Chocolate is one of the most loved and cherished foods all around the world, especially with children. Chocolate is so versatile that it can be used in cooking to make different types of confectionaries and cookies or even beverages like chocolate milk and hot chocolate.
Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is even considered healthy when considered in moderate amounts. Chocolate can relieve stress, improve blood flow and also lower blood pressure. Of course, chocolate also has the reputation of being a food fit for all kinds of celebrations. Here are some different types of chocolates you should know.
- Unsweetened Chocolate: This is the purest form of chocolate with no sugar added. It is also known as ‘chocolate liquor’. It is prepared from roasted cocoa beans, which are later crushed and ground. It is highly bitter and cannot be consumed directly. It can be used in small amounts to give flavour to various cookies, brownies and cakes.
- Semi-sweet Chocolate: This comes very close to unsweetened chocolate, however it varies narrowly. A slight pinch of sugar is added to make it sweet along with cocoa butter. Vanilla is also added to give it a unique flavour.
- Bittersweet Chocolate: Also known as Dark chocolate, it can contain chocolate liquor anywhere between 35 to 99 percent. Sugar and cocoa butter are added to give it taste and fine texture. The milk solids used cannot be more than 12 percent of the whole. Dark chocolate is said to have a distinct European flavour, as well. Dark chocolate can be directly eaten. It has a number of health benefits, as well.
- Sweet Chocolate: Sweet chocolate is the form, which is familiar to most of us. It can contain chocolate liquor within 15 to 34 percent range. Sugar is used in the sweetening process. It is widely consumed around the world in the form of candy bars. It possesses a rich and creamy texture due to a large amount of cocoa butter added. Sweet chocolate by far is the most popular kind of chocolate among all.
- Milk Chocolate: Milk chocolate is widely used in smaller chocolates and confectioneries for kids. It is called milk chocolate due to large amounts of milk solids and milk fats like cream and milk powder used in preparing it. Milk chocolate can be eaten directly or used in flavouring and garnishing while cooking.
- White Chocolate: White chocolate is technically not even chocolate since it does not contain any cocoa solids. What it does contain are milk solids, cocoa butter, with lots and lots of sugar. It has a very smooth and creamy texture complemented by a rich sweet taste. Generally eaten as candy bars.
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