Sensory impact of three different conching times on white chocolates with spray-dried and freeze-dried açai ( Euterpe oleracea )

Nutritional profile of white chocolate is discussed for its high contents of sugar and fat, without benefits provided by cocoa polyphenols present in milk and dark chocolate. Thus, fruit addition may increase its nutritional characteristics. In this study, white chocolates with freeze-dried and spray-dried açai (Euterpe oleracea) were developed and their sensory characteristics were mapped through quantitative descriptive analysis and consumers' acceptance. Samples were submitted to three different conching times (6, 12, and 18 hours). Quantitative descriptive analysis results suggest type of dehydrated açai had much greater impact over samples' sensory characteristics than conching time, freeze-dried açai samples having greater intensity of açai sensory features, while spray-dried açai samples showing predominance of white chocolate sensory characteristics. Conching time had impact over texture of freeze-dried açai samples, since assessors considered sample conched for only 6 h was significantly harder and less melting than samples conched for 12 and 18 h. Consumer’s acceptance analysis results showed that freeze-dried açai samples were more widely accepted by consumers for appearance, aroma, and texture, and exhibited segmentation of acceptance for flavor and overall liking, although freeze-dried açai samples conched for 12 and 18 h were more accepted than sample conched only for 6 h.