Types of Chocolate

Chocolate Liquor -Now don't get the wrong idea ! This is produced by grinding the nib ( center ) of the cocoa bean to a smooth, liquid state. The liquid can then be cooled and molded into block known as the unsweetened chocolate. This form of chocolate contains roughly 53 percent cocoa butter.

Semi-sweet ( bittersweet ) Chocolate -Sweeteners and cocoa butter are added into chocolate liquor to form this kind of chocolate, also known as dark chocolate. According to the US standards, it must contain at least 35 percent of chocolate liquor. The average fat content of this chocolate is about 27 percent.

Milk Chocolate -In addition to the sweeteners and cocoa butter, milk and flavorings are also added to chocolate liquor. This chocolate is good for garnishes and candy coatings. All milk chocolate made in the US contains at least 10 percent of chocolate liquor and 12 percent whole milk.

Sweet Chocolate -Contains more sweeteners than semi-sweet chocolate and at least 15 percent of chocolate liquor. This is most commonly used for decorating and garnishing. The fat content is similar to that of semi-sweet.

White Chocolate -Most commonly used for coating. It contains sugar, cocoa butter, milk solids, and flavorings.

Facts

Can you imagine : That a piece of milk chocolate contains as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee.

Are you aware of the fact : That the form of saturated fat found in chocolate, cocoa butter, does not raise blood cholesterol levels as other saturated fats does. This's because cocoa butter is derived from plants ( cacao trees ); whereas other types of saturated fats are derived from animals.

Do you realize : That most people are not allergic to chocolate. A resent study shows that only one out of every 500 people who thought they were allergic to chocolate actually tested positive.

Do you know : That chocolate is not an "addictive food" despite what chocolate lovers says. Chocolate is appealing for its flavor and creaminess. Some women may associate the love for chocolate with permenstrual syndrome ( PMS ). It is unlikely that your body needs the food that you love or crave.

Do you understand : That many say that they are allergic to chocolate, yet it is hard and rare to prove or find a true chocolate or cocoa allergy. Chocolate is often blamed for allergies caused by its component added when processing, including corn syrup, lecithin, gluten, and nuts. Some people complained about having headaches and migraines after eating chocolate. These are not signs of food allergy, but it may be due to the sensitivity or intolerance of food. Other factors such as living style, genetics, medicine, and hormonal changes can make headaches and migrains more severe.

It is a fact : That tooth decay is affected by the times you consume starchy or sweet foods and how long those food stay in your mouth. You'll have less chance of getting cavities if you eat less cavity causing food during the course of the day ( well, duh ! What am I saying ? ) Anyways, to prevent tooth cavity, brush your teeth thoroughly, rinse with water, or chew sugarless gum after eating sweets or starchy food that could stick to your teeth.

It is known : That chocolate is blamed when a child gets hyperactive. Yet, experts have found out that sugar has no unfavorable on a child's behavior. Children tend to get excited when having parties and other celebrations. It is the special events, not the food eaten, is thought to be responsible for children's increased activity and excitement.