High ceramide content in fermented cocoa bean shells ( <i>Theobroma cacao</i> L.)

Analysis of various parts of cocoa by LC-ESI-MS/MS revealed that fermented cocoa bean shells contained high amounts of ceramides, especially a hydroxy phytoceramide (t18:0-h24:0, 466.6 μg/g) present in human skin. Its total ceramide content was higher than that in the skins of peanuts, soybeans, or coffee beans, suggesting that this high content is a unique feature of fermented cocoa bean shells.