Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Plant-based sustainable and nutritional food are a recent, growing trend setting out
new opportunities for operators in the food value chain to ensure and reduce
emissions from the global food production. Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) fruit
pulp, approved as a novel food, is rich in dietary fibres, antioxidants, and minerals.
Towards the commercialization of baobab fruit pulp, to meet the demand for plant
based sustainable food alternatives, Baofraiche, a cookable sauce, based on baobab
fruit pulp has been developed and presented. This thesis reviews how the viscosity
of the Baofraiche dispersion is affected during heating and by adding external
ingredients. A Central Composite Design with three factors, pectin, Agar Agar and
protein have been used. Thus, this experiment have been conducted to contribute to
knowledge so that an optimal prototype for Baofraiche can be developed. Findings
suggest that the viscosity of the Baofraiche decrease at higher temperatures. Pectin
and Agar Agar, two different types of polysaccharides, affect the dispersion in
different ways. Hence, the conclusion can be drawn that it is not possible to add any
polysaccharide and predict that they will have the same effect on the dispersion
during heating. Added protein, in combination with the other added factors, have a
decreasing effect on the viscosity. Therefore, these factors should not be added
together if a higher viscosity is required. Further studies should examine the optimal
dispersion of Baofraiche based on the finding in this thesis. The overall conclusion
is that Baofraiche is cookable and disperse well in a food system.