The Long Journey Of Chocolate From Cacao Beans To Fine Chocolate
All chocolates use cacao beans, from the mass produced stuff inside M&M's to the highest quality product that comes from Belgium. Cacao beans are also the most important ingredient, because even if all the other ingredients that go into the mix are top notch, if the cacao is not high quality the chocolate made from it won't be either. In a process that requires precision from its start at the very beginning when seeds are sown right up to its completion when the chocolate is done, even a slight mishap can spell the difference between chocolates that's good, sure, and chocolate that will knock your socks off.
In a process much like the cultivation of coffee, cacao beans are harvested, fermented and roasted. While this is essential the manufacture of chocolates, it is more or less mechanical and rule bound, so less interesting. Once the roasting is done, however, things start to get more interesting.
When the beans have been roasted, they are ground. This means that the cacao beans are shelled, and for most recipes, ground. When the beans are ground they secrete a thick liquid known as cacao liquor, which is used by chocolate manufactures. The liquor can be transformed into three different things, cacao butter, cacao powder, and chocolate. The first two are less dependent on the quality of the beans, and so usually only less remarkable beans are used to make them. The liquor from higher quality beans is most often made into chocolate.
Just because you have high quality cacao liquor doesn't mean that you have high quality chocolate. To get from the liquor to the finished bars or boxes given on Valentine's Day, fine chocolate makers must first add some extra ingredients. At this stage, most makers will add sugar and then regrind the mixture to avoid sandy textures and flavors. After this grinding, the chocolate is heated and mixed together a little bit under boiling temperature, at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. This heated mixing is known in the industry as conching. During conching, chocolate starts to take on the smooth, refined taste for which its finest examples are known. Depending on the desired end product, a chocolate may be conched for an hour, or even a whole day or more.
Conching itself is where much of a chocolate's flavor will come from. One mast chocolate makers secret process of cooking the chocolate can be very different from another's, and will impart a very different end result. Understandably, some chocolate makers can be highly guarded about their exact technique.
After conching, the pure chocolate is then turned into whatever the chocolate maker has in mind, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cooking chocolate, or whatever else. Every step along the way, though, has to be just as carefully undertaken as those that preceded it.
As you can see, there is a great deal that goes into a simple bar of chocolate. The entire process takes great care, and the slightest mistake can spell disaster, or at least mean that this or that bar will be slightly less heavenly.
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How to make your wedding chocolate cake special
Ken Bonine is the co-owner of Chocolate Dreams & Wishes, LLC - located in Pittsburgh, Pa. We think you will be pleasantly surprised at the amazing taste of our chocolate as well as the price. Give us a call and let us help you make your wedding gifts a little more exciting. For all your wedding cakes and chocolate cravings , do contact visit our site.
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Interesting Chocolate Statistics
Just about everyone loves the sweet temptation of chocolates and candy. Here are some intriguing statistics and facts about candy and chocolate:
1. The average American eats 10-12 pounds (4.5 kg) of chocolate a year. The average Swiss eats 21 pounds a year.
2. Chocolate is the food most commonly craved by women, but can contribute significantly to bulimia, obesity, and binge eating.
3. Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholestorol.
4. Chocolate is not physically addictive and does not cause acne, as shown in several medical studies.
5. Chocolate is not high in caffeine. A 1oz bar of milk chocolate contains only 5-6mg of caffeine. This is significantly less than in coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
6. Chocolates can absorb other flavors and scents, and should be kept away from other household chemicals.
7. Chocolate can be frozen for up to six months. It is best to seal chocolate in a zip lock bag before freezing.
8. In genearl, the shelf life for chocolate is a year. Chocolate that is refrigerated may not melt as readily. Thus it is best to store chocolate in cool dry areas 55-60 degrees F.
9. U.S. chocolate manufacturers use 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate.
10. The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over 5,000 pounds and was made in Italy in 2000. The largest slab of fudge was over 2,000 pounds and was made in Canada.
11. Children are more likely to prefer chocolate when they reach 10-11 years old than when they are younger.
12. Chocolate is America's favorite flavor, according to recent surveys with a little over 50% of adults preferring chocolate to other flavors.
About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For more personalized gift ideas, go to http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/chocolate.htm (Chocolate Baby Shower Favors) and for more candle gift ideas, see Candy Baby Shower Favors (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/candy.htm).
Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.
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The Magic Of Chocolate
Do you want to win your girl’s heart? Gift her a chocolate! Girls are very fond of chocolate.
Chocolate is a very good mood booster. It can bring a smile on your face even when you are angry or sad. Moreover, chocolate is known to boost up the sexual desire as well.
It is much better than a tranquilizer. It has been scientifically proven that chocolate is good for aged men and women. It has been suggested that chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disorders.
It is also good for those who suffer from sleeping disorders.
Since ages, chocolate is considered to be a symbol of love and friendship.
No doubt, chocolate is the best gift and it can be gifted on any occasion. It can be gifted on Valentine's Day, Christmas, Friendship Day or on a birthday.
There are several kinds of chocolate. The main ones are as follows:
• 'Truffle' has a smooth center full of cocoa and ganache butter. The outside is just chocolate.
• 'Pave Glace' is 75% dark chocolate. But, it is soft and squishy. In my view, this is the best chocolate you can ever get to taste.
• 'Cherry Liquor' contains a real cherry dipped in chocolate sauce.
• 'Praline' chocolate is any chocolate that has nuts.
• 'Milk chocolate' has only 50% dark chocolate. Rest is made out of cocoa beans and sugar.
• 'Caprice' contains hazelnut paste and milk chocolate. It has praline covered in dark chocolate.
No matter what kind of chocolate you end up buying, it will definitely show you the magic of its taste.
