Many people love chocolate! It’s easy to see why, with all of the health benefits it has.
Many people love chocolate! It’s easy to see why, with all of the health benefits it has. After all, many people tend to suffer from seasonal depression when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. Eating chocolate can help you feel better! Plus, it’s fascinating to learn how chocolate gets made!
Step One: Harvesting
The first step in chocolate production starts with the treat being harvested! Without cacao pods, we wouldn’t have chocolate as we know it. The pods mainly come from African countries, such as Cameroon and Nigeria. However, there is a lot of patience involved in the process. That’s because the pods need about five months to fully mature. Once they are ready for collection, the pods are cut down with machetes. Inside every pod is anywhere between thirty and fifty beans. The beans and pulp are extracted and put into baskets before being left to ferment.
Step Two: Fermenting
The second step of chocolate production is the fermentation process. The reason chocolate is fermented is much the same reason why this happens to other foods: it changes the flavor! The cacao beans are wrapped in banana or plantain leaves and then placed into the baskets we mentioned above. If the beans were left unwrapped, they would make a huge mess! Over five days, various microorganisms work their magic to help the seeds release their hidden flavors and slowly change into the chocolate we all know and love. After that is finished, the beans are then shipped to chocolate makers.
Step Three: Roasting
During this next step, the chocolate makers take over by roasting the chocolate. Think about how coffee beans are roasted before they can be made into a tasty drink; the principle is the same for chocolate. The beans are cleaned and put into containers before cooking. The roasting process lasts about two hours. This process also changes the color and flavor of the chocolate. The beans are then separated, and the leftovers are mashed into what are called nibs.
Step Four: Finishing
Finally, let’s look at the finishing touches on how chocolate is made. The nibs are heated until they turn into chocolate liquor (don’t worry, there’s no alcohol!). Milk chocolate only has around 10% chocolate liquor, while dark chocolate has about 35%. Since it’s not actual chocolate, white chocolate doesn’t contain any liquor.
A Wide Selection of Chocolate Treats from Wockenfuss Candies
Head to WockenfussCandies.com and browse our wide selection of chocolates and candies; we promise you won’t be disappointed! Wockenfuss Candies is one of the oldest candy makers in Baltimore. We opened our doors in 1915 and have proudly served the people of Baltimore ever since. If you have any questions about our wide selection of chocolates, please contact Wockenfuss Candies by calling 1-800-296-4414 or email info@Wockenfusscandies.com. When you’re not savoring our sweets, stay satisfied by following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!