[4-1445-C] Postharvest Facility

[4-1445-C-02] Pod Storage and Maturity Effects on Specialty Cacao Pulp Quality

*Jeana Cadby¹, Tetsuya Araki¹, Ian Marc Cabugsa² (1. University of Tokyo, Dept. Global Agricultural Sciences(Japan), 2. Ateneo de Davao University, Dept. of Chemistry(Philippines))

Keywords:pod storage, post harvest quality, Theobroma cacao, specialty cacao

The quality of the cacao fruit pulp surrounding the seeds plays an important role in the early stages of post harvest processing, namely fermentation, influencing final cacao quality for specialty cacao products. Pod storage is common in cacao production, and has also been cited as a technique used by bulk/commodity cacao producers as a way to reduce undesirable acidity in cacao. However, longer storage periods are also associated with continued development or introduction of disease and contaminants that are highly undesirable in specialty cacao, and likely to be noticeable in the final product.Two post harvest treatments on measurements of brix, pH, pod weight, and seed with pulp weight in the pre-fermentation, early post-harvest processing stage were investigated, including cacao pods under storage treatments as well as separated by maturity under storage treatments. Fresh and over ripe fruits displayed the highest brix (17.53 average and 15.97 average, respectively) and overripe fruits with longer storage periods displayed the lowest (12.6 and 13.61, average respectively). Significant losses in brix, pod weight, and seed with pulp weight were observed, and pH also significantly changed with storage treatments and ripeness. Post harvest treatments of pod storage and pod maturity significantly impact the pulp quality in early stages cacao processing, potentially influencing final cacao quality. When treatments are applied in order to reduce pulp acidity, shorter storage times appear to be equally effective in reducing pulp acidity, while also shortening the window for contamination and off flavor development. The relationship between pod maturity and pulp acidity begs further investigation for similar objectives.