REMOVAL OF XANTHINE STIMULANTS FROM COCOA

摘要

A process for extracting xanthine stimulants from a cocoa material comprises contacting a cocoa material swollen with at least 0.1 part by weight of water per part by weight of cocoa with a food-acceptable solvent gas which is supercritical in respect of temperature and pressure and separating the solvent gas containing the xanthine stimulants from the swollen cocoa material having a reduced content of xanthine stimulants. The cocoa material may be green, ground unroasted cocoa nibs and the gas is preferably carbon dioxide.