The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 09, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2001
Loretta Zapp, Austin, TX (US);
Thomas J. Slaga, Denver, CO (US);
Jifu Zhao, Denver, CO (US);
Mark Lang, Apex, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
A new cocoa bean processing technique which, in stark contrast to conventional cocoa processing methods, preserves the beneficial flavanoid compounds of cocoa beans in finished, cocoa bean-based foodstuffs. The present method produces roasted cocoa beans that can be ground and the liquor can be either cooled and allowed to solidify (unsweetened chocolate) or pressed and re-ground to form cocoa powder. The resulting cocoa powder can then be used in a traditional manner to make sweetened chocolate products such as candy and beverages for consumption by humans or animals. The resulting products will be a source of flavanoid compounds, which are known antioxidants.