Formulation of a cocoa butter equivalent by blending bambangan kernel fat-stearin, palm oil mid-fraction, and palm stearin

Pure vegetable fats and oils typically failed in specialist fat applications like cocoa butter equivalency. Fat modification employing fractionation and blending improves pure fat characteristics and produces a desirable product, according to extensive studies.
Thus, this study examined the impacts of combining fractionated bambangan (Mangifera pajang) kernel fat-stearin (BKF-SS) with palm oil mid-fraction (POMF) and palm stearin (PS) in CBE formulations on their physicochemical, thermal, morphological, and cocoa butter compatibility. All mixes at five ratios (90:10, 85:15, 80:20, 75:25, and 70:30%) have identical physicochemical features to CB. However, only the blend of 70% BKF-SS and 30% POMF (PMF5) and PS (PS5) resembled CB. PMF5 and PS5 resemble CB fatty acids of 18.87-21.73% palmitic, 38.23-38.92% stearic, and 31.12-34.05% oleic acid, resulting in increased thermostabilities (high SFC at 30°C, 0% at 40°C). Blends had significantly different fatty acids and TAG composition (P< 0.05) compared to individual BKF-SS, with greater stearic acid and 1,3-distearate-2-oleate-glycerol (SOS) content. It also had negligible rancidity, indicating stable, high-quality blends. Results showed similar melting and crystallisation trends. They showed β and β' polymorphic forms, consisting of disc-shaped crystals with needle-like structures (40-50 μm diameter). Due of their textural similarity to CB, these morphological traits were tested for compatibility. PMF5 and PS5 had comparable POP (10.35 -12.07 %) and SOS (29.57 – 30.22 %) with CB, while having somewhat lower 1-palmitate-2-oleate-2-stearate (POS) concentration. The TAG profiles, SFC, morphological features, and straight line on the iso-solid diagram show that BKF-SS mixed with POMF and PS is more CB-compatible than the separate BKF-SS. This study found that BKF-SS integrated with palm fractions, specifically POMF at 70:30% ratio (PMF5), had stronger resemblances and may be used as CBE. Finally, this palm fraction improves BKF-SS composition, thermal, and morphological properties and boosts its compatibility with CB.