Dark Chocolate Ingredients

What do we, the Mayans and the Aztecs have in common? The answer is our love for chocolate, the only addiction that is not harmful. Some like it sweet or milky, while others like it bitter. Since I'm a chocolate addict, I'm going to take you through this mouth-watering treat, wishing that you could be Charlie in the chocolate factory. Or would you want to be Willie Wonka and rule the kingdom of the most sinful yet scrumptious treat in the world? Of all the facts about chocolate, my favorite is the one that says that the ingredients of dark chocolate contribute to almost 500 flavors, no wonder everyone loves chocolate!

Ingredients

One cannot talk about this chocolate without talking about its health benefits. Black chocolate has no milk in it, this gives it a rich brown color. The content of sugar varies making it either sweet, bitter or semi sweet. We have often seen statements like 30%, 75% or 80% dark chocolate, these percentages signify the cocoa content in the chocolate, which attributes to the bitterness in the taste of the chocolate. It goes without saying that soul of all the ingredients in dark chocolate lies in cocoa. Without cocoa, there would be no chocolate. Then we have sugar, cocoa butter and vanilla essence as the other ingredients. Chocolate has a substance known as lecithin. Lecithin benefits our heart by breaking down the cholesterol, thus preventing heart diseases. The ingredients are packed with antioxidants known as flavonoids which help control blood pressure and protect the heart. It is known as one of the foods that lower blood pressure. Other than the body, dark chocolate also affects the serotonin levels in the brain. It is known to instantly uplift one's mood and induce a feeling of well-being and elation. Thank god for the aphrodisiac called chocolate! This is because of the presence of alkaloids like theobromine and phenethylamine, which release the feel good hormone in the brain. Amongst the many other benefits of chocolate, it is known to have anti-diarrhea properties. Another good news for all the girls out there, acne is in no way connected to eating chocolate, so munch away on as many as you want!

Preparing Dark Chocolate

I wish I had discovered the secret to prepare dark chocolate at home sooner, anyway, you don't miss out on this opportunity, so get in the kitchen and whip yourself your very own dark chocolate.

Ingredients

• Cocoa Powder, 2 cups
• Coco Butter, to taste
• Sugar, to taste

Preparation

To begin the process, you need to heat the sugar in a pan with one cup of water. Stir till the sugar melts, then add the cocoa powder and stir to avoid the formation of lumps. Add as much cocoa butter you like. The mixture should not be watery, if that is the case, you can add more cocoa powder. You can add a bar of a commercially available dark chocolate too. Pour the mixture into molds and refrigerate to make your own chocolate slab.

The chocolate that you get from the above recipe will satisfy your urge but I suggest that you leave chocolate making to the experts. If you really want to make genuine dark chocolate, be prepared to roast the beans and remove the husk from the cacao beans. Then you have to grind them till the chocolate liquor is extracted. After about 6 to 8 hours of heating and mixing cocoa butter and sugar, you will probably get somewhere near something that looks remotely like chocolate. Instead I suggest you make the effort and walk down to the store and get yourself a bar of 75 % dark chocolate, lick you fingers clean and think about the many healthy and absolutely yummy dark chocolate ingredients.