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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