Gift Ideas, Unique Gift Ideas, Basket Gift Ideas - the magic of chocolate
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Good Parenting Can Involve Making Chocolate
As a parent, you always try and think of ways to entertain your kids while keeping them close to you. Making chocolate can be a real bonding moment that you can share with your off springs.
Children love the mess. And parents like to keep things tidy and clean. For this activity, you can all make an agreement to treat the process as messy as it can be. But all of you should also contribute to the cleaning part after the activity is done.
If you are a parent who is running out of creative juices on how to stop your toddler from running all over the house, then you must try this with the kid. Enjoy such moment while educating your kid that value of hard work and having rewards after.
If you don't know anything about the methods, do not be sad. It will be more fun to be at the same level where your kids are when it comes to such activity. They will see you their equals and all of you can start the learning venture.
The most important part here is that you get to spend quality time with your kids. Actually, this activity can be done by the whole family. Allocate a budget to buy the ingredients and simple equipments for you to be able to head on with the process.
Your kids will definitely love you for it. While doing the task, you can explain to them some trivia, some facts and a lot about the processes of making chocolates. You can even inspire them to hone such talent to be able to profit from it when the right time comes. Through this, you will be able to instill to them proper values while they are enjoying themselves and learning from what you are all doing.
As a parent, it is also your duty to control your kids' intake of the finished products. This will not be too hard especially that you have gained your kids' trust when you have taught them about chocolate making. After the process, you must explain to them very clear that they should take chocolates at a minimum numbers.
You must take the extra effort of researching about the good and bad effects of chocolates to their bodies. This way, the craft is really becoming more of a learning process that your kids will surely thank you for when the right time comes.
Do not mind the mess as this can get really messy. Just ask your kids to promise that they will help out cleaning after the mess to be able to get to eat some of what you all have done.
Good parenting can be achieved in so many ways that you can think of. Sometimes, it takes extra effort to enjoy a fun-filled day with your kids. Do not mind the money for this activity. Seeing the happy faces of your kids will definitely erase all those doubts on you.
So head on to the grocery store. You can even ask your kids to come with you. You can start the process from there. You can remind them of tips and tricks in making chocolate. And as you all trail home, for sure, everybody will be looking forward into making their own treats while all is having a good time.
This will be a fun-filled bonding time that you will be able to feed the childhood memories of your children, just one step into good parenting.
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Making Chocolate and Ways to Shape It Up
Anything that you eat will become more yummy or a delicious treat depending on its presentation. This is also true in making chocolate. That is why as of today, you will enjoy such type in many forms and sizes. It all depends on the moldings that were used to create such impact.
Groovy Treats
Chocolates are known to be given as gifts to loved ones, to friends, even to your bosses or peers. The shape in which you buy such treat will depend on who are you going to give this or present such as a gift.
Did you know that since in the late 1800s, molds were already used by those who make chocolates? The more popular form at the time is the moldings that were made from metal. But through time, such type was replaced by those that were made out of plastic. If you'll ask why, well, it is mainly because of the price. Those that were made from metal become too expensive especially for people who only want to make chocolates at home for personal consumption.
When you are out shopping for chocolate molds, be careful with what you buy. Choose a brand that is known for its quality and durability. You must also take time to hold the pieces that you will be purchasing as if imagining that you will be taking out your chocolates from there.
Make sure that the one that you will avail can be bended easily so as you can get your chocolate products without any hassle. Also, if you are out shopping for the perfect mold, choose the one that will last long.
You never know, your hobby can turn into one profitable venture. And your moldings should see you through it. So invest on good and quality products than choosing the cheaper materials for their price.
You must also have an eye for the right design. Choose those that will give your chocolates the perfect shape and mould them to look better and give justice to its taste. Of course, the molds cannot do anything with the taste factor. This will all be up to you. But you will be inspired to come up with better products when you see the shapes that you can come up with through the molds that you have invested real good with.
Plastic molds must be cleaned properly after each use. Do not wash them with soaps. This can contribute to the taste of your product. As a better option, you can use hot water to clean the molds. Just make sure to wipe it dry after using a clean cloth.
This will be easy to maintain. You will only need to put a little bit of grease every once in a while. This will only be applicable when you put some more ingredients into your mix like marshmallows, cookies and candy sprinkles.
Putting in fillings for your chocolates will take more effort. You must study such task in order to perfect the craft. This will be beneficial on your part if you'd like to take your hobby into another level or if you want to make a business out of this venture.
The good thing about taking in a hobby of making chocolate is that you don't waste your materials. You can re-use things over and over again as long as they are still in good condition.
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Making Chocolate Cake
Making chocolate cake is a pleasure not just for kids but also for adults. It is one of the universal favorites and making it can certainly give you an edge and flair when hosting certain occasions. Except for the rare few who are allergic to chocolates, chocolate cakes can cause one to have a better mood, as attested to by scientific research on endorphin hormones which come in larger proportions from chocolate. The endorphin rush can also be attained by having fun in creating your own chocolate cake.
Here are the basic steps for making chocolate cake.
Les Ingredients (The Ingredients)
The basic ingredient for chocolates include coffee powder, chopped butter, dark chocolate, water, brown sugar, cocoa powder, flour, lightly whisked egg, cocoa powder, and cachous for decoration. Proportions vary according to the level and degree of sweetness you prefer for you chocolate cake. The amount also varies based on the required number of servings you need.
The Steps
As with any cake, preheating to about 160 degrees Celsius. The base must also be created and greased to about 20 centimeters for standard size. After settling this, you can now add the coffee, butter, chocolate, sugar and water in a pan. Place it only on low heat. Stir this for the next few minutes until it melts and balances. Once this is established, set it aside for a few minutes and let it cool down.
