Chocolate & Passion on Valentine’s Day Throughout history, chocolate has been a symbol of love. Perhaps one reason is that chocolate releases happy little chemicals in your brain and makes your heart crave luxury. Originally, the passion we have for chocolate as a society began in Mesoamerica. Since chocolate was highly-priced and prized among the…
If you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, the question “does chocolate contain dairy?” will pop up. Chances are, you have a sweet tooth and enjoy the finer things in life. And there’s nothing finer than luxury gourmet chocolate. Good news though; Chocolate can be dairy free, especially dark chocolate. Many luxury gourmet chocolate makers, like Forte,…
Chocolate is defined as a suspension of cocoa solids and sugar (and sometimes milk powder) in cocoa butter. When it comes to tempering, the crystals formed by the cocoa butter inside chocolate are important. Cocoa butter is what gives chocolate its shine, hardness, snap, and smooth mouthfeel. Cocoa butter is a polymorph, meaning it can…
Valentine’s Day in Japan: Women Give Chocolate Giving chocolate on Valentine’s Day is not only an American tradition. As humans, we feel drawn to anything with romance surrounding it. It makes perfect sense that each culture translates this holiday filled with red and pink, love letters, flowers, and sweets into something that everyone can celebrate. …
What is Chocolate Made of? To many, chocolate simply arrives in a colorful wrapper ready for blissful enjoyment. But what goes into making chocolate? You might know about cacao beans, cocoa powder, or even that brown cow that pumps out all the world’s chocolate milk! Before you jump ahead and start to savor that chocolate…
