FAQ

Not necessarily. Cost certainly is an issue that may prevent bakers from formulating with real chocolate. However, many suppliers offer compound chocolate coatings that provide quality tastes and appearances.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defined several different types of cacao products in1999. These include:

• Cacao nibs – The food from shelled cured, cleaned, dried and cracked cacao beans. The shell content cannot be more than 1.75% by weight.
• Chocolate liquor – Made from finely ground cacao nibs. Chocolate liquor must contain between 50% and 60% cacao fat. It can be flavored with cacao fat, cocoa, spices, natural and artificial flavorings, ground coffee and other seasonings that do not impart the flavor of chocolate, milk or butter.
• Cocoa – Cacao fat must be between 10% and 22%.
• Milk chocolate – Made from chocolate liquor, nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners and other specified ingredients such as cacao fat. It must contain at least 12% milk solids and at least 10% chocolate liquor.
• Sweet/dark chocolate – Made from chocolate liquor, nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners and other specified ingredients such as cacao fat. It must contain at least 12% milk solids and at least 15% chocolate liquor.
• Bittersweet/semi-sweet chocolate – It must contain at least 35% chocolate liquor and less than 12% milk solids. Traditionally, bittersweet chocolate contains 50% or more chocolate liquor.
• White Chocolate – At least 20% cocoa butter, at least 14% milk solids, no more than 55% nutritive carbohydrate sweetener, and no chocolate solids other than cocoa butter.
• Sweet cocoa and vegetable fat coating – Made from a mixture of cocoa or cocoa and chocolate liquor. It must have at least 6.85 nonfat cacao solids. Optional ingredients include suitable vegetable derived fats, oils and stearins that may be hydrogenated. The name of the food is “sweet cocoa and vegetable fat coating” or “sweet cocoa and _______ oil coating”.
• Sweet chocolate and vegetable fat coating – Milk solids must be kept to less than 12%. Optional ingredients include suitable vegetable derived fats, oils and stearins that may be hydrogenated. The name of the product is “sweet chocolate and vegetable fat coating” or “sweet chocolate and _____ oil coating”.

Practically speaking, there is no difference. By FDA standards, both chocolates must contain at least 35% chocolate liquor (unsweetened chocolate). After this requirement is met, the individual manufacturers can add more chocolate liquor, as well as sugar, additional cocoa butter, milk solids, lecithin and flavorings, such as vanilla and vanillin (the addition of milk solids does not make these chocolates “milk chocolate” but instead is sometimes added in very small amount as a way to smooth out the flavor). In past years, it was safe to generalize that European bitter chocolate was referred to as “bittersweet” and American chocolate was referred to as “semisweet”. This is no longer a safe rule of thumb as more and more American manufacturers use the term “bittersweet”. Either can be used in a recipe, but depending on the type used when the recipe was developed, the outcome may be very similar to the original intent, or quite different. It’s a good idea to experiment to discover your favorite types of chocolate – and if a recipe specifies a brand or type (such as “extra bittersweet”) try to use it. Both semisweet and bittersweet chocolate may be referred to as “dark chocolate”.As found in the March 2000 Issue of Chocolatier Magazine

According to FDA standards, white chocolate is technically not a chocolate at all. It is a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, butterfat, milk solids, lecithin and flavorings. It contains no chocolate liquor and so gets its mild chocolate flavor from the cocoa butter. It also gets its ivory color from this most sublime fat. If you buy a product that is labeled “white chocolate” and yet it looks bright white, chances are it contains no cocoa butter but instead a mixture of vegetable fat, milk solids, sugar, lecithin and flavorings. Check the ingredients declaration on the package to see if contains cocoa butter. Such products also may be called confectionery or summer coating – the word chocolate will be conspicuously absent. White chocolate is sensitive to heat – more so than dark chocolate – and so when melting it, take great care. Keep the water in a double boiler between 110°F and 120°F. White chocolate chips are tricky to melt in particular because they contain the least amount of cocoa butter of any form of white chocolate.

Cocoa alkalization, also known as “Dutching” was developed in the 19th century in the Netherlands. Coenrad Johannes van Houten developed the process of treating the nibs with alkaline salts to neutralize the acidity and bitterness of the natural cocoa. Van Houten was Dutch, so the process became known as Dutch process, or “Dutching”. Common alkalizing agents include potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide and several other possible alkaline salts. The goal of alkalization is to increase the pH of natural cocoa powder and liquor. Natural cocoa powder and liquor has a pH of between 5.0 – 6.5 and is characterized by a strong bitter flavor and light brown color. The alkalization process darkens the cocoa powder to varying degrees, depending on the amount of alkali used to “dutch” the cocoa. The flavor of alkalized cocoa is quite different from natural cocoa as well, due to the increase in the pH from 6.5 up to 9 and slightly higher in some cases. The flavor of alkalized cocoa is less bitter and more subtle when compared to natural cocoa. Alkalization can take place either during nib processing, cake processing, or in some cases, liquor processing, depending on the manufacturer and the finished product requirements. According to the Code of Federal Regulations (Chapter 21 Part 163) the finished product’s ingredient statement should declare “alkalized cocoa”, or “cocoa processed with alkali” if an alkalized cocoa powder is used in a product.

