What is in Chocolate?

The Basic ingredients are same cocoa butter, cocoa, sugar and milk. Hot chocolates are supplied as fine powder that could be used as beverage along with milk and sugar. Preparation of chocolates may be by two methods there are hand made chocolates and factory manufactured chocolates.

Chocolate Manufacturing process

There are two types of processes in which the bitter cocoa solids are treated. In the other process the cocoa butter is treated with baking soda. This is able to create a leavening effect on the mixture. The resultant chocolate in used for cooking purposes. In the Dutch process the cocoa solids is treated with alkali and thus the flavonoids in cocoa are destroyed. The processes known as tempering and conching are applied to create the soft chocolates. There are mint chocolates and gourmet chocolates that have specific taste. Conching is employed to create the texture and flavor of chocolates.

Hot Chocolates

Hot chocolates are given as fine powder and hot water is added and stirred brisk with other ingredients like spices they make a nourishing and unique beverage. Spices added to hot chocolates include nutmeg cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. By using hot chocolates from tinned cans, different recipes could be prepared by adding sugar milk and cream. Special occasions like Christmas could offer an opportunity for innovating new recipes. One such famous recipe consists of the ingredients like egg, caster sugar, butter and flour. Flour is mixed with butter, and sugar. Then beaten eggs are added and this mixture is baked in the oven. Then it is cooled while pouring them in Tupper ware containers and layers of icing sugar and hot chocolate powder are added in successive layers.

Types of Chocolates

There are three types of chocolates, namely plain dark chocolates, white chocolates, milk chocolates. All this chocolates have coca butter, coca solids, emulsifiers, vanilla and the proportion of the combination may vary giving difference in finished product. According to European rule, dark chocolates should have 35% cocoa solids. In certain chocolates there may be up to 70% of cocoa solids and total fat content of 30%-40.

Health and Chocolate

We all know the so called fattening effects of chocolates. But are there any good ones? It has been established that chocolates tend to raise the serotonin level. Serotonins are components that create a sense of happiness in the human brain. Chocolates may have a smoothening effect on throat. Some people say that throat problems, dryness due to coughs could be reduced by using chocolates.

Gifts - Buying Chocolates online

Chocolates are perfect gift for most of the occasions like wedding, Christmas, birthday, anniversaries and many more pleasant events. Gourmet chocolates have remained as a top gift for pleasant moments. There are plenty of Online gift shops which sell chocolates at a lower price than the high street. You can shop at your leisure from home and get them delivered with a personal message to your loved ones. You never know, you might get some extra discounts if there are Seasonal Special Offers and sale in these shops.

Craving for more chocolate info? Here is the Wikipedia page on Chocolates! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate

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What could be better than eating chocolate that delicious, creamy concoction thats adored the world over? Drinking chocolate of course! Nothing completes a cold winters day like a cup of steaming hot chocolate. So revered is hot chocolate that is has become part of our holiday traditions starring in ice skating outings, sledding, and holiday decorating. As if chocolate isnt luxurious enough you can enjoy it completely melted down and drinkable. Could there be anything more decadent?

The truth is that the advent of hot chocolate actually preceded chocolate in its solid form. The ancient Maya and Aztec of South and Central America first discovered the glorious properties of chocolate contained in the seeds of the cocoa tree. These first experimentations with the cocoa seeds found these ancient people combining the seeds with combinations of spices and then drinking the mixture. This liquid chocolate substance was revered by their population and was used in everything from social to religious functions.

When the Spanish conquered Mexico in the early 1500s, the conquistadors were introduced to this exotic beverage. They became so accustomed to it that they brought cocoa seeds with them on their return home and began having the product shipped back to Spain. Because the price of importing the cocoa seeds was so high, hot chocolate was reserved exclusively for the wealthy.

The Spanish enjoyed chocolate as a beverage for nearly one-hundred years before its existence became known to the rest of Europe; Europeans soon adopted chocolate as its collective own, adding sugar to sweeten the mixture and serving it piping hot; it had been served cold up until this point.

The word hot was added to the term hot chocolate when people began enjoying chocolate in its solid form. This was a way to differentiate the chocolate bar from the chocolate drink.

As mass production took hold, more and more people could enjoy hot chocolate as prices came down. In the mid-1920s, a powder mix was invented that would allow consumers to simply add hot milk or water to make their own hot chocolate. Many of us enjoy the beverage this way today.

For easy to understand, in depth information about hot chocolate visit our ezGuide 2 Chocolate.

