“Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate.” – Terry Moore
Personally I prefer to be right next to a superior quality dark chocolate, 24/7.
Admit it, you want to be a chocolate snob. Wine snobbery just doesn’t have the same cachet anymore. Chocolate snobbery is more fun and chocolate snobs are much more pleasant than the wine equivalents. (just joking)
After all, people can get sad or angry from drinking wine, but chocolate makes everyone happy. And if you can introduce your friends to the finer chocolates and the finer points in judging them, they will recognize you for the glorious and brilliant friend you are.
According to Dave Barry, “If you want to become a rich, pretentious snot—and who doesn’t? – you should learn about wine.” And now the same applies to chocolate.
I’ve taught hundreds of people in the proper points of chocolate snobbery in my chocolate tastings and appreciation classes, and am happy to share the secrets of chocolate with you here.
A BRIEF HISTORY
You mean to tell me that you did not want to know about the history of one of your favorite foods? Didn’t you ask for “everything?”
Well, just bear with me; you actually may find it interesting.
For most of chocolate’s history it has been a drink. Chocolate has also always had an aristocratic air. Here’s a brief overview of chocolate’s history:
Origins
The Maya of Mesoamerica discovered that grinding and mixing the cocoa beans with water produces a pleasantly bitter drink. The drink was reserved for the nobility as only they were entitled to its restorative and aphrodisiac powers.
Meanwhile, the first cocoa bean plantations was planted by the Olmecs near the Gulf of Mexico, not the Aztecs as popularly believed.
Industrial Revolution
The first chocolate factories appeared in Europe in 1728, but they used very primitive production methods. Francois-Louis Cailler established the first new production facility in Corsier, Switzerland in 1819 and made the first smooth chocolate bar.
Dairy Sensation
In 1875 the Swiss chocolate maker Daniel Peter turned the world of chocolate upside down by adding condensed milk to chocolate. Presto! Milk chocolate was born. However, Rodolphe Lindt was the first one to produce a creamy chocolate that pleasantly melted on one’s tongue.
Chocolate for the “People”
The first mass production of chocolate was introduced by Milton Hershey in 1900.
Henri Nestle produced the first white chocolate. Soon after, chocolate production began to explode with truffles, bonbons, chocolate bars, and molded chocolates.
FROM BEAN TO BAR
No, not to the wine tasting bar. Didn’t you read earlier that I do not care for the wine snobs? We are talking about the chocolate bar that snaps with a pretty loud sound when you feel like to have a bite…but I am going ahead of my story.
This is the process that determines whether the chocolate in your hand is a top quality one – or one that you should use for decorating the garbage can. (I know it is little too harsh, but this gives you to understand the enormous difference between quality and …)
A real chocolate snob should understand this process well.
Step 1: Harvesting
The cacao tree is a very delicate tree and only thrives in tropical regions. It only starts to bear fruit in its second or third year.
• First the blossoms appear on the trunk.
• After insects pollinate the blossoms they become a cacao pod. (See the photograph above)
• A tree bears about 25 to 50 pods up to 25 to 30 years.
Every 2 to 4 weeks the pods are harvested from the tree, carefully opened and the cocoa beans (seeds) and pulp are removed to begin the fermentation process.
Types of Cacao Beans
Try to memorize this, because it has a huge effect on the end product. If you want to “show off” in a party, this is a good question to ask: “Is this made mostly from criollo beans?”
• Criollo—the “premium” bean, grown in the Caribbean and Central America and making up less than 2% of the cacao supply.
• Forastero—the most common bean, mostly from Africa and comprising over 90% of the world production.
• Trinitario—a hybrid of the other two beans and comprising about 5% of the total supply.
Some manufacturers use “single origin” cacao plantations for their chocolates, (and that is the latest trend) but most involve combining beans from many sources.
Step 2: Fermentation
• Fermentation is a crucial step in the transformation of the cacao bean to “chocolate.”
• It reduces the “sharpness” of the bean.
• The acid and the alcohol actually kills the cacao seeds.
• A variety of new compounds and flavors develop.
• The concentration of polyphenols (responsible for the sharpness and many other qualities) is reduced.
