Almonds and chocolate are a duo destined for success. One can’t deny the sensory crunch experience and the dynamic taste combination of almonds and chocolate. Also, California Almonds contain a wealth of nutrition equities that strengthen the health halo around dark chocolate, including antioxidant vitamin E, “good” monounsaturated fats, and nutrient density. All of these add up to undeniable consumer appeal for a premium and flavorful chocolate-almond experience.
The Stats:
- Almonds have global appeal—they are the only nut to rank in the top two for number of new chocolate product introductions in every major region of the world.1
- Around the world, almonds are among the top three nuts consumers associate with chocolate, Plus, 41% of European consumers report purchasing confectionary products containing almonds at least once a month.2
Antioxidant Dream Team: Almonds and Dark Chocolate
Almonds and dark chocolate are delicious alone. Together, however, they are the perfect pair to not only satisfy your sweet tooth but also provide an antioxidant boost. Both contain flavonoids, which are a type of antioxidant. The equation below shows you how flavonoids can add up for sweet success.
The Stats:
- Almonds have 21.33mg/100g of flavonoids3
- Dark Chocolate has 52.49mg/100g of flavonoids4
- Together they have 73.82mg/200g of flavonoids
Premium Appeal
Just as consumer demand for almonds is on the rise, so is the craving for more premium chocolate pleasures. This means there is a giant growth opportunity when almonds are added to the mix. And that’s not even the best news. While almonds fit well in the world of premium chocolate due to their high-end image, they are also ideal in volume-driving global products.
The Stats:
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European consumers view almonds as “indulgent” and think that product containing almonds are a “better choice” 5
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Almonds’ mainstream appeal is clear in that 10 of the top 15 global chocolate brands have already integrated almonds into one or more of their product lines.6
Click here to download Almonds and Chocolate and discover how these two delicious ingredients make the sweetest combination.
Good news about good fat: EU Dietary Guidelines recommend that the majority of your fat intake be unsaturated. One serving of almonds (28g) has 13g of unsaturated fat and only 1g of saturated fat.
1. Mintel Global New Products Report, Sterling-Rice Group, 2008.
2. 2007 European Union Attitudes, Awareness and Usage Study, 2008 North American Attitudes, Awareness and Usage Study.
3. P.E. Milbury, C.Y. Chen, G.G. Dolnikowski, J.B. Blumberg. "Determination of flavonoids and phenolics and their
distribution in almonds." J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jul 12; 54(14):5027-33.
4. Nutrient Data Laboratory, Food Composition Laboratory, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA Database for the Flavonoid Content of Select Foods, Release 2.1. January 2007. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Flav/Flav02-1.pdf.
5. 2007 European Union Attitudes, Awareness and Usage Study, 2008 North American Attitudes, Awareness and Usage Study.
6. Mintel Global New Products Report, Sterling-Rice Group, 2008.
