Printing chocolate with the ideal mouthfeel
Researchers from the University of Amsterdam, Delft University and Unilever used metamaterials — that is, materials not found in nature but created in a lab — to create shapes of chocolate that offer a satisfying eating experience.
These tasty metamaterials were creating using a 3D printer full of tempered chocolate. The scientists printed a variety of shapes of chocolate in a bid to understand what makes a satisfying mouthful of the moreish treat. The shapes were not standard squares, circles or rectangles, as you might usually find in a heart-shaped box, but rather a series of squiggles and swirls. The researchers found that these shapes would create a unique shattering and cracking effect — something that was key to the mouthfeel of the chocolate being satisfying.
The ideal shape for mouthfeel was a spiral, as found by an enthusiastic board of chocolate testers, since it created a satisfying cracking effect when bitten through vertically. The scientists then turned to mathematical modelling to optimise the chocolate shapes to balance the rigidity and resistance to biting, which resulted in a selection of odd but sturdy shapes for a satisfying snack.
It is early days for the research, with the scientists suggesting that the metamaterial chocolate shapes are proof that a more satisfying eating experience is possible for chocolate with the application of mathematics and engineering.
Don't force the process: making foie gras more ethical
Researchers are exploring more ethical ways to replicate the indulgent taste of foie gras without...
Seedlab Australia's Bootcamp 11 helps incubate the next wave of FMCGs
The program is helping its latest cohort of early-stage FMCG businesses tap into consumer trends...
A mango a day could keep the doctor away
Research out of the US has revealed that mangoes could be a weapon against chronic conditions...