The Hershey Company

William Jeffrey Hurst

Brian Scott Baker

B Douglas Brown

Ashley L Boldt

Malathy Nair

Gregory T Zerphy

Krista L Cessna

Tim J Kohr

Sharon Cin

David Stuart

Richard B Van Breemen

Angela Isabel Calderon Justavino

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of producing a cocoa-containing beverage, or a nutritionally fortified or energy-sustaining cocoa beverage, containing beneficial cocoa polyphenols. Ready-to-drink compositions, concentrates, primary beverage components, and packets for producing the beverages are specifically disclosed and prepared from a cocoa water composition made from steeping a cocoa-containing product in water or an aqueous solution with an acid. A number of vitamins, minerals, supplements, and nutriceutical compositions can be added.

Steeped cocoa compositions and functional cocoa beverages made from them

The invention provides methods for isolating and enhancing the levels of jasmonates from cacao plant sources. In a preferred embodiment, jasmonic acid and 12-hydroxy jasmonate sulfate are detected in various cocoa products, and the levels of these compounds can be manipulated to increase the beneficial health effects of a food product made with the cocoa products The invention includes methods to prepare edible products containing cocoa jasmonates.

Jasmonic acid compounds in cocoa products

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of producing a cocoa beverage containing beneficial cocoa polyphenols. Ready-to-drink compositions, concentrates, primary beverage components, and packets for producing the beverages are specifically disclosed. Preferred sugar-free, low calorie, and calorie-free products and cocoa beverages are also disclosed.

Steeped cocoa beverages

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Mt. Gretna, PA, United States of America

William Jeffrey Hurst