What You Need to Know
The process begins by whipping a protein‑rich liquid with a stabilizer such as carrageenan or gelatin to form a stable foam. The foam is then immersed in a calcium chloride or sodium alginate bath, where cross‑linking reactions between divalent cations and gelling polymers form a thin gel membrane around the foam core. The resulting structure balances the airy texture of foam with the encapsulating properties of a gel, enabling controlled release of volatile aromatics.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Cross‑linking of alginate or carrageenan/gelatin with Ca²⁺ ions (or thermal denaturation of proteins) to form a gel shell around a protein foam core