• The chocolate fermentation process takes about 4 to 7 days to complete.
Note: Poor fermentation is usually masked by either adding a large amount of sugar or by alkalization, both of which conceal sharpness but also produces a product without real chocolate flavor.
Step 3: Drying and Shipping
• The beans need to be dried by exposing them to sun and air to stop fermentation.
• The process causes the beans to turn brown (the beans in the photograph are in the process of drying)
• Cried beans are ready to be shipped to the manufacturer.
Step 4: Roasting
After cleaning, the manufacturer roasts the beans between 230 F to 428 F (110 C to 220 C) for 40 to 50 minutes to develop the chocolate flavors of the nibs (this is the beans minus the shells). Some inferior chocolates have been roasted to excess and will have burnt flavors as a result.
Note: You can actually eat the nibs, and it has become quite fashionable to do so. The nibs are excellent in savory cooking as well.
Step 5: Blending, Grinding and Mixing
In this process different varieties of cocoa beans are custom blended according to the manufacturer requirements. The nibs are ground into liquid cocoa mass called chocolate liquor, which is a combination of cocoa butter and cocoa solids.
At this time sugar, milk/milk powder (only for white and milk chocolate), extra cocoa butter, lecithin (an emulsifier preventing the separation of fat) and vanilla is added to the cocoa beans.
Note: The milk in milk chocolate comes from either cream, whole or reduced-fat milk, and/or powdered, condensed, or evaporated milk.
Step 6: Refining
At this stage the chocolate mass is sheared into smaller particle size (about 20 microns.) It is important to maintain this size for consistency.
The texture of the final product is largely influenced by the particle size distribution of the cocoa materials. If the particles are too large it will result in a coarse mouth-feel. Too small, and the chocolate particles may result in stickiness on the palate. Neither is desirable.
Step 7: Conching
This is another crucial stage of chocolate making. Even if perfectly ground and blended, the product that emerges from the mill does not yet deserve to be called chocolate.
Conching is a process of intense mixing, agitating, and aerating of heated liquid chocolate in machines called conches. Conching can last as long as few days, or more. It eliminates any off-flavors and unwanted bitter substances that may be still present. The longer a chocolate is conched, the finer and mellower it will be.
Note: In unsweetened chocolates (i.e. baking chocolate) this process often skipped, giving these chocolates a more astringent quality.
Chocolate brands that conch their unsweetened chocolate too include Valrhona and Scharffen-Berger. (we will discuss manufacturers in our upcoming post.)
The conched chocolate is then cooled down and goes through its final stage of preparation, called: tempering, to which I will give fuller treatment.
CHOCOLATE TEMPERING
Did I hear you asking: “Is this is why chocolates called “temperamental product?”
This is a very good question and the answer is: partially. The truth of the matter is, that I could not get a straight answer to this question even from top chocolate experts.
Tempering is one of the most important techniques in creating top quality chocolates. If done correctly, it results in a smooth and glossy chocolate with pleasant aroma, pleasurable mouth-feel, one that is resistant to warmth (not melting in your hand), and has a longer shelf life.
When you want to make your own chocolate creations, you may need to re-temper the chocolate, using one of the methods below. You will need to use a candy thermometer to measure the chocolate’s temperature.
Tempering sounds really scary, but it is possible to do it simply. And if nothing else, knowing how it works makes you an awesome chocolate snob.
The Basic Tempering Process
1. The chocolate is heated to a certain temperature at which the cocoa butter crystals melt completely:
• Dark chocolate : 120 F (49 C);
• Milk chocolate : 116 F (47 C);
• White chocolate : 114 F (45 C).
Note: Cocoa butter contains various sizes of crystals (Alpha, Beta and Gamma) with different melting points that keeps the cocoa butter stable; the production of chocolate only uses the beta crystals because they have the highest melting point of 35 C-37 C, about the same as body temperature. If the cocoa butter obtains a uniform crystal structure, the chocolate will be smooth, glossy and snap when broken.
Next, the chocolate is cooled to a certain degree to allow “good” crystals to form.
• Dark chocolate : 84 F (29 C);
• Milk chocolate : 81 F (27 C);
• White chocolate : 79 F (26 C).
