Chocolate lovers search the world over to find the top products. There is no doubt that there are some very extraordinary types made in Belgium and in the United States, in addition to a few other places in the world. The best of all types that have earned their label by gourmet critics are undoubtedly made with the top ingredients available. A company may roast its own cacao beans to get the unique flavor of its product that can immediately be differentiated from less delicious brands.
Dark chocolate is the ultimate treat
Many people agree that dark chocolate is the ultimate treat. In the range of this type of chocolate, it may have between 35 percent and 99 percent cacao content. Cacao is the ingredient that gives this confection its taste. There are other names that it can be called, including semi-sweet, bittersweet, or extra dark chocolate. There is also an unsweetened type that contains no sugar at all. It is very bitter and can’t be eaten this way. It is specifically made for baking because it is added to cake batter and other mixtures that contain sugar.
Where does it come from?
Believe it or not, the cocoa bean grows around the world on trees in the rainforests of South America in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. These beans thrive in other tropical rainforests in Indonesia in Southeast Asia and in Africa along the Ivory Coast in West Africa. Just as other foods have a different taste depending on where they are grown, so do cocoa beans. One maker of fine dark chocolate blends certain amounts of cocoa beans from those that grow around the world to achieve their unique, delicious taste. They then process the cocoa beans to get chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder from the beans. When they make dark varieties, they may use 60 percent cocoa butter and chocolate liquor and 40 percent sugar, vanilla, and other ingredients. Although the cacao portion is the most important in achieving the delicious flavor, the other ingredients such as vanilla are also important, so only top quality products are used.
Using this delicacy for cooking
When you cook or bake with dark chocolate, you’re sure to have a crowd-pleasing dessert or treat that everyone will love. Many people are incorporating more of it into their diets since the health benefits are so good. It has more antioxidants than most fruits and vegetables, so it is healthy to eat. This is not to say that it should be substituted for fruits and vegetables, but it is a healthy addition to the diet. Many people agree that dark chocolate is the ultimate treat even for those who are on a constricted diet. Dark chocolate on keto diet or other low carb diets is a great option to fix your sweet tooth. There are recipes that most people would never think of, such as chocolate waffles. This treat could be used as a special breakfast entrée or for dessert. It uses semi-sweet chips plus one cup of unsweetened cocoa, so it’s packed with healthy flavonoids. It contains only two tablespoons of sugar, a small amount of canola oil, and other ingredients. It can be topped with a dollop of whipped cream and bittersweet sauce for an extra treat.
Many people are on a gluten-free diet and they do not eat wheat flour. They too can still enjoy delicious foods made with fine dark chocolate. There are excellent recipes for gluten-free brownies that require bittersweet chips made with 60 percent cacao. Other ingredients are almonds or almond flour, rice flour, butter, salt, sugar, vanilla, and eggs. It’s also possible to make beverages like hot chocolate made with 60 percent cacao bittersweet chips, half-and-half, almond liqueur, vanilla, and whipped cream. For a cold drink, a cooler or shake made with dark chocolate is a tasty treat.
Find out more about this delicious gourmet flavor that can be enjoyed in many ways.
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