| ITEM | STANDARD |
| Appearance | Fine, free flowing brown powder |
| Flavour | Characteristic cocoa flavour, no foreign odors |
| Moisture (%) | =< 5 |
| Fat content (%) | 10- 12 |
| Ash (%) | =< 12 |
| Fineness through 200 mesh (%) | >= 99 |
| pH | 6.2- 6.8 |
| Total plate count (cfu/g) | =< 5000 |
| Coliform | =< 30mpn/ 100g |
| Mould count (cfu/g) | =< 100 |
| Yeast count (cfu/g) | =< 50 |
| Shigella | Negative |
| Pathogenic bacteria | Negative |