Objects of examination:
Sample No. 1- Bitter chocolate bars 72% cocoa “POBEDA”
Sample No. 2- Bitter (dark) dessert chocolate in bars “POROUS”
Sample No. 3- Bitter chocolate bars “ELITE 75% COCOA “BABAEVSKY”
Sample No. 4- Bitter chocolate in “Ritter SPORT” bars with a creamy filling “a la Mousse au Chocolat”.
Sample No. 5- Bitter chocolate bars 70% cocoa with pieces of cocoa beans fried in caramel “GOLDEN MARK” Russia. Generous soul"
Sample No. 6- Bitter chocolate bars with orange flavor “FREY” BOUQUET D’ORANGES
Sample No. 7- Bitter chocolate bars “LINDT” EXCELLENCE. 70% COCOA
Sample No. 8- Dark chocolate bars “ALPEN GOLD” Dark chocolate
Sample No. 9- Bitter chocolate bars “MELANIE” elite 90% cocoa
Manufacturer: JV Spartak OJSC (Republic of Belarus, Gomel)
Sample No. 10- Porous bitter chocolate bars “SLAVA”
Conclusions of the examination:
Sample No. 7 was the one that most met the requirements in terms of quality indicators.
No. 7 "LINDT" EXCELLENCE(French company Lindt & Sprungli SAS) is an expensive product, but it is natural: the chocolate contains no substitutes or equivalents of cocoa butter.
The following examination samples were slightly inferior; No. 10, No. 9, No. 5 and No. 8
No. 10 "GLORY"(Red October factory) - a little disappointing due to the slight deviation (0.5%) from the required amount of cocoa butter, but certainly pleased with the affordable price.
No. 9 "MELANIE"elite 90% cocoa is further confirmation of the popular opinion today about the quality of Belarusian products.
No. 5 “GOLDEN MARK” Dark chocolate bars 70% cocoa with pieces of cocoa beans fried in caramel Russia. Generous Soul" whose manufacturer truly revives the traditions of Russian chocolate, offering consumers a quality product.
No. 8 “ALPEN GOLD” Dark chocolate, of course, is not bitter, but in its “weight category” it will give odds to many domestic “dark” brothers.
The remaining samples have significant deviations from the requirements for this product.
Examination results:
No. 1 Bitter chocolate bars 72% cocoa “POBEDA”
Manufacturer: Pobeda Confectionery Factory LLC (Russia, Moscow region, Egoryevsky district, Klemenevo)
TU 9128-002-52628558-00.
Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier (lecithin), flavoring identical to natural (vanillin).
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 43.00 rub.
Examination results:a vegetable equivalent of cocoa butter was identified (7% of the total fat content), but its amount in the total weight of the chocolate mass does not exceed 5%. Therefore, the use of the term “chocolate” in the product name is legal. However, the sample does not meet the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. General technical conditions" clause 5.3.1. in terms of labeling: the presence of cocoa butter equivalent (vegetable fat) is not indicated in the composition. The content of total cocoa solids fell slightly short of the declared amount - 71.5%.
Cocoa butter content - 28.2%
Mass fraction of fat - 35.2%
Conclusion. Does not comply with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 regarding labeling: the presence of vegetable fat - the equivalent of valuable cocoa butter - is not indicated.
No. 2 Bitter (dark) dessert chocolate in bars “POROUS”
Manufacturer: OJSC Confectionery Factory named after N.K. Krupskaya" (Russia, St. Petersburg)
GOST R 52821-2007
Ingredients: cocoa mass, cocoa butter, emulsifier - soy lecithin (E322), vanilla flavor identical to natural.
Net weight: 70 g.
Price: 36.20 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST, however, its composition revealed the equivalent of cocoa butter in the amount of 3.7% of the total amount of fat, but its amount in the total weight of the chocolate mass does not exceed 5%. Therefore, the use of the term “chocolate” in the product name is legal.
The content of total cocoa solids corresponds to what is stated on the label - 58.1%.
Cocoa butter content - 30.5%, with the norm for dark chocolate not less than 33%
Mass fraction of fat - 34.2%
Conclusion. Does not meet the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 in terms of completeness and reliability of information for the consumer: the presence of a vegetable equivalent of cocoa butter in the product is not indicated. There is also confusion in the name of chocolate: on the front side it says “bitter”, on the back it says “dark”. The requirements for these two types of chocolate are different. The amount of valuable cocoa butter also does not meet the standard.
No. 3 Bitter chocolate bars “ELITE 75% COCOA “BABAEVSKY”
Manufacturer: JSC “Confectionery Concern “Babaevsky” (Russia, Moscow)
TU 9125-003-00340658
Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, emulsifiers: E322, E476, flavoring identical to natural “Vanilla”.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 40.00 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST, however, its composition revealed the equivalent of cocoa butter - 3.8% of the total amount of fat, but in the total weight of the chocolate mass its amount does not exceed 5%. Therefore, the use of the term “chocolate” in the product name is legal.
The content of total cocoa solids corresponds to what is stated on the label - 73.9%.