Grab a bowl and transfer the entire mixture. Do some sifting and get the cocoa powder and combined flours. Add the almonds in this particular stage. After mixing all these, add the eggs and fold the flour. Keep stirring and pour it into the pan.
After all this is finished, bake the cake for at least one hour. If at all possible, monitor the progress of your cake by using a skewer. Once this is finished, take the cake out of the oven and prepare it for icing. The icing must be made of fresh cream and chocolate placed in a bowl, stirred to smooth perfection. Place the icing in the middle of the cake and in the outer surfaces, ensuring uniformity and balance in the elements. Add the decorations afterwards.
Some Additional Pieces of Advice
Cooling is essential in every stage of making chocolate. You need to make sure that the chocolate is cooled before you decide to add any more ingredients. You must also exercise caution in establishing proportions of the ingredients so that there will not be overpowering elements in your chocolate cake. Have somebody test your cake from time to time and practice doing it to refine your style and speed in making chocolate cake.
At the outset, you must have high quality chocolate to begin with. Your techniques come in secondary to the quality of your ingredients, so make sure that you are making your chocolate with the best ingredients there is in the market. It can also be made more fun if you share the chocolate cake making activity with friends and family to make the affair and learning even sweeter.
Other techniques may come in but essentially, it is advisable to look for the perfect manner with which you can do your best cooking or baking skills and at the same time, maintain the richness of excellently made chocolate cakes.
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Making Chocolate from Molds
When you buy chocolate molds from the craft store, make sure that this is made from strong plastic that has intricate designs so the finished product will come out beautifully after it comes out of the freezer.
Remember that this must never be washed using soap as this can mare the taste of the chocolate. You should simply use hot water and then dry it thoroughly using a dry cloth.
Each time you use the plastic mold, make sure to wipe it clean. Greasing, spraying or dusting is not needed as this will ruin the appearance of the finished candy.
But there is an exception to that rule. If you will be mixing your chocolate with some marshmallows, candy sprinkles, jellies or cooked candies, then you must first grease or spray the chocolate mold with oiling spray. This will make the chocolate easy to remove from the mold and if you are going to make another batch, the good news is that you only have to oil spray it once.
Next thing you need to learn is how to properly put chocolate filling into the plastic sheet. For that, you use a regular teaspoon and fill each cavity with chocolate. Some of the chocolate might spill out but don’t worry because you can clean that up later on.
There may be some air bubbles trapped within the chocolate. To release it, tap the filled mold on the counter to settle the chocolate. Another way is to hold the mold horizontally then gently drop it on the counter. You will probably have to do this several times until there all the air bubbles have been removed.
When the chocolate is ready, this is the time that you put this in the freezer. This is because it is the coolest place in the house taking it less time for the chocolate to harden so you can reuse the mold if you are making another batch of chocolates.
You will know when the chocolates are ready by looking at the back side of the mold. If the cavity appears to be graying, this means that the second you turn this over, the chocolate will easily fall off to the tray.
If it doesn’t fall off on its own, you can tap it firmly. If this does not work, perhaps it needs a little more cooling time in the freezer so put it back in for a few minutes and then try again.
If you happen to have some leftovers from filling the mold, don’t throw it away because you can use it again in the future. Just wait for the chocolate to harden so you can scrape it off and then wrap it in waxed paper.
You don’t always need to make chocolate creations from molds even if this is the conventional way of doing it. The other option is to dip it in with other things like cookies or fruits so you have your own chocolate fondue as part of your dessert.
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Tips for Making Chocolate
First, water is the enemy of chocolate so make sure that the two do not come into contact with one another otherwise, your chocolate will become grainy.
If you are using white colored chocolate and want to add coloring to it, never use regular food color or food color paste since this too contains water. You should only use powdered or gel varieties.
When you are adding color to chocolate, add this in small quantities and stir before adding more. This is because putting in might change the color of your chocolate making it too bright. If this happens, this can be remedied by diluting the shade using some more white chocolate.
Apart from powdered or gel varieties of color, you can also use artist brushes to paint designs into your mold. Another option is to use lollipop sticks or even toothpicks so you will have better control in making the finished product.
When you are done using the chocolate mold, never wash this with soap as this removes its stickiness. Just use water and after rinsing, dry this properly to prevent spots from appearing that will also make it difficult to release the chocolate from the mold.
But if it is already difficult to remove, the next time you use the mold, apply a light coating of vegetable oil as this always does the trick.
Should there be some chocolate on the edges of the mold, remove it using a butter knife. Remember this can be reused by simply melting it again and then pouring this to the next batch of whatever you are making.
If your melted chocolate is too thick to paint, add some parafinflakes until you get the right mixture. If you don’t have this, you can also use vegetable shortening or cocoa butter.
Chocolate when melted and poured into the mold was immediately be placed inside the freezer for several minutes. To remove it, you simply have to turn this over onto a tray. If it does not come out on its own, you can tap it gently or pour some hot water in the back.
Some people paint the chocolate after it has been taken out of the freezer. To do this, you must hold the mold over you head so you can see it from the right side. If there are any air bubbles, tap the area where they are using your fingers until it pops.
If you happen to make a mistake while painting, don’t worry. You should just put the mold back into the freezer so it will be easy to remove when it hardens and you can easily correct it. The rule of thumb when it comes to painting is to finish one color first before moving on to the others.
If you are not good painting all the details, do what many people do and that is to simply use just one solid color.
By following these chocolate making tips, you will be able to make chocolate for any occasion all year round. You can give this away as gifts or serve this as part of your dessert which will make you feel proud knowing that you made this yourself instead of buying this from the store.
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The Emotional Effects of Making Chocolate
No, there is no scientific evidence that will back up the positive gain that a person could gain emotionally from chocolates. Some people even say that chocolates cause headaches, even severe ones like migraines. Different people have different views. But most of them would say that this really is a treat no matter how it affects you physically, mentally and emotionally.
