Aroma precursor enhancing in dried cocoa beans fermentation using enzyme and heat addition

Changes in amino acids and reducing sugars in cocoa beans during fermentation were investigated using a 3 × 3 full complete factorial design using different enzyme additions (cellulase, papain and control–no enzyme) and water bath temperatures (40, 45 and 50 ℃) as variables over three days of fermentation. Aroma precursors (reducing sugars and free amino acids) developed inside the bean by enzymatic mechanisms during fermentation are converted into volatile compounds such as pyrazines and aldehydes during roasting. This study aimed to improve the fermentation process of dried beans by adding acetic acid, heat and enzymes, because there is insufficient pulp for the ideal spontaneous fermentation process. Samples were analyzed for fermentation index, cut bean, reducing sugar amino acid composition and volatile aroma composition profile using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that the fermentation index was significantly affected by the addition of enzymes and water temperature. Although amino acids rose to 200%–300%, the composition contained several acidic amino acids because the pH utilized less than 4. Adding cellulase enzymes increases the amount of reducing sugars and amino acids but does not result in the formation of various amino acids.