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As Valentines Day looms overhead, with sweethearts in love nestled up against each other and single people flipping off Cupid, one can not help but think of the presents this day typically brings. Flowers, stuffed teddy bears, heart shaped candy, and cards may all fill the carts of Valentines Day shoppers, but nothing is quite as popular as chocolate. Diamonds may be forever, but chocolate will hold you over in the meantime.

Chocolate has perpetually evolved throughout time; what began as merely kisses now seems willing to go all the way. Part of this derives simply from the fact that chocolate is good, whether it melts in your hand or in your mouth, it is in a league of its own. The other factor is all the positive press it has recently received. Not only is it a comfort food, with squares of chocolate patting the backs of the weary and saying, there, there, but it also contains many positive health benefits. Dark chocolate, for example, contains antioxidants and lowers blood pressure. Dark, as well as other types of chocolate, also contains vitamins, HDL boosting fats, and serotonin, natures version of Prozac.

As you seek out chocolate in hopes of doing something nice for your loved one or yourself, there is a way to also do something nice for the world: buy chocolate the Sustainable Table way.

Sustainable Table is an organization that supports a kinder kind of agriculture; it advocates the production of food in a healthy, environmentally friendly, and animal friendly manner. Additionally, supports farming communities while implementing fair wages to farmers and workers. Sustainable Table helps promote Fair Trade, a movement that gives farmers the ability to reach the global market while making sure they are fairly compensated for their goods. Items that are Fair Trade-certified are typically organic, a form of growing that maintains both land and human health.

When chocolate is purchased through Sustainable Table, both farmers and the environment benefit, allowing you to have your (chocolate) cake and eat it too.

To find out you can purchase this item, or other items, from Sustainable Table, please visit their website at http://www.sustainabletable.org/.

Jennifer Jordan is the senior editor for http://www.savoreachglass.com. With a vast knowledge of wine etiquette, she writes articles on everything from how to hold a glass of wine to how to hold your hair back after too many glasses. Ultimately, she writes her articles with the intention that readers will remember wine is fun and each glass of anything fun should always be savored.

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The term chocolate bar is a popular way of describing a confectionery treat in the form of a bar. This is usually packaged in a bar shape with individual perforations or in a long, narrow, shaped log covered with chocolate. Many types of chocolate bar exist and there are thousands of companies that create chocolate bars. Some of these companies produce many choices of fillings in their chocolate bar, such as nuts, fruit, mint, coconut, marzipan and many more.

The chocolate bar evolved in approximately the late 1900s. Chocolate had become popular many years before the introduction of the bar but the idea of creating a chocolate bar was to provide a more convenient way of consuming the chocolate. The bars could be packaged and sold to eat easily by hand or while on the go. Up to the invention of the chocolate bar, chocolate had been sold by bulk with loose, irregular or formed pieces.

During the Great Depression, the cost of a chocolate bar was five cents. The price rose to ten cents after World War II and remained that price for many years. More advanced packaging and advertising contributed to the increase in cost to the consumer of many types of chocolate bars. Many chocolate companies still make the same bars they started out with, also adding many more varieties. Some popular chocolate bars that are still popular today are Clark Bar 1917, Baby Ruth 1920, The Charleston Chew 1922, Three Musketeers 1932, Fifth Avenue 1936 and many more. The Hershey Chocolate Company makes several chocolate bars that have been enjoyed for many years. The Krackel Chocolate bar was introduced in 1938 and the bars first contained almonds and then in 1939 peanuts were added alongside of the almonds. In 1941 the Hershey company changed the direction of the Krackel bar and removed all nuts and peanuts, which is the way we know the Krackel bar today. The shape of the York Peppermint Pattie may be round but it is still considered a chocolate bar. The Peppermint Pattie was introduced in 1940 and is still enjoyed today.

Chocolate bars can be used for fundraising, as where a sports team, corporation or school uses the chocolate bars to raise money for needed supplies. There are companies that put their corporate logo on the chocolate for use at promotional shows, incentive programs, and customer appreciation or to encourage attendance at board meetings. Wedding favors and other special parties, such as Bar Mitzvahs or milestone birthdays or anniversaries, are perfect occasions to use personalized chocolate bars to mark the day.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about chocolate bars - and about chocolate in general - please visit his website: Gorgeous Chocolate!

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Chocolate is a popular gift item that you can give to anyone for any special occasion. You can give chocolate to your amour with a bunch of red roses. You can wish your friend good luck with this delightful treat. Or you can greet your parents a happy anniversary with a chocolate basket. Whatever the celebration is, chocolate gifts are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the people who are close to your heart.