Lastly, the chocolate is re-heated again to eliminate any “bad” crystals that may have formed during the earlier process.
• Dark chocolate : 89 F-90 F (32 C);
• Milk chocolate : 86 F-87 F (30 C);
• White chocolate : 82 F-83 F (28 C).
Note: If overheated at the last stage, you will need to start the entire process all over. Yes you read it right. I recommend to stay next to the chocolate through the entire process with the thermometer in your hand.
Methods of Tempering
Although there are multiple methods that you can use to temper a chocolate, they all consist of the same process as described above. What method of tempering you want to use is less important than the creation of what we call “stable crystals” in order to create a top quality chocolate.
The chocolate that you bought in the store is always tempered. Direct method means you melt the chocolate without getting it “out of temper.” This means you don’t heat dark chocolate beyond about 90 F or milk/white chocolate beyond 87F.
Note: the methods that you use for melting the chocolate when you want to use it in baking or in other product creation (i.e., in the microwave oven, or over simmering water, but the dish where the chocolate is placed cannot touch the water) is called a direct tempering method.
Unfortunately, it is very easy to overheat the chocolate with this method, in which case you would need to start the tempering process all over.
A. The most popular direct method uses the microwave oven.
Melt the chocolate under 50% power and check it every 20 seconds if melted. Stir it well at every interval; otherwise you do not see if all the chocolate is melted.
It is acceptable to take the chocolate out of the microwave with lumps. These lumps will melt away when you stir the chocolate.
• Advantages of this method – Quick, simple, and easy.
• Disadvantages of this method -It is very easy to overheat the chocolate if you are inexperienced.
B. Another direct method uses a double boiler. 
Use very little water in the bottom dish and place the chocolate in a bowl over the lightly simmering water to melt.
• Advantages of this method – Needs only occasional stirring
• Disadvantages of this method – Chocolates do not like water. If only one drop gets into the chocolate (and it could happen through the steam, as well) the chocolate may seize (turn into a grainy, clumpy mess in the bowl).
“Seized” chocolate cannot be “fixed”, but can be used in baking. Add butter, or warmed up heavy cream (1 tablespoon to every 6 ounce of chocolate) and stir slowly into the mass, until the chocolate loosens and either the butter or the cream is completely incorporated.
Another popular direct method for the home chocolatier, is using an ordinary heating pad. Just place the bowl with the chocolate over the pad set on high.
• Advantages of this method: Chocolate will melt slowly, less chance for overheating.
• Disadvantages of this method: If you need to work with larger quantities of chocolate, it can be very time consuming.
SEEDING METHOD
This is the easiest method of tempering professionally. It uses the stable crystals in the chocolate to cool a larger mass of melted chocolate. The usual ratio is 2/3 melted chocolate and 1/3 chocolate pieces used for “seeding” the melted chocolate.
Seeding Process
1. Weigh out the total amount of chocolate the recipe requires.
2. Either chop or grate the chocolate and divide it into 2/3 and 1/3.
3. Melt the 2/3 chopped or grated chocolate, either in the microwave (see above) or in a double boiler.
4. Gradually add part of the grated or chopped chocolate to the melted chocolate and start stirring it (start from the middle of the dish and gradually increase your circles to the edge of the dish) incorporate the newly introduced solid chocolate pieces (try not to incorporate too much air).
5. When the added chocolate is melted completely, check the temperature and proceed in accordance with the above mentioned temperature requirements. If the melted chocolate is still above the required temperature add more chopped or grated chocolate (you always err on adding less chopped chocolate).
6. When you have reached the required temperature, check the chocolate to assure that it is tempered. Dip a knife into the chocolate and let it set. If the chocolate tempered correctly, it will set fast, and will appear glossy without any streaks.
7. If the chocolate was cooled too much the best method is to use an immersion blender. The friction created by the blender will warm up the chocolate. Alternatively, you can use a hair dryer that was not used for drying hair, and warm up the surface of the chocolate, while testing the temperature repeatedly.
TABELING METHOD
This is the fastest and most efficient tempering method, but requires experience and a marble slab. You have to work with the chocolate fast in order to achieve successful results. In addition you need experience in working with an offset and a triangular spatula, simultaneously.
