Types of Chocolate

There is such a large variety of different types of chocolate available, with an often  confusing array of qualities and filling and flavorings.

Here is a brief guide on what you should look for and how to enjoy chocolate at is very best.

Couverture

This is a high quality chocolate that many professional chefs use. It is mainly used in baking and coating.  

Couverture contains a high percentage of cocao butter, which give it a smooth texture, melts easily and has a shiny finish.

Available as milk, white and dark.  Use it to add a rich flavor to your chocolate dessert recipes.

Plain Dark Chocolate (or Bittersweet, Continental)

Plain, bittersweet or continental chocolate has a high percentage of cocoa solids, with little or no sugar added.  

It has a rich intense flavor and a dark colour which makes it perfect for cooking any dessert and chocolate cake.

Milk Chocolate

This contains powdered or condensed milk and a low percentage of cocoa solids.  This flavour is mild and sweet due to the high sugar content.  

It can also contain vegetable fat instead of the more expensive cocoa butter.
  
It is the most popular eating chocolate, it is not as suitable as plain chocolate for melting and cooking.

White Chocolate 

White chocolate does not contain any cocoa solids but gets it flavour form cocoa butter.  

It is sweet and the better quality white chocolate is quite rich and smooth.  

For color contrast, especially in cake decorations, white chocolate is unbeatable.

White chocolate must be melted with care, and does not withstand heat as well as plain chocolate.

Cocoa Powder

Is made from pure cocoa mass after most of the cocoa butter has been extracted.  This means it is lower in fat compared to other types of chocolate.

It is a very economical way of giving baked goods and puddings a chocolate flavor.

Chocolate Bits (Chocolate Chips)

These are small pieces of chocolate of equal size.  They contain a low percentage of cocoa solids than ordianary chocolate.  It is availabe in plain, dark, milk and white.

Perfect for making your favorite chocolate chip cookies recipe, chocolate chip muffin recipes and many more chocolate dessert recipes.