This page is all about chocolate… how to make it, different types, and a general try-not-to-drool all-about-chocolate tour.

Mmm… Chocolate! What, you may be thinking, IS chocolate? Well, here is the exact definition, straight from the dictionary. “Chocolate is a sweet brown hard food made from cocoa beans”. Well there you have it. The next question on your mind is probably ‘Is it nice?’ From personal experience, as well as the perspective of my closest friends, chocolate is delicious!

Now enough questions! Instead, how about you listen? The cacao tree, the trees which chocolate beans are obtained from, was first found in the tropical rainforest of America. The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy and frothy drink. Then the Spanish brought the seeds home, to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, and the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe and since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favorite flavors-

What’s that? You want to know how chocolate is made in factories? Well here it is then: First, the pods of the cacao tree are split open to collect the cocoa beans inside, as well as fruity pulp that encases them. This pulp is sometimes used to make drinks or desserts. The beans are then left to ferment for eight days. After that, they are roasted to bring out their one-of-a-kind, intense chocolate flavors and colors. The beans are then de-shelled, leaving behind the essence of the cocoa bean that’s full of cocoa solids and cocoa butter. The essence of the cocoa bean is ground to a thick, rich paste which is pressed to remove the cocoa butter from it. The remaining essence is then added to vegetable fats, sugar, flavourings, milk, vanilla and/or other ingredients, depending on how high the quality of the chocolate is.

Okay, now can I continue? Yes, please come this way. This is the many different types of chocolate that can be made:

1. Milk Chocolate
2. White Chocolate
3. Dark Chocolate

They can also be mixed together to form other things

or used as gifts!

Mmm all these chocolates are making me feel HUNGRY!!! Well your guided tour of chocolate is over. Feel free to stop by your nearest supermarket or minimart and buy chocolate. Enjoy stuffing your face!!!

*waves goodbye*

References:

~http://www.google.com (Web and Images)

~BBC English Dictionary

~http://www.about.com

~http://http://www.fieldmuseum.org/Chocolate/history.html