Sensory and physicochemical characteristics of mulberry leathers enriched with sesame, almond, sunflower seeds, coconut, and peanut

This study aimed to investigate the utilization of sesame, sunflower seed, almond, peanut, and coconut as condiments for the enrichment of mulberry leather, known locally as mulberry pestil. The investigation involved a comprehensive analysis encompassing proximate composition, mineral content, color, physicochemical, and sensory properties. The studied parameters of enriched samples were compared with those of the plain sample. Employing multivariate statistical techniques enabled the differentiation of the enriched leather samples. Consequently, the leather samples were categorized into three groups by the principal component analysis according to their physicochemical and chemical attributes. Strong positive correlations were observed among the studied parameters, as indicated by Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The physicochemical and chemical properties of enriched samples exhibited substantial variability. The enriched products had abundant calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc levels. These findings revealed that incorporating these condiments enhanced the nutritional values of leather samples, especially in terms of minerals. 100 g of the enriched mulberry leathers had 68.0-70.7 g of carbohydrate, 4.6-5.7 g of protein, 3.6-5.9 g of fat, and 336-359 kcal of energy value. The enriched products might be proposed to provide nutrients and energy in emergencies, especially for adolescents and people affected by disasters.