It is not for home use, however, because it is too complex and should be left for the professional only.
Troubleshooting in Tempering
• Never stir the chocolate too fast or too long. It may create air bubbles that are harmful for the chocolate.
• While you are working with the tempered chocolate it will start to lose heat and start to thicken. You can use a hair drier again to warm up the surface of the chocolate.
• Another method that professionals use to keep the chocolate in temper longer is to keep a warmed kitchen towel under the bowl where the tempered chocolate is.
• Controlling the room temperature where you are working with the chocolate is also important. The ideal room temperature should be between 65F-70F (18.3 – 21.1C).
• If the temperature in the room is too warm, the chocolate will take longer to set. This may cause an unattractive grey “fat bloom.” Blooming occurs when the cocoa butter in the chocolate stays too long in a liquid state and travels to the surface of the chocolate.
• Fat bloom can be identified by streaks of grey or white on the surface of the chocolate. In addition, the chocolate becomes crumbly. It also melts in your hand as you touch it because cocoa butter melts at body temperature.
UNDERSTANDING THE PERCENTAGES ON THE LABEL
What is a cacao percentage?
The cacao percentage that appears on chocolate labels refers to the total cacao content in the chocolate, which is everything that is derived from the cocoa bean: the cocoa butter and cocoa solids.
In the U.S., dark (bittersweet and semisweet) chocolates must be at least 35% cacao and milk chocolate must contain a minimum of 10% cacao. However, most manufacturers use cacao in much higher percentages. The trend in chocolate has been to increase the cacao content, so today’s milk chocolate may have more cacao than yesterday’s bittersweet.
White chocolate is not technically chocolate—it is cocoa butter without any cocoa solids. It also has sugar and powdered milk added.
Why should you care about cacao percentage?
• The cacao content gives an indication of how intense or how sweet the chocolate will be. The preference for higher cacao content chocolate may change from person to person or from time to time, depending on whether you want something more sweet or more intense.
• In baking, knowing the percentage allows you to control the sweetness and/or chocolate intensity in your baked good.
• Cacao content is also important when pairing with other foods and beverages.
How much sugar does the marketed chocolate have?
The higher the cacao content the lower the sugar content. If you buy a dark chocolate that is “70% cacao” it has 70 percent cocoa solids and cocoa butter and approximately 30% sugar. Most chocolate contain about 0.5% of vanilla, lecithin, etc., so the actual sugar content in this example would be about 29.5%.
If two chocolates have the same cacao percentage, are they basically the same?
No. Cacao percentage refers to the combined mass of the cocoa butter and cocoa solids, but it tells you nothing about the ratio of cocoa butter to cocoa solids, not to mention the type(s) of beans used in the preparation, the manufacturing process and other factors involved in the preparation a of the chocolate.
A cocoa bean is made up of 45% cocoa solids (the flavor) and 55% cocoa butter (the flavor carrier). However, additional cocoa butter is often added during the manufacturing process which creates a large impact on the chocolate experience. For example, one 72% chocolate may consist of 30% cocoa solids and 42% cocoa butter, while another chocolate may consist of 26% cocoa solids and 46% cocoa butter. The first example has a higher cocoa solid content, meaning it will have a stronger chocolate flavor and a greater viscosity (it will be thicker) than the second example.
How can you tell how much cocoa butter is in the chocolate?
For dark chocolate, look at the amount of fat in the nutritional label and divide it by the total weight, for a rough estimate.
Also, the same cacao percentage in two different chocolates may not mean the same quality. Quality may depend on the origin of the beans, the quality of the added ingredients, and the manufacturing process.
Is a chocolate with a higher cacao percentage better?
Not necessarily. It can be a little like selecting a wine for its alcohol content. Chocolates with a higher cacao percentage are thicker, more intense, and more bitter. Whether you enjoy this type of chocolate is a matter of personal taste. I love it.
Chocolate recipes that use dark chocolate usually are based on 60% to 63% cacao varieties. If you select to use chocolates with 70% cacao, you would require significant recipe adjustments.
HOW DO YOU SELECT/BUY CHOCOLATE?
