Abstract:
The study was carried out to improve the utilization of gram flour and Centella
asiatica through the development of value added products such as gram flour, wheat
flour and Centella asiatica composite biscuits. Gram flour and wheat flour were
supplied from the market as a processed flour. Centella asiatica were obtain from
the home garden and it was wash well to remove impurities. Then it was dried under
the sun light for several days, grind as a powder and sieved well to produce Centella
asiatica powder. Then the Centella asiactica powder were packed in air tight
polythene bag and stored under the refrigerated conditions until further use. The
wheat flour, gram flour and Centella asiatica composite biscuit was prepared
according to the standard procedure at the faculty of technology Eastern University
Sri Lanka.
There were six treatments of biscuits prepared with different combinations of wheat
flour, gram flour and Centella asiatica powder. T1 - wheat flour 100g, T2 - wheat
flour 80g, gram flour 10g, Centello asiatica powder 10g, T3 - wheat flour 70g, gram
flour 20g, Centella asiatica powder 10g, T4 - wheat flour 60g, gram flour 30g,
Centella asiatica powder 10g, T5 - wheat flour 50g, gram flour 40g, Centella
asiatica powder 10g, T6 - wheat flour 40g, gram flour 50g, Centella asiatica powder
10g. physical (diameter, thickness and spread ratio), chemical (moisture, ash, fat and
protein contents) and sensory evaluation were done for each treatment of the biscuits.
The physical parameters of biscuits such as diameter and thickness were decreased
gradually from 46.78 - 44.71mm and 11.20 - 8.6mm and spread ratio was increased
gradually for each treatment from 6.96 - 10.57 respectively. The moisture, ash, fat
and protein content increased from 1.44 - 2.47,2.14 - 4.22,9.30 - 13.18 and 6.96 -
10.57 respectively. Sensory evaluation was done by using 25 members of panel. That
data was described by graphically. According to the sensory data, taste, color,
texture, aroma, and overall acceptability were checked. Most people liked the color
of treatment 4 (T4) the most, 19%, The color of those treatments was better than
other samples. Treatment 4 (T4) and treatment 3 (T3) had the highest responses to
the aroma among all the treatments, at about 20% and 18%, respectively. Most of the
people liked the taste of T4 treatment; it was 19%. Not only that, but T1 treatment
received an 18% response for taste. Texture is another important factor, which
includes sensory analysis. Treatment 4 (T4) texture was the best and received the
most responses out of all the samples. It was 21% According to the sensory data
evaluation, T1 (treatment 1) also had 20% of responses among other treatments.
Finally, overall acceptability was analyzed and got the 20% highest responses for
treatment 4 (T4). Treatment 1(T1) and treatment 3 (T3) got 18% and 17% responses,
respectively. All the evaluations were conducted on the fresh samples only.
Based on the quality characteristics of wheat flour, gram flour and Centella asiatica
composite biscuit the 30g of gram flour (T4) contained biscuit has the good score in
organoleptic points of view and acceptable nutritional quality compared to other
combinations.