One of the most popular forms of chocolate gifts is the chocolate gift basket. A variety of chocolates can be included in the basket, which is artfully decorated for artistic appeal. Chocolate gift baskets are noted for the variety of chocolate they carry. If the recipient is a chocolate lover, he is sure to be delighted with a miscellany of white chocolates, dark chocolates, chocolates with nuts, fruits, and almonds, and those with different flavors such as raspberry or caramel. The more chocolate variations, the better.

If there is a chocolate gift basket, there is also a chocolate gift box. A chocolate gift box can include either a single flavor of chocolate or a variety of chocolate flavors. Some people prefer giving chocolates in a box instead of a basket because it is more presentable. Also, in giving chocolates packed in a box, there is less risk of melting. This would be a good choice if the recipient lives miles away and wont be able to open your gift till a later time.

Lastly, you can simply give a piece of chocolate as a gift. Choose the favorite chocolate bar of that special person and tie a small ribbon around it for a more presentable look.

Chocolate gifts are indeed ideal for any occasion. Whether it is a basket bursting with chocolate variants, a neatly wrapped chocolate gift box, or a simple chocolate bar, it is sure to make that special day more memorable.

Chocolate provides detailed information on Chocolate, Gourmet Chocolate, Chocolate Gifts, Organic Chocolate and more. Chocolate is affiliated with Cookie Baskets.

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Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually be good for us? This is the nutrition news we have all been waiting for. So here is the scoop on chocolate and its health benefits. Yes, you read right, health benefits!

Recent studies show that cocoa and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content contain many heart-healthy antioxidants. They contain a compound called flavonoids which may help prevent the oxidation of LDL (bad) cholesterol and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the blood. There is also some evidence that these flavonoids may prevent certain cancers.

It is important that we are all on the same page here, not all chocolate have these health benefits. The healthy flavonoids found in chocolate are found in the cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and sugar and contains little amounts of these substances, therefore providing fewer health benefits. So, for those of you who love dark chocolate this is your lucky day! The darker the chocolate, the higher the cocoa content and the more antioxidants it contains. The quality of the chocolate you consume is also important. The cocoa butter is quite pricey so less expensive brands will replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils which are bad for our health. Look for high quality chocolates with their main ingredients being cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Unsweetened cocoa powder is one of the purest forms of chocolate you can eat and is lower in fat and calories than other chocolates.

Although this is great news for all chocolate lovers, dont forget that most chocolate (unless you use unsweetened cocoa powder) does still contain sugar and saturated fat.

And please remember calories. An ounce of chocolate contains around 135 calories. So enjoy a cup of hot cocoa or an ounce of chocolate once in awhile to contribute to your health and not to your waistline!

Owner of Real Living Nutrition Services, Meri Raffetto is a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She has received a bachelors degree in both nutrition and psychology and has extensive experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy. She offers individual nutrition counseling and has developed one of the only non-diet online weight management programs available on the internet. Meri specializes in weight management, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition and consults with professional athletes at Titan Sports Performance Center. Her practice includes teaching people how to eat for endurance, improve vitality, and lose weight healthfully. For more information visit http://www.reallivingnutrition.com

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One of my friends retired at the age of 50. She wanted to try a new line of work, so she took some time to do research and then made up her mind what she was going to do for her next career. She is very diligent so I had no doubts she would read books, articles and magazines on various businesses and careers just as she did. She called me to let me know she had decided to open a shop featuring the finest chocolates. I was quite surprised when I heard that.

My friend has always been a chocolate lover but she insists on good quality chocolates. She can have only the finest ones. Many people would settle for a Hersheys syrup if they needed a chocolate fix but certainly not her. She always checks if the candy is fresh and not grainy. She doesnt mind shopping around for the finest chocolates available. She was in quest of fine chocolates one day when the idea of opening such a shop popped in her head. All the books, articles and magazines she had read encouraged people to start a business with something they are passionate about, and she couldnt be more passionate about finding finest chocolates to eat and supply to others. We set up a meeting at the place she wanted to rent for the finest chocolates shop.

The space is perfectly located in the downtown area of a middle sized town. Before there has been a small coffee shop but after the opening of a national chain it got out of business and had to close down. There was a large counter area and enough space for up to ten small tables. My friend found it perfect that there was so much space by the front window area so that her finest chocolates would be at display available to purchase by the piece or the whole dessert. Within walking distance of the shop there are a few large banks, insurance companies and a government centre. Thus, I assume the shop will have regular customers.