Focusing on the emotions, there may be no official study about the effects of chocolates on one's emotions. But there are popular beliefs. And people have formed varying opinions about the matter.
Sudden Happiness
Chocolates are considered to be uppers when depression struck you when you least expect it. For this reason, people turn to this treat to feel elated even for a moment while they are so sad and blue.
But because the positive effect can be short-lived, people tend to eat a large amount of the treat. For this reason, the negative effect on their body starts to show. Everything that is taken too much is bad for you. Chocolates contain sugar and fats that must be taken in moderation.
For the reason that chocolates are full of carbohydrates, these increase the level of tryptophan in the brain. Such chemical produces more serotonin. The latter results into regulating one's mood and often creates a jolly and positive feeling.
Good for the Heart
It is also a common knowledge that chocolate is good for the heart. It elevates the level of responsiveness of the human blood vessels. This process is helpful in preventing on from suffering heart ailments. This sweet can also increase one's tolerance on glucose. And besides, chocolates have anti oxidant ingredients that can prevent one person from having cancer.
But again, take note that these are popular beliefs by people who love the treat. Scientific quests, for sure, will find ways to put a benefit of the doubt or disprove such claims.
Negative Outcry
People blame chocolates for being too addicting. As a result, such sweet treat leads to simple headaches, rectal itching, to serious sickness like obesity and heart burn. It is even known to cause one person to be irritable, confused and temperamental.
One negative connotation about chocolates is that they are addicting. Some people use this as an excuse to turn against their vices like alcohol or smoking and turn to eating hoards of chocolates instead.
You can blame it on the more than 350 chemicals that can be found on chocolates. People not only it is addicting, but many of them conclude that it also causes allergies.
Women are more prone to crave for chocolates more than men. This can be due to the fact that chocolates have magnesium. This can explain why women turn to chocolate during Post Menstrual Syndrome, known to many as the PMS. At this period, women suffer lack of magnesium, enough reason for the craving and all.
Making chocolate is a known process to make one happy. Eating the treat will satisfy more of the craving for such delicacy. Just remember to take chocolates moderately. Even the best things in life have a negative impact if you will not learn to control yourself from taking in a little bit too much.
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A Brief Look at the Past of Making Chocolate
The Theobroma Cacao or the food from the Gods is what you all know as the cocoa tree. Its origin can be traced on America's rainforests, specifically in Central America. But historians are still debating about certain facts about this tree.
Xocolat, Anyone?
There are arguments that the Mayans first grew such tree in 300 AD. And the Aztecs had their turn in cultivating such in 1100 AD. The chocolate that you all know now used to be called Xocolat. This was a special beverage that was made out of chilies, anise seed, vanilla, cornmeal and some more spices. Only royalties get to be treated with such delight at the time. It was served using golden cups that were to be used only once.
Save the Chocolates
The cocoa tree is sensitive to its surroundings. It will most likely grow in the shades of the canopy of the rainforest. For this reason, chocolate lovers must unite in the goal of saving the environment, especially in saving the rainforests where the cacaos will most likely survive.
This tree is unique in the sense that its fruits grow on its branches and trunk. The reason for this is because of midges. These are the tiny insects that cause the pollination process during nighttime.
Did you know that the cacao tree can have approximately 10,000 blossoms but only about 10 to 50 of those will mature into fruits or the pod? This is because like an intelligent human being, the tree of cacao can regulate its blossoms to the amount that it can handle and grow.
The cacao tree self regulates in this process to be able to sustain its good health. It knows what it can contain and handle. It knows just how many is enough and too much. The tree does this to preserve its internal systems and to prevent its branches from breaking or falling apart.
The cocoa beans come from the fruit or the pod from the intelligent tree. Harvesters wait for the pod to ripen. They will handpick the trees and crack up the pods until they see white pulpy elements that surround the seeds. The pulps are then trashed while the seeds are kept because those are your cocoa beans, the source of your chocolate treats.
These seeds are actually bitter during such time. For this reason, these will go through the fermentation process for about three to seven days. This method will cause the seeds to go through some chemical as well as physical changes. The result of this will then be used for the royalties' treat, the Xocolat.
The beans need to go through several procedures after which before it can be used for the traditional making chocolate purposes. Now that you know where it came from, you'll never look at your favorite chocolate the same way ever again. Or probably not. Whatever it has been through, chocolates will remain a favorite among children and child at heart.
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Making Chocolate Candy that Lasts
The success of your chocolate candy lies on the ability to temper the chocolate. Even in other chocolate delicacies, the importance of tempering the chocolate mixture will never be understated. Chocolate, to begin with, must have a premium quality to it. You can have fun experimenting on different core chocolate materials that you can use for your chocolate candy.
Sometimes, you will find in the market some melted chocolates that are ready for making chocolate candy. You can make use of this or do chocolate the hard way and start from the cocoa beans. The good thing about melted chocolates is that you can focus on the making of chocolate candy itself. The making of chocolate from cocoa beans can be very difficult and tedious, and you may be robbed of your energy the moment you decide to do both. By the time that you reach the chocolate candy making aspect, you may have no more gusto or enthusiasm to complete it.
But when buying melted chocolate, make sure that it is not made of a processed candy bar. The courveture quality of chocolate is something you must look for since it makes for an ideal chocolate core for chocolate candy.
Other Ingredients and Steps
An electric frying pan is needed with ample space for your mixture. Have a temperature of about 60 degrees for mixing the chocolate and creating your candy. But don't melt the chocolates in your frying pan. It is still better to place them in the oven for melting. Introduce the chocolate by increments and not by instantly putting a large heap.
