Danish and Ghanian researchers create new chocolate together with Toms

Researchers from LIFE- Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen in cooperation with the chocolate company Toms Gruppen A/S, Danida and Ghanian researchers have developed a controlled method to ferment cocoa beans.

 

This has resulted in several new tasty chocolate products. Common to all the chocolates, the cocoa beans have been fermented in a special way that creates a new and better taste while at the same time increasing the earnings of the Ghanian cocoa farmers. The four researchers have just been awarded LIFE’s business prize for their contribution.

 

A special, controlled fermentation of the cocoa beans from Ghana has created a unique gourmet chocolate which is now on sale in Denmark. The new method of production has given farmers in Ghana better working conditions, better yield and thereby better earnings and has provided the Danes with an exquisite quality chocolate.

 

’ I have lost part of my heart to Westafrica and therefore it has been both personally and professionally rewarding to work together with a company such as Toms. Through our many years of working together, they have known how to link business with positive developments for Ghanian farmers and world class research into new innovative chocolates”, says associate professor Dennis S. Nielsen who together with professor Mogens Jakobsen, professor Lene Jespersen and associate professor Mikael Agerlin Petersen have been awarded LIFE’s Business Prize 2011.

 

The cooperation has resulted in the so-called “tray fermentation” method originally developed by Ghanian researchers and later further developed by Toms and LIFE. The first gourmet chocolate based on the “tray” method is called ’A XOCO - Superior Fermentation’ and is a great success. In 2010, Toms launched four new chocolates under the name ‘Toms Ekstra”. They are all based on tray fermented cocoa beans. The chocolate has a softer and more fruity taste compared with traditional chocolate.

 

Every year in the connection with LIFE’s anniversary, LIFE’s Business Prize is presented to one or more researchers. The prize is given to researchers who have, in particular, worked in a committed and active way to make use of their research or teaching for the benefit of society.

 

For more information, please contact associate professor Dennis S. Nielsen at tel. +45 3533 3287 / .