Chocolate-Flavored Drink from Sweet Whey-Milk Blend Sweetened with Date Puree

A chocolate-flavored dairy drink sweetened with date puree was prepared by using equal parts each of sweet whey and whole milk. The blend was combined with 1.50% cocoa powder, 6% sugar (60% from date puree and 40% from table sugar), 0.05% stabilizer and 0.01% vanilla. The drink was compared with a control prepared with the same formulation except table sugar was used as a sweetener. Both products were heated to 60°C, mixed in a Waring Blender for 2 min, pasteurized at 85°C for 30 min and cooled to 4°C. Sedimentation, pH, acidity and acceptability tests were determined. The chocolate-flavored drink prepared with sweet whey-milk blend and partially sweetened with date puree appeared to be stable and highly acceptable. Chemical and physical properties of the finished product were within normal ranges.