My friend let me see the catalogs she used to order finest chocolates. The selections were stunning. I believe they included the finest chocolates available in the world. The desserts my friend would also offer to her customers would be delivered same day so that they would always be fresh. She would have some on stock but will also take special orders for her customers. The candies will be sold by weight, so anyone could buy one piece or a pound. She will provide some unique finest chocolates which people might give as gifts or buy them for a special occasion. I believe my friend would be quite successful at her new venture as she certainly has the passion for it.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Finest Chocolates. Visit our site for more helpful information about Finest Chocolates and other similar topics.

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There are many choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. It is important to understand the ingredients of each type of chocolate and the chemicals they possess when making your choice. Look over your recipe thoroughly to ensure you are using the correct kind of chocolate before starting. Using the wrong chocolate for a recipe can turn into a disaster. For example, cocoa powder, semi sweet chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, will all have a different effect on a recipe. Here are some types of chocolate that are ideal for your fountain and some interesting facts.

White chocolate is amongst the most popular choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains. White chocolate is frowned upon by the chocolate elite but many people argue that it should be recognized with other fine chocolates. Real white chocolate has cocoa butter but does not have any chocolate liquor in it, but a lot of the cheaper white chocolate sold in stores do not have any cocoa butter in them at all, making it even more difficult to justify being called chocolate.

Gourmet chocolate fondue is a delicacy in the chocolate department. You can easily make gourmet chocolate fondue by melting one part light cream for every two parts semi- sweet. Put in a dash of vanilla extract and stir the fondue so there are no lumps. You can use different fruits and snacks for dipping.

Kosher chocolate is not just for candy like many people think. This chocolate is produced by the best of the best in the industry and is made in accordance with Jewish law.

Quality Belgian chocolate is the one most recommended by chocolate fountain manufacturers and hire shops. It melts and cascades beautifully and tastes divine. The best Belgian chocolate is still made by hand and the careful creation process ensures a unique flavor and more intense aroma.

Researchers consistently recommend dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and flavanoids that reduce aging and fight disease. Many people that are on a low-calorie diet use dark chocolate because it contains less sugar than milk chocolate. Ensure you buy a good blend that has been specifically designed for chocolate fountains.

Most people are headstrong on the type of chocolate they like and the choices of chocolate for chocolate fountains seem unlimited. With all of the exotic chocolates becoming increasingly available it might be time to experiment a little. You could be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Choosing the right chocolate for chocolate fountain ensures your party runs smoothly and all your guests are suitably impressed and satisfied. Isabel Hart runs a chocolate fountain home business and shares all her tips and tricks on her blog.

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There is some great news for all those chocolate lovers out there and that is that dark chocolates are good for you. Well, good for your heart at least! Its amazing that there are health benefits from chocolate because we all wanted a reason to be able to eat chocolate and not feel guilty! Things like Hershey cherry cordials may be eaten without feeling guilty just dont eat too many!

There are lots of other dark chocolate selections other than a Hersheys cherry cordial in case you like other flavors. There are dark chocolate bars that are plain, have nuts, cranberries, and even blueberries. You may even find organic dark chocolates made with a variety of other ingredients including red pepper! Thats certainly one way to spice up your dark chocolate.

When you eat dark chocolate you wont only be enjoying it but you will also be offering yourself some protection against cardiovascular disease. The reason why there are health benefits from this particular type of chocolate is because of the flavenoids inside. These flavenoids catalyze a reaction in the endothelial cells, cells that line your veins and arteries, to improve function.

The flavenoids, which are basically antioxidants, are also found in a variety of other foods. There are certain fruits, wines, teas, and vegetables that offer up flavenoids that will help you reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. The more flavenoids you eat the lower your chances will be.

In just a short six week study ingesting dark chocolate on a daily basis shows a great increase in endothelial function. This makes researchers believe that if individuals up their intake of flavenoids over a long period of time they will really see amazing benefits in regards to cardiovascular health.

So, if you love chocolate start replacing your milk chocolate with dark chocolate. Not only will you still enjoy the flavor but you will be receiving great benefits that could positively affect your heart health. Remember dark chocolate still has fat and calories so these findings do not give you free reign to eat pounds of chocolate a day. But, the findings so far look positive that dark chocolate may be able to help us in the long run with heart health! Be sure to talk with your doctor before using dark chocolate as a health food so that you can fully understand the implications and what they mean for you.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Things like Hershey cherry cordials may be eaten without feeling guilty just dont eat too many! There are lots of other dark chocolate selections other than a Hersheys cherry cordial in case you like other flavors. There are dark chocolate bars that are plain, have nuts, cranberries, and even blueberries.

