One of the best things about chocolate is that it can be eaten all year round; you don’t need to wait for a specific occasion to eat your favorite. Chocolate is not merely something sweet we eat; it is more like an intimate companion to almost every one of us. If you’re a chocolate lover, you probably eat chocolate in many forms like candy, dessert, pudding, or straight from the “jar of hearts.” Nevertheless, have you ever given much thought to how chocolate is made? Well, we’re here to tell you some fun facts about chocolate and how it is made. Even though this article might compel you to give up on your diet, read on to know six amazing facts about chocolate.
1. The Process is Tiresome
Did you know that chocolate originally comes from cacao beans that get roasted and processed to produce these sweet brown delights? Due to the bitter taste of cacao beans, they undergo several processes to make their taste sweeter. The procedure of extracting chocolate out of cacao beans isn’t as simple as it sounds; it takes a considerable amount of time and effort. Moreover, cacao beans grow in pods. Every pound of chocolate requires nearly 400 beans, which makes the process quite daunting. Farmers have to wait at least four years for a cacao tree to grow its first beans, which continues to produce them for approximately 25 years while its lifespan can reach 200 years.
2. White Chocolates Are Made Differently
Although regular brown chocolate is made from cacao beans, the ingredients used to produce white chocolate are different. They’re made entirely from cream and dairy products, hence the white color. What gives brown chocolate its distinctive flavor is the chocolate liquor, which is a paste that has a thick consistency. This thick paste is generated from extremely heated chocolate beans that get divided into cocoa butter and powder.
White chocolates don’t contain any chocolate liquor. Instead, they’re made of cocoa butter, dairy products, sugar and some other flavors. Unfortunately, not all chocolates share the same quality. Therefore, if you’re craving high-quality chocolates, look for sellers that have mastered fine chocolate making to revel in the taste of these sweet delights. Some sellers incorporate amazing flavors into the chocolates making them taste delicious and appetizing.
3. Chocolates Are Bad for Pets
Even though chocolates are almost everyone’s favorite treat, they mustn’t be fed to animals. Chocolates are considered toxic to animals, especially dogs since they contain theobromine. Humans can digest this component easily, but pets are unable to metabolize it effectively. Some pet owners may feed their dogs chocolate every now and then. However, if you’re going to do the same, you must watch your dog closely and notice if any abnormalities appear. Ideally, you should consult a professional veterinarian before feeding any cocoa products to your pets.
4. Hot Chocolate Came First
The nice cup of hot chocolate you always drink on chilly winter days goes way back in history to 500 BC. It wasn’t until the 18th century that chocolate was formed into something else other than a hot drink. When hot chocolate first originated, it didn’t taste anything like the hot chocolate we consume today. It was merely a bitter mixture of ground cocoa seeds, water, chilli peppers, and cornmeal. Cocoa powder was first made in Holland, then people discovered how it blends easily with milk and water. After that, people invented more chocolate creations incorporating it in candy and other desserts. From that day on, milk chocolate bars were developed and chocolate gained huge popularity.
5. Raw Cacao Beans Are Harmful
Did you know that cacao beans contain a component called pathogens, which in most cases is harmful to humans? Therefore, cacao beans have to undergo a complicated chemical procedure, where they get roasted properly to become fit for human consumption. Moreover, raw cacao beans taste bitter and inedible. That’s why they need to be chemically processed to provide the chocolate’s divine flavor you’re used to.
6. Chocolate Flavors Across The World
Although there are three types of chocolate: milk, dark, and white, there are more than 500 flavors worldwide. From caramel, strawberry, and coffee to matcha, lemon, and ginger you may find a new favorite. How many have you tasted so far?
Most of us have dreamt about being a part of “Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.” A chocolate lover can never stop craving these heavenly treats. If you’re passionate about chocolate, check the listed points to learn about how they’re made to get more amazed.