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The effect of three drying methods (sun, hot air oven and cabinet drier) on the chemical, functional and microbial properties of date flour was comparatively studied. The flesh of the two date varieties (amber and sukkari) were washed, dried at 65oC, milled and sieved to obtain fine flour, and thereafter analyzed. Proximate analysis revealed that hot air oven-dried amber date powder exhibited significantly (p 5g/CFU/ml and 9.45×104g/CFU/ml, respectively). Thus, the results suggest that hot air oven drying can be appropriately used to obtain date flour with good functionality, microbial property and chemical composition.

Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of cashew nut milk were investigated. Cashew nut milk was produced and added with sugar and vanilla flavour at different proportions. The proximate and mineral composition of the plain cashew nut milk was analysed, as well as the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of the cashew nut milk containing sugar and vanilla flavour were analysed. The results revealed a reasonable amount of protein (5.00%), fat (5.49%), ash (0.90%) and carbohydrate (5.95%) in the plain cashew nut milk with high moisture content of 82.66%. Physicochemical analysis showed that the cashew kernel milk with only sugar content had higher sugar value of 14% and specific gravity of 1.06g/cm3 but low in pH (5.60) than other samples. Viscosity was higher for the plain milk (2.80Cp) with low acidity (0.04%) than other samples. The plain cashew nut milk sample contained appreciable quantities of calcium (4.75mg/100g), potassium (7.15mg/100g), iron (3.00mg/100g), magnesium (2.00mg/100g) and phosphorus (2.00mg/100g). The sensory analysis showed that the cashew kernel milk with only sugar incorporation was most acceptable for all sensory parameters and this is in correspondence to the total sugar content as this sample had more sugar as compared to others. The addition of sugar and vanilla flavour significantly (p

Cashew apple (Anacardium occidentale L.) juice was produced and pasteurized at 80oC for 15 min in a water bath. The juice was packaged in different packaging materials – green (G), brown (B), white (W) bottles and polyethylene sachet (S) in 200ml batches and stored for four months at room (30±1oC) and refrigeration (4oC) temperatures to study the effect of packaging materials on the vitamin C and pH of cashew-apple juice (CAJ). There were significant differences (p