Cocoa butter content - 31.6%* (*since the product is made according to specifications, the state standard of 33% for dark chocolate does not apply)
Mass fraction of fat - 35.4%
Conclusion. Does not meet the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 in terms of completeness and reliability of information for the consumer: the presence of a vegetable equivalent of cocoa butter in the product is not indicated.
No. 4 Bitter chocolate bars “Ritter SPORT” with cream filling “a la Mousse au Chocolat”.
Manufacturer: Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG (Germany, Waldenbuch)
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, anhydrous milk fat, emulsifier (soy lecithin), natural flavor.
Filling: sugar, cocoa mass, whole milk powder, vegetable fat, anhydrous milk fat, cocoa butter, nut butter (hazelnuts), emulsifier (soy lecithin), natural flavor.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 55.30 rub.
Examination results:The composition contains the equivalent of cocoa butter - 10% of the total fat content, but in the total weight of the chocolate mass its amount does not exceed 5%. Therefore, the use of the term “chocolate” in the product name is legal.
The content of total cocoa solids is 48.7%* (*since the product is imported, the GOST standard of 55% for dark chocolate does not apply)
Cocoa butter content - 24.8%** (**since the product is imported, the state standard of 33% for dark chocolate does not apply)
Mass fraction of fat - 34.8%
Conclusion. Does not comply with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 in terms of labeling: the presence of cocoa butter equivalent in the product is not clearly identified, but is veiled in the filling. Such information should be placed in the same field of view as the product composition, with a clear separation from this list.
No. 5 Bitter chocolate bars 70% cocoa with pieces of cocoa beans fried in caramel “GOLDEN MARK” Russia. Generous soul"
Manufacturer: OJSC “Confectionery Association “Russia” (Russia, Samara)
TU 9125-011-43902960
Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, pieces of cocoa beans fried in caramel, stabilizer (milk fat), natural vanilla extract.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 83.99 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. OTU" There are no substitutes or equivalents of cocoa butter in the chocolate composition (the actual amount is less than 3% of the total fat).
The content of total cocoa solids is 73.7%.
Mass fraction of fat - 38.5%
Conclusion. The product meets the declared properties (Technical Specifications), as well as the labeling requirements in accordance with GOST R 52821-2007.
No. 6 Bitter chocolate bars with orange flavor “FREY” BOUQUET D’ORANGES
Manufacturer: Chocolat Frey AG (Switzerland).
Importer: Prodline LLC (Moscow)
Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, orange granulate 10% (sugar, orange powder 10%, acidifier: citric acid, natural flavouring), cocoa butter, emulsifier (soy lecithin), natural flavourings.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 85.50 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. OTU." However, the chocolate contained an equivalent of cocoa butter (4.3% of the total fat). The content of total cocoa solids fell just short of the promised value of 55% - in fact it turned out to be 53.3%.
The cocoa butter content - 28.1% - is low for dark chocolate.
Mass fraction of fat - 32.4%
Conclusion. Does not comply with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 regarding labeling: the presence of a vegetable equivalent of cocoa butter in the product is not indicated. The cocoa butter content is similar to dark chocolate rather than dark chocolate.
No. 7 Bitter chocolate bars “LINDT” EXCELLENCE. 70% COCOA
Manufacturer: Lindt & Sprungli SAS (France).
Importer: Van Melle LLC (Moscow)
Ingredients: cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, natural vanilla beans.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 100.00 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. OTU." The chocolate contains no substitutes or equivalents for cocoa butter.
The content of total cocoa solids is 75.9%.
Cocoa butter content - 40.1%
Mass fraction of fat - 40.1%
Conclusion. The product meets the properties stated on the packaging, as well as the labeling requirements in accordance with GOST R 52821-2007.
No. 8 Dark chocolate bars “ALPEN GOLD” Dark chocolate
Manufacturer: Kraft Foods Rus LLC (Russia, Vladimir region, Pokrov)
TU 9125-007-4049419
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, milk fat, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, E476), vanillin flavoring identical to natural.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 33.99 rub.
Examination results:
The content of total cocoa solids is 54.1%* (* taking into account the GOST standard for dark chocolate (at least 40%) - very good (!))
Cocoa butter content - 24.6%** (** with the GOST standard for dark chocolate not less than 20%)
Mass fraction of fat - 27.8%
Conclusion. The product meets the properties declared on the packaging (Technical Specifications), as well as the labeling requirements in accordance with GOST R 52821-2007.
No. 9 Bitter chocolate bars “MELANIE” elite 90% cocoa
Manufacturer: JV Spartak OJSC (Republic of Belarus, Gomel).
Importer: Belkonditer LLC (Moscow)
TU RB 37602662 622-99
Ingredients: cocoa mass, cocoa powder, powdered sugar, cocoa butter, emulsifier - lecithin E322, flavoring identical to natural - vanillin.
Net weight: 100 g.
Price: 36.20 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. OTU." The chocolate contains no substitutes or equivalents of cocoa butter (less than 3.0% of the total fat content).
The content of total cocoa solids is 84.7% with the declared amount of 87.2%
Cocoa butter content - 35.8%
Mass fraction of fat - 38.9%
Conclusion. The product as a whole lives up to its name “bitter chocolate”, however, a very slight deviation from the declared level of cocoa solids was noted. In terms of completeness of information for the consumer in accordance with clause 5.3 of GOST R 52821-2007, there are no complaints against the manufacturer.
