What is chocolate?
Chocolate is obtained from cocoa beans. Cocoa butter and cocoa mass are obtained from these seeds, which by varying the proportions between these and the sugar give rise to all kinds of chocolates.
How is chocolate made?
Cocoa beans have to go through several processes to become the chocolate that we taste in our homes. Some of the most important manufacturing processes are:
- The roasting of its grains, which increases its aroma and allows the elimination of the skin and impurities.
- Roasting, which consists of homogeneous roasting at around 110ºC to eliminate moisture and acidity while further intensifying its aromas.
- Hulling and screening after roasting, which separates the edible part from the inedible part.
- Mixing, where different types of grains are mixed before being ground.
- Grinding and churning, where the beans are ground and churned at a constant temperature of around 70ºC for a maximum of 3 days. This is how cocoa paste is obtained.
- Pressing, which consists of extracting the cocoa butter from the cocoa paste.
What types of chocolate are there?
We can classify them according to…
- Its proportion of cocoa and color:
Dark chocolate
Its main ingredients are cocoa and sugar, and its cocoa content is usually greater than 50%, which gives it a dark color. The greater the proportion of cocoa it contains, the darker the resulting chocolate will be.
Milk chocolate
Its main ingredients are cocoa, sugar and milk. The proportion of cocoa is usually less than 50% and its color is lighter.
White chocolate
Its main ingredients are cocoa butter, sugar and milk. The proportion of cocoa butter is usually less than 20% and does not contain cocoa paste. It is usually extremely sweet.
Pink chocolate
Pink chocolate is made from the "ruby" cocoa bean, giving it its characteristic pink color.
- Its use or purpose:
Coverage chocolate or fondant
It has a higher cocoa butter content than other chocolates, which makes it very moldable and ideal for use in confectionery as coverage.
Hot chocolate
It is usually used dissolved in milk and can be found in dry powder form. Its ingredients are cocoa and some thickener such as corn flour.
Chocolate as a gift
It is common to use chocolate in its different forms as an original gift between friends or relatives, especially chocolates.
- Its form:
Tablets
This is its most common form. The tablet is usually divided into equal sized ounces. Tablets typically weigh about 100 to 300 grams.
Bonbons
They are small portions with mixtures of chocolate and/or other ingredients (nuts, fruits, liqueurs...) with intense and delicate flavors.
Cake
We also find it in the form of cakes, where it is usually accompanied by almonds or other nuts.
Chocolate truffles
Even without truffles as an ingredient, chocolate is usually presented in the form of a chocolate truffle.
Chocolate Eggs
It is common to find chocolate in the form of eggs.
Chocolate shavings
Perfect for decorating cakes and for the world of pastries and confectionery.
Chocolate Noodles
Chocolate in the form of a noodle that is often used for the exterior decoration of Neapolitans and other bakery and pastry products.
Chocolate powder
It is very common in large supermarkets and is mainly used to mix with other liquids, especially milk.
Other alternative shapes
The creativity of chocolatiers has no limits, so we can also find them in shapes such as chocolate hearts, chocolate cigars, chocolate branches...
- Its provenance:
Swiss Chocolate
Known around the world for its highest quality standards, Swiss Chocolate uses high-level techniques that result in smooth, creamy chocolate that melts in your mouth.
Belgian chocolate
Another world famous chocolate that stands out for its special care in the production techniques.
- Your accompaniment:
Chocolate with fruits
Chocolate goes perfectly with fruits like strawberries or bananas.
Chocolate with nuts
Our chocolate nougats usually combine cocoa with nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, etc., providing an exquisite mix of flavours.
- Specific diet:
Sugar free chocolate
Chocolate with 0 added sugars. A sugar substitute (sweetener) is used as the sweetener. This chocolate is suitable for diabetics.
Gluten-free chocolate
Chocolate whose ingredients are gluten-free and suitable for coeliacs.
Lactose-free chocolates
Chocolate for lactose intolerant. The milk in this chocolate has been treated to remove its lactose, making it a more digestible chocolate.
Why buy chocolate in our online store?
For the price and quality. Our artisan chocolates are made with the highest quality standards, our maxim being to offer the best quality/price ratio on the market. In our store you can buy cheap chocolate of the highest quality, receiving it at your home in one or two days at the most.