This way, the stirring part will be easier and you will not run the risk of losing control as you create your chocolate candy. Avoid moisture in the chocolate at all costs because it will affect the taste of your chocolate candy. After you have fixed your chocolate core, you can then dip it into the other components that create the chocolate candy.
The Steps
Coat both sides of your material with chocolate. Make sure that your flip the center for balance of chocolate distribution. You can also use your fingers to have a swirly mark on your chocolate candy, but this must be mastered with constant practice before you can smoothly pull it off. Keep mixing the chocolate in such a way that it does not get too stiff. Chocolate candy usually results in a less shiny quality. If you find the chocolate candy too shiny, you may have overdone or underdone something from the previous steps.
What Next?
You can now store your chocolate in the fridge. With the use of wax paper or other similar material, you can make your chocolate candies appear more professionally made than when you leave them bare in the tray. The good thing about chocolate is that it lasts for a very long time.
The leftovers from your chocolate making may also be turned into other delicacies. Just use your imagination and you will be able to find delight in making other forms of chocolate delicacies. You can also save the leftovers for your next chocolate candy making sessions but gaining the right texture and temperature may prove to be a bit more challenging.
Either way, there are no wasteful moments when it comes making chocolate candy and other chocolate delicacies for that matter.
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Making Chocolate Extra Special
Sign of Love
Chocolates have long been associated with the feeling of affection. Blame it on the fact that many people love the treat and many would be happy at the thought of getting one especially from someone who cares for them.
This idea has actually started of a trend in small time businesses. So if you are thinking about starting your own right now, you can also follow the craze. It will be a lot of help if you know your chocolates and you know where to avail the kinds at affordable prices.
Gift of Love
This can be very well a start of your business venture that has something to do with your favorite addiction, chocolates. Have you ever been given a gift basket? What do you look forward to seeing the most in its contents?
While some of you might say wines, chips, cheese and the likes, most of you would likely to favor chocolates above everything else. This gift won't fail you because it doesn't matter how young or old the recipient of the basket would be. Everybody loves chocolates. This is a gift that will not be wasted and be left in the shelves for a long time only to be displayed.
Customize the Basket
For your business to take off, you need to be unique in some sense. You may only be thinking about this now. But you have to bear in mind that there are others before you that have been doing this and have established a group of their own followers.
So you have to mean business in dealing with your chocolate-filled gift baskets. Start with the basket itself. You must customize the tool to make it your own. You can color it with a theme of your choice. You can place ribbons and other design elements. You need not to spend a lot on this. You can maybe borrow some of the school materials of your kid who is in pre or grade school.
Fill the basket with different assortments of chocolate goodies. When you already have clients, you must adapt the purpose to the contents of your basket. Include some gifts that are suitable for the recipient of the basket. The idea here is to reach out to other people, make them feel the love that the gift giver wanted to share to them. And for you, it is to cultivate your passion for chocolates while earning in the process.
This idea is great for home based moms and even young entrepreneurs. Times get to be harder and harder. Such startup business will make it easier for you and sweeter for other people.
You don't really have to know the process of making chocolate. You just have to be equipped with the right materials. You have to know where to buy the goodies. And you've got to have enough people on your list to kick off your biz and start spreading the word out about your gift of love and sweets.
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Making Chocolate
The first thing that needs to be done is to harvest the cacao beans. Large companies buy these from farmers or buy the farm and harvest these themselves. They then put these in an oven at a temperature between 120 to 163 degrees Celsius that is about 250 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 35 minutes.
Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack.
There are two reasons why cacao beans stay in an oven at varying times.
First is to prevent them from burning. Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack. Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack.
Second, the cooking time of cacao beans varies depending on the type of bean that is being used.
Since companies produce chocolates in vast quantities, the cacao beans are stored in drums and then rotated over a gas grill. After they are roasted, the beans must be cracked into small bits better known as nibs while those that can’t are removed.
The next step is to grind the nibs into a cacao liqueur. For that, you will need a machine to liquefy this and at the same time separate the remaining husks that were not removed after roasting.
You then conch and refine the chocolate so you are able to give the chocolate its distinct taste. This is what makes Hershey’s chocolates different than for example M&M which can be achieved by using a powerful wet grinder.
You first have to melt the chocolate and the cocoa butter in the over at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You should then mix non fat dry milk powder, sugar, lecithin and a vanilla pod for about an hour. This mixture is then poured into a grinder together with some heat to keep the chocolate in liquid form. This should be refined for at least 10 hours but not more than 36 hours.
When it is ready, you then temper the chocolate so it looks shiny and soft enough to easily melt in your hand.
The second to the last part in making chocolate is to mold this into whatever shape or form that you would like. To produce these in vast quantities, chocolate companies but custom made molds. The chocolate is then poured there and after this is cooled, this is then packaged and ready for delivery to stores.
Some companies even sell these in the form of blocks so people can buy them, melt it and mold this to whatever shape they desire.
Making chocolate is easy as long as you have the equipment and all the ingredients needed. It doesn’t matter if this is produced in large volumes or in small quantities because the principle behind it is the same. If you want to learn more about making chocolate, sign up for some classes.
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The Different Processes in Making Chocolate
From the trees to the chocolate makers, how such processes really evolve? Through time, there have been many developments regarding chocolate making. Technology has benefited a lot of life's endeavors. This also applies to the process of chocolate making.
But such advancement only applies on the harvesting part. The processing basically remains the same, the old conventional way. As what's been said, do not fix a thing if it's not broken. Maybe the same rule is being applied to this venture.
It feels good to eat chocolates. But do you want to know about the different methods that go behind such concept? Here are some.
Roasting
It takes a good amount of roasting as well as cocoa seed fermentation to come up with the quality of chocolate that you are looking for. In the pre-roasting stage, the beans are directed to infrared beaming heaters. This process will take away the nibs of the beans from the shells. The temperature for this part is 100 to 140 degree Celsius. This takes about 20 up to 40 minutes.
