Usage of cornelian cherry as natural coloring agent for production of turkish delight and investigation of the storage stability

Turkish delight, which is one of the oldest confectionery product specific to our country, is prepared with sugar, starch, water and with various additives. If it is necessary; flavoring agents, dry and / or dried fruits are added. So the delight is produced by it's unique technique with these raw materials. In Turkish delight production, Afyonkarahisar has an important role in our economy. The cornelian cherry which is hard-core type fruit, is widely available in coastal areas, mountainous, wooded areas and in the appropriate climate valleys. Cornelian cherry is consumed by the people in various ways and it is known as a healthy food due to having specific properties. Cornelian cherry's color is given by substances which are in anthocyanins' group. Anthocyanins have high antioxidant capacity therefore they are known to act positively in the development or prevention of many diseases caused by the reactive oxygen species or free radicals. Aim of this study is to produce cornelian cherry added Turkish delight and to investigate the storage stability of this new product according to the physical chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics. Therefore, 4.4 % and 12.2 % cornelian cherry pulp added Turkish delights were produced at factory conditions. No pulp added delight samples were used as control samples. Turkısh delights were packaged and stored for 20 weeks to observe the physical, chemical, sensory and microbiological changes. Results of the physical and chemical analysis for the products met the requirements of the Turkish Food Codex. Turkısh delight, which contained 12.2 % cornelian cherry pulp got the highest desirability in sensory analysis but elasticity criteria of this sample was condireable reduced after 20 months storage. Consequently with this study, cornelian cherry pulp added Turkish Delight production trial became sucessfully at industrial scale. Thus Turkish delight, having natural taste and color with addition of a healthy fruit, having enhanced desirability in terms of consumer appeal, having appropriate storage stability is successfully produced.