16. 31 to 27.05mg/100g for k1and k9, Sodium from 15.25 to 16.99 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Magnesium from 37.20 to 72.64 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Zinc from 0.677 to 3.18 mg/100g for k1 and k9, Iron from 2.87 to 3.38 mg/100g for k1 and k2, Iodine from 0.16 to 0.28 mg/100g for k1 and k9.The Cocoa powder and sugar levels improved the physicochemical, proximate, vitamins, minerals and overall nutritional profile of fortified coconut milk based chocolate drinks.