Roasting can also be done directly. After the beans are roasted, the shells can be easily removed. This is favored by most chocolate makers because it retains the flavor of the beans. For this part, the temperature is at 150 to 160 degree Celsius.
Fermentation
This is done to decrease the level of sugar, glucose as well as fructose and also amino acids in the beans. This brings in the flavor of the beans that the process of roasting will be able to enhance. But not everybody can do this. It takes a master to hone this craft. Beans can rot if something goes wrong with this process.
Shelling
To be able to remove the shells from the beans, it takes more processes than you could ever imagine. This includes milling, then sifting and lastly, winnowing. Every step is important so as to come up with the grains that have the right size.
Tasting
If you think that this will be an easy task, well, that seems to be not the case. This involves skill and expertise. One must have studied every taste of the different kinds and variations of chocolates to be able to proclaim that they can perform well on this and be a judge as to what varieties should be presented to the market.
These people can be compared to wine experts. Just a bite from a chocolate treat will tell them what processes it went through, what kind of beans was used or where it was actually made.
And there are yet different kinds of chocolates available in the market. Imagine what all those have to go through just to be able to reach your favorite grocery store so that you can purchase them for your own consumption.
You don't have to be an expert in making chocolate. But you can start following some techniques in the tasting part. If you are treated with a filled chocolate, let it linger on your mouth until it melts and you can taste all its flavors. You can then chew it for about five times, enough for the flavor and the coating to blend in.
Enjoy and savor your chocolate tasting experience.
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Tips for Making Homemade Chocolates
First, you have to get ready all the materials and ingredients you will be using. The two most important happen to be the chocolate and the mold both which can be purchased at the craft store.
Chocolate comes in many flavors. Some examples of these are bitter sweet, milk, dark, semi-sweet, sweet and white. These are often sold in blocks if you don’t have the time to convert these from cocoa beans. As for your molds, make sure that these are made from FDA approved food grade plastic.
You will also need sugar as this is a basic ingredient in most chocolates recipes. When you buy this from grocery, make sure that this does not have any trace of flour, salt or other kitchen ingredients.
Another important ingredient is unsalted butter. This is because the kind that contains salt is hard to ascertain and there are instances where it could spoil the taste of your dish. You must never substitute butter with margarine if you don’t have any because this will just make the cooking time longer as the water content here is much higher than that of butter.
There are three ways to liquefy chocolate before shaping this to its final form. You can heat this using the microwave, a double boiler or the oven. When making these into candies, it will be a good idea to also use a thermometer so you are able to monitor its temperature.
If you are using a thermometer that has a bulb, make sure that it does not touch the sides of the pan because this could give you the wrong reading.
When the chocolate is ready, this is the time that you put these into the mold. So it doesn’t look messy, get some using a teaspoon and pour this into the cartridges. This is also the time you should add in other ingredients like peanuts, marshmallows or candy sprinkles.
If there are air bubbles, remove them by holding the mold a few centimeters from the ground and dropping it on the table. You may have to do this several times to make sure that there is nothing left then you put these in the freezer.
You should check on your chocolate molds after 5 to 10 minutes. The bigger the mold, the longer it takes but you can check if it is ready by looking at the back of the mold. If a graying figure appears on the bottom, this means it is ready to be removed from the mold.
Once they are removed, put this in a plate or in a box if this is going to be given away. As for your molds, wash them in hot water and never with soap because this will remove its stickiness.
It should be dried thoroughly using a dry piece of cloth and stored properly so it looks good as new when you need to use it again.
You won’t have any problems making home made chocolates as long as you follow these tips. Who knows, this could open new doors for you like starting your own business.
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Tools in Making Chocolate
In fact, while these tools are highly recommended, you can do away with some of them at the expense of making a more manual operation of making chocolate, especially in the refinement stage. Here are the different tools that you need to make that homemade chocolate yummy and delectable.
Oven or Roaster
The oven or roaster is where you roast the beans, and you also use that to help achieve certain temperatures that you need during the tempering process. To say that tempering is a difficult task would be an understatement, since it requires hours and hours of measurement.
Blow Dryer
The blow dryer is essential for refining your chocolate. You need to make sure that the chocolate is evenly distributed as you refine it; it tends to change for the fluctuation in temperature and it may actually affect the overall quality of your final product. The blow dryer is quite easy to purchase and it also has uses outside the chocolate making kitchen.
Grinder
The grinder will help you especially when you are processing large amounts of chocolate beans. But if you are dealing with a small scale of chocolate making, you can actually do away with the grinder and crack the coffee beans manually or by hand. This is of course a welcome option for you if you have a grinder handy because it saves time and energy from cracking all those beans.
Bowl
The bowl is where you do most of the mixing of your ingredients. You will need a lot of bowls if you are making large amounts of chocolate for yourself and for your guests. When you are dealing with liquefied chocolate, you may need large bowls or other containers. It will also be very helpful if you have containers that are able to resist heat so that it will not affect the quality of your chocolate making even if it is subjected to high temperatures.
Spatula
The spatula helps mix the chocolate properly. It can also come in handy if you are doing taste tests although the next item may do better for this particular purpose.
Spoon
The spoon is handy for testing the taste of the chocolates. It helps you determine what has the optimum taste for varying temperatures and stages of your chocolate beans. From the moment that it is in bean form up to the moment that it is in liquid form, your spoon can be used to test the chocolate quality and taste.
Concher or Refiner
The refiner will help you achieve that rich creamy texture that most commercial chocolates have. If you have a concher, you will have saved yourself lots of minor work and it will actually help you do other activities while you wait for your chocolate to be processed.
