Chocolate News
The smell of dark chocolate, demystified
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY Much like a fine wine, high-quality dark chocolate has a multi-layered scent and flavor, with notes of vanilla, banana or vinegar. Now, researchers report in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry which substances — and how much of them — make up this heavenly aroma. Although nearly 600 compounds have been identified in chocolate over the last century, only a fraction of them are known to contribute to the aroma.How to work with chocolate, and not have a meltdown doing it
Chocolate. It’s everywhere. We know how to enjoy it, but not all of us know how best to work with it in the kitchen. Chocolate is actually an emulsion, or a suspension of cocoa solids in fat, and that’s one of the main reasons cooking with it can be tricky. So you have to take a little care, especially when it comes to heat. Matt Dixon, co-owner and head chocolate-maker at Washington-based chocolate company Harper Macaw, shared a few tips on how to get comfortable working with chocolate.
ABC’s of Chocolate
Studies report that chocolate is good for your health but how and which ones? Cacao, cocoa, Dutch cocoa, and chocolate, what’s the difference? Health expert, Karen Owoc, breaks it all down and explains which ones to eat and which ones to avoid.
Tips on how to eat chocolate like a pro
Many of us love chocolate, but have you ever wondered how the professionals make sure that our delicious treats are up to scratch? If you are one of the people dedicated to teaching your taste buds to catch chocolate’s every complexity, award-winning chocolate maker, Antonino Allegra of Afrikoa Chocolate shares tips on how to taste chocolate like a master chocolatier.
Science Says Eating Chocolate Every Day Is Good for Your Brain
Forget about an apple a day. If you really want to keep the doctor away, try a piece of chocolate instead. Regularly snacking on cocoa-flavored treats can help protect your brain from cognitive decline, according to a review from the University of L’Aquila in Italy.