It all began in Africa, South America or Asia, cocoa plantations: these trees with exotic names (Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario) produce cocoa beans.
These precious beans are harvested, washed and dried, and then we remove the hull to keep only the ...
It all began in Africa, South America or Asia, cocoa plantations: these trees with exotic names (Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario) produce cocoa beans.
These precious beans are harvested, washed and dried, and then we remove the hull to keep only the kernel. These are the kernels roasted, which are crushed to obtain a precious liquid called cocoa mass. Cocoa mass is then separated into cocoa butter and powder. This is also Coenraad Van Houten invented the process that enables this separation (since 1828).
Chocolate delights!
Adding cocoa butter and sugar gives dark chocolate. With milk powder in addition, it creates the milk chocolate. White chocolate, it is composed of cocoa butter, sugar and milk powder. All these ingredients are mixed gently but long in tanks called "conches".
This process has a great influence on the final taste of chocolate more or less bitter, caramelised ...
But then, hot chocolate, hot cocoa is?
Yes. Most preparations for making hot chocolate drinks are actually composed of Van Houten cocoa 100% pure, often mixed with sugar and milk.