Thermometer
The thermometer is especially important when you are tempering your chocolates. You need to be able to find a good thermometer so that it can handle the varying temperatures that will be required when you temper your chocolate. It will also be very useful if your thermometer reacts quickly or has a high temperature constant so that you can easily note the changes in temperature and alter your approach accordingly.
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What Does It Take To Make Chocolate
First, chocolate is produced from cocoa beans that from the Theobroma cacao tree. In English, this term means “food for the Gods” because of its heavenly taste that the Aztec and Mayan civilizations have enjoyed for years.
These degrees are harvested mainly from the Ghana and the Ivory Coast with some getting their supplies from other countries in South Africa and South America.
The reason why chocolate is abundant is because the pods from these trees are produced all year long. There are three types that each have their own distinctive flavor namely Forastero, Criollo and Trinitario.
Of the three, the most abundant among them is Forastero. Criollo on the other hand is very rare while Trinitario is a hybrid of the two.
Harvesting the pods is usually done by hand with machetes. The farmers have to split open the pods to get to the cocoa beans. Afterwards, they scrape the pulp and beans from inside the pods and left to ferment in baskets from 2 to 8 days.
Fermentation is important because without it, the beans inside would be too bitter to enjoy. After this process, the contents are spread in a single layer to dry usually under direct sunlight before this is packed and shipped to the buyer.
Now you understand what farmers do, it is time to explain what the manufacturers do. Once the beans reach the factory, this is roasted and then transferred to a winnower. This machine removes the shell of the bean and leaves the “nibs” which is what is used to making chocolate. This is then grounded and turned into a rich thick paste now called chocolate liquor.
The liquor then undergoes one more process to remove the cocoa butter which has an end product known as “cocoa presscake” or cocoa powder and here, manufacturers decide what kind of chocolate to make.
If the presscake is of low quality, this will have to be mixed with other ingredients like vegetable fats, sugar and artificial flavoring. If what they have is of good quality, then this will added again to chocolate liquor and other ingredients like milk, sugar and vanilla before this is transferred to a conching machine.
The conching is considered to be the last step in screening the chocolate in order to get its ultimate flavor and texture. The speed, temperature and length of this process has a lot to do with the taste of the chocolate. Also, this helps remove any acidic tones.
This is then tempered into a large machine which pours the chocolate into the mold. Once it is frozen, the bars are then packed and ready to be shipped off to the consumer.
Now that you know what it takes to make chocolate, you can begin to appreciate what you buy whenever you go to the grocery store and buy a few of these as a snack. Some of these are cheap while others are expensive and it all boils down to what kind of cocoa tree was used to make the finished product.
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Making Chocolate Starts by Melting It
Melting is not the same thing as tempering so never confuse the two. However, melting is part of the tempering process which can be done using a microwave or a hot water bath.
The nice thing about using a microwave to melt chocolate is that you get the results you want fast with little or no effort at all and mess. Naturally, before you put the chocolate in the microwave, you should put this in a microwave safe container that remains cool or only slightly warm after several minutes.
The ideal setting on the microwave should be at least 50% low power. This prevents scorching or burning. How long should you put these in on the microwave depends on how much you will be using. A good basis will be 1 minute for every ounce of chocolate so put this first on a weighing scale.
If by accident you overheated the chocolate, don’t panic. Pour this into a cool bowl and add chunks of unmelted chocolate and stir continuously.
If you prefer to use a double boiler, start by filling the sauce pan with hot water from the tap and then put the chocolate over into another bowl. Since the water is just warming up in the bottom, you should only put 1/3 of the chocolate and let it melt first before putting the rest in.
You must stir the bowl frequently so all the chocolate has melted. When this is done, this is the time you pour this into the mold.
Whichever you decide to choose, remember these tips.
• First, chop the chocolates into small pieces because it melts quicker.
• Never let chocolate get into contact with water because it will make the block of chocolate unworkable.
• When melting the chocolate, do this in low heat or temperature so you prevent it from overheating.
• To prevent bubbles, stir the chocolate frequently using a rubber spatula but only when the outer edges begin to melt.
• You have to remember that chocolate retains it shape when melted so again, you have to stir it constantly so there won’t be any problems getting some using a spoon and then pouring this into the mold.
You can also melt chocolate with other liquids aside from water. You can use cream, milk, cream and wine. But most people use water because it is faster and more convenient. But if you were to try other liquids, make sure that you use at least 1 tablespoon of liquid for very 2 ounces of water. This will prevent the chocolate from binding together and becoming lumpy. But if you are using dark chocolate, you may have to add more than 1 tablespoon per ounce.
Melting the chocolate is key in making your final product when you pour this into a mold. It does not matter whether you choose to use a microwave or a double boiler because you will be doing the same thing in the end which is to freeze it and then pack it up to give it as a gift or serve it as part of your dessert.
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Making Chocolate Using Molds
Molds are usually made of plastic and these can be purchased from craft stores. Most of these cost about a dollar up so if you want to make these in different shapes and sizes, you have to buy a bunch.
Now that you have your mold, you should also buy the raw chocolate which is also available from the craft store. This is available in different flavors and colors so you can mix them up later on.
There are two ways to melt chocolate. The first is to cut the chocolate block into small pieces and then put this in a microwave safe bowl before sticking it in the oven. Since it is quite hard to see if all the chocolate has finally melted, we now come to the second option which is to melt it using a double boiler.
A double boiler consists of two pans. The first one has water while a smaller one is placed on top which is where the chocolate will be placed. You then stir the chocolate until melts. Once everything is now in liquid form, you then get your mold and pour the chocolate.
You should tap the bottom to take out air bubbles out of the chocolate otherwise there will be holes later on when they come out of the freezer. If you decide to put in candy sprinkles or marshmallows with your chocolate, it is best to pour them into the boiler.