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Is all the chocolate from your kids Trick-or-Treat bags gone already? And not because your children ate it all? If you are anything like me, the chocolate candies are nowhere to be found because you have relentlessly snatched them from your unknowing children and, with much guilt and remorse, ate them all. Not because you dont like your kids eating too much chocolate (its for their own good, right?). And not because you are desperately trying to put on a few pounds. The truth is, you are a serious chocoholic, and anything containing chocolate doesnt last long in your home because it ends up in your stomach.

Now, many of us are well known as chocoholics, but others, to some extent, still have one leg in the closet. Those close to us know we love chocolate, but when the candy goes missing we dont claim any responsibility. I have recently removed myself from the darkness and became a self-proclaimed chocoholic. Moreover, I am ready to explore the reasons behind my desires and what can be done about it. In fact, its probably time we all came out of the candy-filled closet to discuss this propensity for the sugary sweet. Why do we have it? Is there a genetic component to our needs? And what is truly so bad about being addicted to this mere cocoa bean? Most importantly, what can we do to keep our habitual desire in check? I will explore all of the above and detail a healthy way to keep chocolate in our diets.

Why are we the chosen addicted to chocolate anyway? Within my research, I have found that several scientists believe genetics does play a part in why certain people become consumed by the taste and smell of chocolate. Although I am not a scientist, I also believe that the inevitable craving for chocolate has some hereditary component. In my family, both parents have the desire to eat anything containing even a trace of chocolate. My sisters have also been burdened with this want for any such version of chocolate. In addition, my eldest brother requires much will to keep himself away from the candy cabinet in his home. This may not be scientific evidence, but it is my experience and stands to reason in my mind. No doubt, many chocoholics reading this article can think of at least two relatives that require a daily dose of chocolate to keep them happy.

So what is the big deal about chocolate anyway? Is it really that bad for us? I guess the answer is yes and no. Yes for some of us, no for others. Many doctors and psychologists believe that being addicted to chocolate means that one has the genetic code for simply being an addict. Many chocoholics are also alcoholics, smokers, and on down the line of addictive behaviors. Research also shows that many obese people are burdened with chocolate addiction as well as addiction to other foods. For these folks, addiction to anything has the potential to become problematic.

What about those of us who are chocoholics but not obese and not regular addicts? I myself am not obese. I am also not an addictto anything but chocolate. I have never dealt with any other addiction. I do not have addictive behavior and do not believe I have the disease of addiction. I am simply in love with chocolate and want it almost as much as I want a good nights sleep. Is it truly dangerous for me? Of course its not the healthiest of foods to love but Ive yet to enter the realm of danger. But it wouldnt hurt to find a better way to fulfill my desires.

Most chocoholics know their habit is not necessarily a good one and would be willing to try a healthier alternative. Replacing chocolate with carob chips could ease kicking the chocolate habit, but the taste is just not the same. Another alternative is dark chocolate, which is known to have health benefits such as lowering high blood pressure. It also contains a potent antioxidant which helps to fight heart disease and other ailments. Just dont wash it down with a glass of milk because milk prevents absorption of the good stuff. Dark organic chocolate is said to be the healthiest choice. It is more expensive than the average chocolate bar but is very rich in flavanoids and antioxidants. Dark organic chocolate, when consumed in moderation, can help to control diabetes and blood pressure. This is the best replacement for those who are addicted to chocolate but need a healthier variety.

Whatever your choice, it is imperative to remember that all types of chocolate contain large amounts of sugar and should only be consumed by healthy individuals. I myself would like to say that from now on Im only going to eat dark organic chocolate in moderation. But who am I kidding. I know that I lack the willpower. I believe in strength in numbers, however, and look forward to all the emails I will receive from fellow chocoholics wanting to mellow, if not curb, the habit. I dont think that chocolate is going to kill me, but it is certainly not going to save my life. I will attempt to limit my consumption and focus on buying dark varieties of chocolate. Especially now that all the Halloween candy is gone. And if I can do it, so can you.

Elizabeth Smith is a part-time freelance writer when she is not too busy mothering her two children, ages 3 and 6. She also runs an online and offline gift basket business entitled Crafty Gift Creations ~ Gift Baskets for Any Season and Every Reason. Visit her online at http://www.craftygiftcreations.com and check our her beautiful and yet tasty chocolate gift baskets and gifts!

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