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the word chocolate comes from Aztec meaning bitter water. the Aztec king purportedly drank 50 gallons of the bitter water made of pounded cocoa beans and spices daily. Chocolate comes
from the tropical cocoa bean Theobroma which is the food of gods.The beans are removed from their pods dried roasted and then are cracked, separating the nibs from the shells. The
nibs are important to extract the cocoa butter. Which leaves a thick dark paste called chocolate liquor. Next, the chocolate liquor is refined. If more cocoa butter is extracted from the chocolate
liquor, the solid result is ground into unsweetened cocoa powder.If other ingredients are added like milk powder or sugar, the chocolate is refined again. The final step is conching, machines blend the
heated chocolate liquor, removing moisture and acids. Conching lasts 12 to 72 hours while cocoa butter and lecithin are added for smoothness. |
