Patent ID: 9554582
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A23G,A23V

Claim:
1. A process for providing colored chocolate pieces, comprising the steps of: simultaneously applying an edible dry colorant selected from the group consisting of a dye and/or colorant having an average particle size of less than about 150 microns and a color adherent coating solution selected from the group consisting of a chocolate polish or a confectionary glaze to a mixing pan having a mass of chocolate pieces therein, while mixing, to provide colored-chocolate pieces, and drying the colored pieces by introducing drying gas into the mixing pan, to provide dried colored chocolate pieces having a random variation in colorant particle density across the chocolate surface of said pieces; wherein the steps of applying and drying take at least about 15 minutes to complete, the chocolate pieces do not have a sugar shell and the process does not include forming a hard panned sugar shell on the chocolate pieces.