Dutch processed cocoa, which is also called “alkalized” cocoa powder, has been treated with an alkali during processing to produce a less harsh tasting, darkly colored cocoa. This process is purely to control flavor and color. Many people erroneously assume that alkalized cocoa powder is “better” than non-alkalized or “natural” cocoa powder. It is no better, just mellower tasting and darker colored. For best results, use the type indicated in the recipe. All cocoa powder is made from chocolate liquor that has nearly all the cocoa butter removed under pressure so that it forms a press cake. This is ground into powder. While cocoa powder is considered low in fat (compared to other chocolates), it still contains 22% cocoa butter.

Chocolate bloom is the tell-tale sign that chocolate has not been stored correctly. The most obvious type of bloom, fat bloom, looks like gray-white blotches and streaks on the chocolate and occurs when the chocolate is exposed to heat during storage. Sugar bloom, which leaves the chocolate feeling rough, occurs when the chocolate is stored in damp conditions.

Store chocolate at cool room temperature in a dark place with good air circulation; the refrigerator is not recommended although if your kitchen is particularly hot and humid, it might be your only choice. Wrap it well to protect it from odors. Ideally, chocolate should be wrapped first in foil and then in plastic and stored at a constant temperature of 65°F and 50% humidity. Slightly higher temperatures and humidity are acceptable although the chocolate may not last as long. Stored under perfect conditions, unsweetened and dark chocolate will last for 10 years, and certainly up to a year in good home kitchen conditions; milk and white chocolate for 7 to 8 months.

The price of chocolate varies greatly from inexpensive candy bars to pricey truffles. Like wine, the price varies depending on the processing and quality of the original ingredients (a chocolate made from high quality cacao beans and other ingredients, with a greater percentage of cocoa butter and with more extensive refining during manufacture).

Each manufacturer usually has its own “code”. If you find a manufacturer whose chocolates you enjoy, get to know their codes. A swirl with two loops on it may mean caramel for one company and butter cream for another, but it will generally always mean the same the thing within a brand. Beyond codes, look for signs of nuts (large bumpy surfaces) or coconut (small bumpy surfaces). Hard caramels are typically square or rectangular and soft caramels are typically flatter. Chocolates that are wrapped often have liquid or softer centers (cherry cordials for example). Of course, some manufacturers provide maps to their goodies on the inside lid of the box or color pictures to help you identify what you’re selecting. But, the best way to find out what’s in the inside of your chocolate is to taste it!

Since people first started enjoying chocolate, it has held a special place in the culinary universe. It is unique among foods, used as an ingredient, a flavoring, and a foodstuff in its own right, and as such is hard to define. Eating a small piece of chocolate is a heavenly experience – cocoa butter melts at body temperature and so there is that moment when the chocolate is no longer solid, and not yet liquid. This sensation is irresistible to chocolate lovers. But there is more. Chocolate’s aroma, its ability to create “taste memories” and its indescribably rich flavor all combine to make it a food most people cannot resist, but at the same time cannot fully explain. And why should we?

The FDA hasn’t regulated this term and it can be confusing to the consumer. Though all Asher’s Chocolates are made with the freshest, highest quality ingredients, some ingredients prevent us from using the term “All Natural”. Research continues to be done in this area.

Manufacture of chocolate itself is a specialty industry. Asher’s makes the final confections with chocolate made to our recipe standard by Cargill, Blommer Chocolate Company and Barry Callebaut. We support the efforts of our chocolate manufacturers. Their statements are as follows:

Cargill: “The Supplier Code of Conduct sets forth our expectations that our suppliers conduct their business in a responsible and ethical manner and that they comply with all applicable laws, including employment and human rights laws. Specifically, our Supplier Code of Conduct forbids our supplies from employing or benefitting from child or compulsory labor.

Blommer: “Blommer is actively working with the cocoa growing community, local and U.S. government agencies, NGO’s and international commodity suppliers to educate farmers and their families on national guidelines on slavery and human trafficking. All farmer cooperatives participating in the education program acknowledge that they understand and will maintain compliance with International Labor Standards.”

Barry Callebaut: “In order to make a meaningful contribution to help address the challenges in cocoa farming communities, Barry Callebaut has joined forces with other companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments. Barry Callebaut works directly with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) on programs for members of our Quality Partner Program.”

We do not recommend freezing our confections as this can damage the chocolate causing it to crack and bloom. Our confections should be stored in a cool, dry place away from any direct heat sources including sunlight.

Fudge should not be frozen or refrigerated. It should be stored in conditions similar to chocolates. Wrapping pre-cut pieces in plastic wrap will help minimize moisture transfer (drying out).