The Secrets of Quality Chocolate
There are many chocolates available worldwide but only a very small percentage of them are considered premium. To create premium couverture, a manufacturer must control every step in the production.
“Excuse me! You just used a word, I have no idea what it means.”
“What is couverture?” That is an excellent question. I am glad you caught it.
Couverture, by definition is a good quality chocolate. But it is more than that. The French word “couverture” means “covering” or “coating” in English. Thus couverture chocolate is a kind of chocolate that most commonly used to cover things, especially chocolate truffles and bonbons.
Couverture chocolate has more cocoa butter in it than any other type of chocolate (up to 40%). That means that it melts, pours, spreads and coats more easily and makes the job of the chocolatier (or anyone that works with chocolates) easier and delivers a better end product.
Now let’s go back and cover how the manufacturer controls every step in the production of the couverture chocolate:
1. Selects the finest cacao beans – up to 7 different beans may be combined to create a final product that is complex and highly aromatic.
2. Selects the finest additional ingredients – milk, milk products, sugar and vanilla.
3. Roasts under strict controls.
4. Conches up to 72 hours.
5. Balances cocoa butter, cocoa solids, sugar, and other ingredients for a well-rounded chocolate experience.
6. Tinkers constantly with the final recipes to adjust for differing bean conditions in order to achieve a consistent flavor profile.
When evaluating chocolate at a tasting class, you have to use all your senses. You can read about a more detailed description of the chocolate tasting process here.
You must master the following presentation to be considered the Master Snob.
Top quality chocolate must do the following:
• VISUALLY – To the eye, the deep mahogany tones of the outer covering of the chocolate should shine with perfect uniformity. Milk chocolate should be auburn brown and the degree of darkness varying according to cocoa content.
•
• TOUCH – To the touch, fine chocolate is firm, yet will not crumble. (Do not try this in a store; no explanation will help.)
•
• SMELL - When placed in proximity of your nose, subtle aromas both reveal and contribute to its taste while stimulating your anticipation. The expert hand circumspectly breaks it, releasing a wave of robust aromas and delicate flavors. (Note: the same as above; unless you find unwrapped chocolate, which would be rare. Whole Foods, however, sells chocolates directly fom Callebaut and Valrhona, two major top quality manufacturers.)
•
• TASTE – in the mouth, let it rest on your tongue to slowly dissolve, releasing its unmistakable full flavor. Then its texture reveals itself to your palate – radiant and striking, yet not overwhelming. It has a harmonious, distinctive bouquet not unlike a great wine.
• Carefully read the ingredients and the description of the production technique employed. This will at least provide you a partial indication of the quality of the finished product.
HOW TO STORE CHOCOLATE
Temperature
The ideal temperature for storing chocolate is between 54 F to 68 F (12.2 C-20.0 C). Higher temperature will cause fat bloom to occur (see above). Lower temperatures are less troublesome because the cocoa butter remains tightly bound.
Humidity
Humidity is not friendly to chocolate, because the sugar in the chocolate will absorb the moisture and eventually will cause the sugar to bloom.
For instance if you keep your chocolate in the refrigerator and then take it out to room temperature, a condensation will form on the chocolate. Sugar, being a “water lover,” will absorb the condensation. Eventually the moisture will evaporate but will leave behind the sugar. This sugar then recrystallizes on the surface of the chocolate and will show up as dull, whitish streaks.
Relative humidity in the room where the chocolate is kept should not pass 50%.
To distinguish between fat and sugar bloom (both are not good, but if you know how to correct for it than it is important to identify the type of bloom) rub the affected chocolate on your palm. Fat bloom will be smooth against the skin; sugar bloom will have a grainy, sandy texture.
If this happens to a chocolate candy, there is nothing you can do, except eat it yourself (the horror, the horror). A solid chocolate, however, can be re-tempered.
Light and Air
All chocolate should be protected from light and air – that is why they are wrapped in foil when you purchase them. If you leave the wrapper open for a longer period, the chocolate will oxidize, change color, and worse, loses flavor. Milk chocolate is the worst offender, and dark chocolate can tolerate the longest time to be exposed, because it has a high concentration of anti-oxidants.
