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.
Sauerkraut better than raw cabbage for gut health
Sauerkraut could help protect your gut, according to a new UC Davis study, suggesting the...
Kerry opens taste manufacturing facility in Rwanda
Kerry is expanding in East Africa, opening a taste manufacturing facility in Rwanda to support...
Turning oats into more than milk: ingredient innovation project
A Danish partnership that unites food scientists, producers and manufacturers is exploring oat...