Chocolate

Chocolate
Many may say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I think there is something in the world that may be even greater. That something is silky, smooth, and oh so yummy, and I call that chocolate. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate........ that word just brings a smile to my face. Milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, or swirled chocolate, it comes in so many shapes and sizes.
I can get pure chocolate all by itself or I can have it mixed with nuts, formed into M&M’s or just get an Almond Joy. Chocolate is one of those stress relievers, one of those experiences that must be repeated often, and one of those things in life that could be traded as it was gold. Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world.
Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays: chocolate bunnies and eggs are popular on Easter, chocolate coins on Hanukah, Santa Claus and other holiday symbols on Christmas, and chocolate hearts or chocolate in heart-shaped boxes on Valentine’s Day. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate. Around three quarters of the world's cacao bean production takes place in West Africa.
Cocoa mass usually is liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients, it is called chocolate liquor. The liquor also may be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Unsweetened baking chocolate (bitter chocolate) contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat, and sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids.
White chocolate is formed from a mixture of sugar, cocoa butter and milk solids. Although its texture is similar to milk... [continues]

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