Development of Jams with Ancestral Seed Aggregates

Abstract

Small-scale food producers have been negatively impacted by the present pandemic and have been forced to use innovations with low-risk products as a means to increase sales. The object was to determine variations in the nutrient profile of peach jam with the introduction of amaranth or quinoa seeds, the latter having been rinsed beforehand to reduce saponin content. Three varieties of the jam were made, and these were subjected to a sensory evaluation by a panel of 30 untrained judges (consumers) and analysed to determine the variation in their composition as a result of the addition of the seeds. To the basic preparation, which consisted of peaches and sugar (PJ), 20% of quinoa seeds were added (QJ) at the bottling stage. To the third jam preparation, amaranth seeds were added in the same proportion (AJ). Official analytical techniques were used to determine their nutrient profile. The protein content increased from 0.23 g% (PJ) to 2.52 g% (QJ) and 3.38 g% (AJ). Total fat increased from 0.35 g% (PJ) to 0.74 g% (QJ) and 1.72 g% (AJ). Fibre increased from 2.13 g% (PJ) to 4.24 g% (QJ) and 2.86 g% (AJ). The incorporation of amaranth and quinoa improved protein profile, fibre and total fat intake and also resulted in a jam with a better nutrient profile, although there was only a slight reduction in carbohydrates, from 68 g% to 66 g%, after the seeds were added. Plum and apricot jam were also tested, and in all instances, the results were similar.