Functional chocolate: Palm fruit extract NPD boasts heart and brain health benefits

27 Nov 2020 --- Palm fruit extract supplier Phenolaeis will launch a functional dark chocolate that boasts heart and cognitive health benefits. The NPD is touted as having an indulgent taste with less bitterness. 

Available for white labeling, the functional chocolate with 72 percent cacao is ideal for formulators who want to launch even healthier chocolate products with greater polyphenolic content. 

“The palm fruit extract used in the chocolate is a water-soluble phytonutrient ingredient that can be easily formulated into various functional food and beverage applications as well as dietary supplements,” Dr. Kevin Ohashi, CEO of Phenolaeis, tells NutritionInsight. 

“From nutraceutical products like gummies and capsules to a wide variety of functional foods, palm fruit extract has broad versatility across applications for both health and flavor benefits.” 

“We also have partners working on powder and liquid-based projects, as well as formulations targeting sugar reduction. Palm Fruit Extract’s easy-to-use, water-solubility characteristics have not presented formulation hurdles thus far,” he notes.

Sweet but functional
The functional chocolate with 72 percent cacao is ideal for formulators who want to launch healthier products with high polyphenolic content.Short runs of 40 to 80 g bars of dark, as well as milk chocolate, are now available for companies to test their consumer appeal, the company notes.

Ohashi says that the company has observed a number of functional benefits, as well as unique flavor enhancement advantages using the palm ingredient in coffee, chocolate, stevia, plant protein and RTD applications. 

“Less bitter, more bold tasting, and a better, creamier mouthfeel” are common responses from food formulators working with Palm Fruit Extract, he says.

Ameliorating stress with comfort foods
Obtaining health claims in foods and beverages is quite difficult, Ohashi says. “While customers using Palm Fruit Extract in dietary supplements can make antioxidant health claims, our food and beverage customers are using various emotional and mood state marketing language to describe the health advantages of Palm Fruit Extract.” 

“For on-pack soft marketing claims, our customer partners are, for example, promoting the addition of ‘natural polyphenols for better focus and all-day mind-body wellness.’”

Even before the 2020 stresses associated with COVID-19, Ohashi says the company noticed a lot of development activity around healthy indulgence. 

Consumers already perceive chocolate, especially high cocoa, dark varieties, as having health benefits, so enhancing this perception with additional, healthy ingredients like Palm Fruit Extract is a natural extension. 

“We are also seeing the functional chocolate trends going across multiple delivery platforms, including snacks, RTDs, coating systems and bars. Thankfully, Palm Fruit Extract can work very well in all of these formulations,” Ohashi notes.

Synergies with cacao
The extract can be easily formulated into various functional food and beverage applications, as well as dietary supplements.Palm Fruit Extract is considered a superfruit and is derived from the oil palm fruit using solvent-free, minimally processed handling. The plant complex is composed of at least five natural polyphenols, fibers, carbohydrates and protein. Its soluble fiber is a carrier of various bioactive components. 

The ingredient offers:

• Enhanced nutrition: Palm Fruit Extract adds to already-good-for-you cacao with water-soluble polyphenols and other phytonutrients. 
• Better mouthfeel: Adding Palm Fruit Extract to chocolate minimizes the bitterness and noticeably enhances the creaminess. 
• Easy to use: Palm Fruit Extract is available in a water-soluble powder form that incorporates easily into chocolate. 
• Stevia synergy: Palm Fruit Extract enables formulators to deliver a great-tasting, sugar-free and indulgent chocolate. It can also help to minimize other off-flavors in a formula. 

The company says that research studies have shown that Palm Fruit Extract activates a wide range of antioxidant pathways and has the potential to improve wellness. Antioxidant pathways are known to support the immune system, cardiovascular and cognitive health. 

After 15 years in development, Palm Fruit Extract is now sustainably produced in Mexico using production methods that respect the environment, wildlife and people. It is fully traceable from soil to the final product. 

Phenolaeis says it is investing in a portfolio of applications research related to the synergies within Palm Fruit Extract and various cacaos to deliver great taste. Palm Fruit Extract can easily be incorporated into multiple types of chocolate delivery systems and finished applications ranging from chocolate-coated healthy grain or protein bars to RTD beverages. 

Other interesting functional chocolate NPD includes Mybite Vitamins which offers multivitamins with an indulgent chocolatey coating, caramel, nuts and a fluffy center. The US-based company has expanded its distribution to over 20,000 locations.

Confectionery is undergoing a “chocolate renaissance,” according to chocolatier Theobroma Chocolat. The company detailed an uptick in product launches containing nutritionally functional, indulgent ingredients, tailored to fit specific dietary needs.

By Kristiana Lalou