Elaboração de umbuzada formulada com palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica Mill).

Abstract

The northeast of Brazil has recently been shown as having a large number of endemic species, which should be considered as a biological heritage of incalculable value, but it has a potential economic poorly valued. The tuberosa is a plant belonging to the family Anacardiaceae, endemic to the Brazilian semiarid region that is well suited to the weather plaguing the region. The umbu constituting good source of income for many families at the time of the harvest is sold fresh or in the form of products such as jams, juices and jellies. The cactus is used by man in México since pre-Hispanic and the great diversity of uses and applications of cactus reveals the versatility of this plant species, even being grown for animal feed, has not fully exploited its potential. The recognition of the nutritional value of palm in recent years has motivated the development of work, aiming to introduce the green cactus in the diet. The objective of this work is to develop formulations umbuzadas prepared with cow's milk and goafs milk, enriched with the pulp obtained from cactus to obtain a product with high nutritional value. The physicochemical analyzes were carried out: moisture, reducing and total sugars, ash, pH, titratable acidity, carotenoid and ascorbic acid. The pulp samples of cactus, umbu and mixtures of umbuzada formulated with cactus added to cow's milk and goat milk were initially characterized. Then stored under refrigeration for 180 days, and physicochemically evaluated every 30 days. The sensory tests were performed after characterization with adults and children. Antecedently held a microbiological evaluation of formulations umbuzada with palm so that there was no risk to the tasters. The leveis of acidity and total sugars of umbu were higher than those found for the pulp of cactus pear. The moisture found in the pulp of cactus pear was higher than in the umbu and through the pH of these slurries is concluded that the umbu has a natural tendency more acid than the cactus. The pulp of palm promoted a greater enrichment of ascorbic acid and carotenoids in relation to the formulations umbu, meaning that drinks made with this culture are feasible and of great importance in preparing a mixed drink with high nutritional value. For children formulations containing pulp of cactus pear were those that possessed lower acceptability. The preference of the panelists for infant formulas prepared with cow's milk. Among the adult panelists were more acceptable to the component umbu in the formulations, but compared with the figures presented by children with pulp formulations palm were more accepted.