Where will agriculture take you?

Saturday, January 28, 2012

A Sweet Tour

It may be difficult to believe, but this coco plant is what becomes the delicious chocolate treats we enjoy!

Producing chocolate requires many steps and machinery. In this stage of the process a chocolate "paste" is formed. Caution: I was given a sample of chocolate at each step in the making process. During step the chocolate is highly bitter. Further ingredients are added to the chocolate paste to overcome the bitterness and to enhance sweetness. The amount of vanilla and sugar added is determined by the quality of chocolate and if it is is a batch of dark, bittersweet or milk chocolate.

Yum, yum! After ingredients have been mixed in the chocolate tastes oh-so-sweet. The process of chocolate making gets messy, so chocolate makers try to always use flat surfaced objects when handling the product. This ensures for less waste and an easier clean up. 
The finished product is on display at a local chocolate shop. The handmade chocolates are a beautiful sight but taste even better! I recommend the peanut butter truffle.

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