After ten minutes or so, the chocolate mold inside the freezer is ready to be taken out. A good indicator is to check the bottom of the mold and see if the chocolate is still holding on to the mold.
If it is ready, then it is time to flip it over and tap it gently so it can land on a soft surface like a napkin to prevent it from breaking. Another method is to carefully pour water on the mold. But if it is not, then you should put the mold back into the freezer.
The nice thing about working with chocolate is that if is should crack or break, you can recycle it which prevents wastage. If you make a mistake when you are painting it, don’t touch it and wait until it freezes so it is easy to remove and you can start over.
When it is ready, you can serve this as part of your dessert but if you are giving this away as a gift, make sure you find a nice box because it should look presentable to whoever will be receiving it.
Surely the molds you used to make chocolate will be used in the future. To maintain it, you must never wash this with soap as this removes its slickness. You should also carefully dry it after washing because it could cause spots to appear making it also difficult for the chocolate to be released from the mold.
But if your chocolate mold is sticky, perhaps you should coat it first lightly with some vegetable oil before you pour in the melted chocolate.
Making chocolate using molds is fun. You may not get it perfect the first time but as time goes by, you are sure to get better at it.
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Only The Sweet Stuff: Guide for Making Chocolate
Essentially, making chocolate begins with the conversion of cacao beans into the bars of chocolate we see in the supermarket shelves. Some other people enjoy eating the cacao beans in its raw form, since it has the basic component that we crave for in the processed chocolates.
A chocolate maker must have persistent attention to detail and dedication to constant practicing. This guide will not ensure to make a chocolate factory out of your kitchen, but it will surely give you the basic idea-- just enough for you to enjoy a bar or two of chocolate at any time you wish without hurting your budget. Moreover, since you are directly involved in making your chocolate, you get to know the materials and amount of calories you are placing in every bar.
It begins with Cocoa Beans
If you are familiar with brewing coffee, it is similar to the beginning of the chocolate-making process. You need to roast the beans. But then, do not roast it too much. Initially, place it in a high temperature, then slowly diminishing the temperature afterwards. Turn the heat off right before the moment the beans hit their cracking or breaking point. You can do this either on your oven.
Or if you are planning to feed many people with your chocolate, have a larger container to accommodate the huge number of beans. From time to time, test the taste of your chocolate. The moment you start tasting chocolate from the cocoa, it is also an indicator to turn off the heat.
After roasting, the beans must be cracked open, removing the hard husks. You can do this by hand or with use of a small hammer. Depending on the size of your beans, you can use other tools for cracking, since the husks are not that useful for eating. Once the husks are removed, you can now grind the remaining portions until it liquefies. You must thoroughly liquefy the said concoction in order to help you become a home chocolatier.
Coco gets refined over time.
The process of conching involves the refinement of chocolate. It may require you to have certain equipment such as the Sancha refiner, which is a common favorite among home chocolatiers. This is where you start adding sugar and milk as part of the delicious chocolate mixture.
You will need to refine and conch for a long time, approximately 10 to 30 hours in length, until you achieve the balance of the ingredients. Excessive refining will turn your chocolate into gum, so be very careful. At this point, even when you let the mixture rest, it must not solidify yet.
Packaging Chocolates: Tempered after refinement.
When you are finished refining your chocolate, you need to make sure that it is under the right temperature before you place it in the mold. Not doing this meticulous tempering process will make your chocolate lumpy and unbalanced.
The rich, creamy quality of most chocolate bars in the market come from effective tempering of the chocolate after refinement.
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The Benefits of Making Chocolate
No matter what the study shows, chocolates remain to be the most favorite treats among kids and adults alike. Scientific research may find bad effects of such on the human system. But don't you think that it is the amount that you take in which results to such negative connotation?
Chocolates have flavinoids that are prominent in their effect in the improvement of circulation. Aside from this, chocolates also have anti-oxidants features that help the body to get rid of some of the harmful chemicals in the blood. For sure, those who dispute this sweet treat will find ways to claim more harmful and negative connotations than the previously mentioned positive ones.
But as a chocolate lover, you must also be responsible to the amount that you take in. Anything that is too much will have a bad effect on you, even if it's not a chocolate. So do not give the critics any reason to put down chocolates. Be a responsible chocolate lover.
The critics will always point out the bad effects of the sugar and fat that chocolates have on humans. But the key here is to really moderate your intake of sweets such as chocolates. Did you know that flavinoids can also be found on vegetables, as well as in fruit and tea drinks? For that reason alone, you must trust that this will also work toward your advantage when you eat a piece of chocolate.
Regarding the argument about sugars that chocolates contain, there are useful effects of sugar. Just always remember to take everything moderately. For example, simple sugars can act as carbohydrates. They can replenish the body's energy for it to function livelier and more efficient.
Some fats also have a good effect on your body. They help to control some hormones in the brain. Such will also cause the body to gain more energy in the process. Again, the key here is to take enough but not too much.
Chocolates also contain caffeine. But it is much smaller portion compared to coffee. So this can still be measured evenly.
Mature people also benefit from eating a piece of chocolates. Ask the women who have suffered depression or PMS. Most of them have resorted to chocolates to give them a light feeling after they have savored a bite. Why is this so? Chocolates contain trytophan. It is a compound that develops to serotonin. And serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps you fight off stress as well as depression.
This is also may be the reason why chocolates have been a favorite gift to loved ones and friends. You are giving gifts in order to share your love and affection to people. And this can be best measured when you send out things that will make the people that you care about very happy.
Making chocolate and eating it as well will certainly make the recipient of your gift happy and glee. Just tell them to eat your gift in moderation. This way, critics will not have any reason to doubt the benefits of your favorite treat.
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