Dark, milk, and white chocolates are delicious as plain bars or fancier confections. Each of these types can be an ideal gift for others or a decadent treat for yourself. Most sellers offer an assortment of dark, milk, and white, but they each have their own individual taste.
All three types contain cocoa, although in different forms and amounts. Cocoa comes from beans from the cocoa tree, Theobroma cocoa. Chocolatiers ferment, roast, and grind cocoa beans to make chocolate liquor and cocoa powder, and then add sugar, butter and vanilla to make dark or milk.
Dark Chocolates
Dark chocolate, also called “semisweet” or “bittersweet” chocolate, has a cocoa content of 45 to 80 percent, according to the University of Michigan Health System. It has a higher percentage of cocoa than milk or white, giving it the dark color characteristic of high-quality.
Dark chocolates have a deep flavor and is a potent antioxidant. In fact, one study published in the journal Circulation found that individuals who consumed it had more relaxed blood vessels and less harmful blood clotting than a control group of individuals who did not eat it. It has also been found that it may have heart-healthy anti-inflammatory effects.
Milk Chocolates
Milk chocolate contains chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, vanilla, milk solids and lecithin. It must contain ten percent chocolate liquor, almost four percent of milk fats and twelve percent of milk solids to be defined as milk chocolate. About 5 to 7 percent of the weight of it is cocoa. This lower percentage of cocoa and the milk in milk chocolate gives it a lighter appearance than dark. It is usually sweeter than dark, making it a tempting option for almost everyone!
White Chocolates
White chocolate is a very popular option in the form of white chocolate chips, white chocolate-covered strawberries, and white chocolate-dipped cookies. It has milk solids, sugar and cocoa butter. However, unlike dark and milk, white contains no cocoa liquor or powder. This combination of ingredients explains its rich, sweet taste and light color. It complements the deep brown of dark and milk.
Dark, milk, and white chocolates are each smooth, creamy and delicious, but the amount and proportions of their ingredients vary to give them their different flavors and classifications. Tweet us your favorite type of chocolate today!