Hello, I'm a confectionery expert with a deep understanding of the composition and production process of chocolate. Let's dive into what chocolate is really made of.

Chocolate is primarily made from cocoa beans, which are the seeds of the cacao tree. The process of making chocolate from these beans involves several steps:


1. Harvesting: The cacao pods are harvested from the cacao tree.

2. Fermentation: The beans are removed from the pods and allowed to ferment, which develops the flavor of the beans.

3. Drying: After fermentation, the beans are spread out to dry in the sun.

4. Roasting: The dried beans are roasted to further develop their flavor and reduce their moisture content.

5. Winnowing: The roasted beans are cracked and the shells are removed, leaving behind the cocoa nibs.

6. Grinding: The cocoa nibs are ground into a paste called cocoa mass or cocoa liquor.
7.
Refining: The cocoa mass is further refined to create a smooth texture.
8.
Conching: This is a process where the chocolate is mixed and aerated to develop its flavor and texture.
9.
Tempering: The chocolate is heated and cooled in a specific manner to create a stable crystalline structure, which gives it a glossy appearance and a good snap when broken.
10.
Molding: Finally, the chocolate is poured into molds and allowed to cool and solidify.

In addition to cocoa, chocolate often contains sugar, which provides sweetness, and cocoa butter, which is the natural fat of the cacao bean and gives chocolate its rich, creamy texture. Milk chocolate also contains dairy products such as milk powder or condensed milk, which give it a lighter color and creamier texture.

Chocolate can also have various additives and flavorings, such as nuts, fruits, spices, and other ingredients that can enhance or alter its taste.

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White chocolate doesn't qualify as genuine chocolate because it doesn't contain chocolate solids (a.k.a. cocoa powder). White chocolate is typically made from a blend of cocoa butter, milk solids, sugar, milk fat and lecithin �� a fatty emulsifier that holds it all together.read more >>