Odors
Chocolates are known to absorb odors easily. Do not place them next to food that emits strong odors, like onion, garlic, etc. Also, do not handle cleaning products next to open chocolates.
Hygiene
Cleanliness is a critical factor when handling chocolate
• Wash your hand frequently.
• Equipment, if using any, and the production room has to be very clean all the time.
• If any of the above methods are neglected the shelf life of the chocolate will be reduced.
Shelf Life
If stored properly:
• Milk or White chocolate will be usable for 9 to 12 months.
• Dark chocolates will be usable for 12 to 18 months.
Finally, if you paid attention what is happening in the media, you must have noticed how the word “health” is being used and abused in everything, everywhere, and every opportune moment. There are a myriad of diets, exercises, foods that are the epitome of health, magical pills that will make you super healthy and even cities that are healthier as compared to others. So, we must jump on the wagon, except that every claimed health benefit of chocolate is supported by quality research that was repeated multiple times.
THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF DARK CHOCOLATE
Lately, if somebody asks me about my consumption of chocolate, I tell them “I am eating chocolate for its health benefits.” I want to have a healthy heart, I want to make sure that my blood cholesterol level is not above normal, or I want to maintain a normal blood pressure and so on. And it is all true.
Dark chocolate and ONLY dark chocolate contains high concentrations of a compound, called flavonoids, which are actually antioxidants. Although there are many other foods that contain this chemical, chocolate contains the highest concentration of it.
Example:
Flavonoids in 1.25 ounces of cocoa products:
• Milk chocolate 300 mg
• Dark chocolate 700 mg
• Cocoa powder 1,300 mg (I use cocoa powder in many of my baked products, instead of chocolate, for this reason).
Flavonoids have been found to be responsible for:
• Lowering blood levels of Low Density Lipoprotein [(LDL, the bad cholesterol)] – due to its high concentration levels of polyphenols.
• Increasing blood levels of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL, the good cholesterol)
• Reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis or plaque formation in blood vessels (if plaque is built up on your arteries, it can lead to stroke and/or heart attack.)
• Enhancing your immune system
• Protecting you against the development of high blood pressure.
• Preventing free radical damage that can lead to cancer
• Inhibiting the formation of blood clots
• Suppressing persistent cough (theobromine in chocolate suppresses the vagus nerve activity in the upper respiratory tract; theobromine is 3 times more effective than codeine – considered the best cough medicine)
• Assisting in weight reduction (yes you are reading it correctly); a cup of hot or cold cocoa before meals, diminishes appetite, so you eat less.
Other beneficial effects of dark chocolate include:
• Boosting brain levels of serotonin, the “happy neurotransmitter”
• Enhancing mood (chocolate contains a chemical, named phenethylamine, (PEA) that triggers the release of endorphins in the brain, giving a sense of well-being. It is also responsible for the aphrodisiacal properties of chocolate.
• Increasing the activities of the neurotransmitter dopamine, that is directly associated with the feelings of sexual arousal and pleasure.
• Inhibiting the natural breakdown of the neurotransmitter anandamide and as a result producing a feeling of euphoria.
Chocolate also contains healthful nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, potassium and copper.
Cocoa is the highest natural source of magnesium. A diet high in this mineral protects against the symptoms of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension.
All this does not mean that you should replace other heart-healthy foods, like berries or grapes with chocolate, but that you should consume it in moderation.
Although chocolate tends to be high in fat and sugar, it may not be bad for you, because not all fat is bad. Good quality chocolates are made with cocoa butter, a fat comprised of oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil. Oleic acid actually helps lower bad cholesterol levels in the blood.
Interestingly, stearic acid is a saturated fatty acid (SFA), yet it does not affect blood cholesterol negatively.
The only fat in cocoa butter that is not good for you is palmitic acid, but it is found to be in limited concentrations only.
Remember, however, that not all chocolate is made with cocoa butter, so be sure to read labels.
When you do want to indulge in healthful chocolate, choose the darkest, richest chocolate you can find made with quality cocoa.
I hope you found this a helpful introduction to the world of chocolate. Please let me know in the comments section, what else would you like to learn about chocolate, or any other food product. Keep tasting and savoring new chocolates, and life will always be beautiful.
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