No. 10 Porous bitter chocolate bars “SLAVA”
Manufacturer: JSC "Red October" (Russia, Moscow)
GOST R 52821-2007
Ingredients: sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, emulsifier E322, flavoring identical to natural “Vanilla”.
Net weight: 75 g.
Price: 36.30 rub.
Examination results:The studied sample, according to its identification characteristics, complies with the requirements of GOST R 52821-2007 “Chocolate. OTU." The chocolate contains no substitutes or equivalents of cocoa butter (less than 3.0% of the total fat content).
The content of total cocoa solids is 63.9% with the declared amount of 55.5 (!)%
Cocoa butter content - 32.5% with a norm of 33%
Mass fraction of fat - 35.6%
Conclusion. The product fully complies with GOST requirements. A slight deviation from the declared content of valuable cocoa butter was noted. Consumer information satisfies chocolate labeling requirements.
To summarize, it remains to emphasize that the main trick of dark chocolate manufacturers is to replace valuable cocoa butter. But it is possible to find out this only in laboratory conditions.
Recently, in search of healthier sweets, I have increasingly begun to pay attention to dark chocolate. Actually, I prefer milk, but often they add too much sugar and all sorts of harmful things to it. In addition, I recently became convinced that dark chocolate can be very tasty after trying a bar from the Rakhat factory. But this chocolate is not on sale in nearby stores, so I decided to buy Babaevsky.
I have loved the products of this factory since childhood, and are always associated with excellent taste and quality.
Babaevsky dark chocolate comes in several types, with and without additives. I chose a tile with a cocoa content of 75% and the sonorous name “Elite”.
Place of purchase: Globus hypermarket. The cost is 86 rubles, for a tile weighing 100 g. But you can buy it cheaper. Chain stores like Pyaterochka regularly have discounts on this chocolate.
The composition of the chocolate is quite natural, although, of course, natural vanilla could have been added to the “elite” one, rather than flavoring. Lecithin E476 is present, but it is found in almost all affordable chocolate.
cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, emulsifiers: soy lecithin, E476; Vanilla flavoring. The mass fraction of total cocoa solids is at least 70.8%. The content of cocoa products is 75% in dark chocolate.
This chocolate can be enjoyed by both those who are on a diet and those who are fasting.
The chocolate packaging is simple but beautiful.
The tiles also look very attractive. It is divided into even slices, each of which bears the emblem of the Babaevsky concern, an image of the mansion of the Abrikosovs, the founders of the factory.
But despite the clear separation of the pieces, the chocolate does not always break evenly.
The tile is hard, but melts quickly in your hands. My three year old son manages to get completely dirty before he eats a piece.
The chocolate aroma is very pleasant.
But the taste disappointed me a little. The first impression is that the chocolate is clearly bitter, even too bitter, despite the sufficient sugar content. Although there is almost no bitterness left in the aftertaste.
The chocolate is not very oily.
It’s quite pleasant to eat one or two pieces with a cup of coffee, but you don’t want more.
Still, Babaevsky Elite chocolate 75% is not elite at all. It's not bad, but its taste is far from ideal. I liked Astana chocolate better.
How nice it is to eat a slice of this favorite delicacy! It takes very little to improve the mood of adults and children. There are many myths and speculations about the health benefits and harms of this product. How is it really, who can eat chocolate without consequences?
The benefits of dark chocolate
A natural product without additives can be used as a medicine, if the dosage is not abused. The benefits of dark chocolate are based on the positive properties of cocoa beans. If a person consumes 20 grams of treats daily, this is:
- stimulates cerebral circulation;
- activates the production of the hormone of joy;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels;
- reduces the risk of stroke;
- reduces cholesterol levels;
- serves as a prevention of atherosclerosis;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- soothes cough (thanks to the component theobromine);
- strengthens bones due to the presence of calcium.
What are the benefits of dark chocolate? Consuming a small amount of it, unlike dairy, improves performance, health, and counteracts diseases. Using:
- protection against cancer occurs due to antioxidant properties;
- a stimulating effect is produced due to the presence of caffeine;
- aging slows down;
- the feeling of hunger decreases;
- depression is treated;
- weight loss;
- brain function improves;
- the body is saturated with vitamins;
- bleeding gums decreases;
- the deficiency of zinc, magnesium, chromium is compensated.
What are the benefits of dark chocolate for women?
Chocolate has a special effect on the female body. The ingredients of the delicacy activate blood circulation and fat metabolism, which is why the use of the product in cosmetology has been so popular lately. The benefits of dark chocolate for women are noted if you regularly make wraps, masks, and massages with it:
- signs of cellulite are eliminated;
- skin aging slows down;
- beauty is preserved;
- improves hair structure and growth;
- small wrinkles are removed.
This product is included in diets, promoting weight loss, and also has the ability to treat skin diseases and reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Eating a small amount of sweets is a positive remedy for:
- disruption of the menstrual cycle;
- the need to restore ovarian function after childbirth;
- disorders of the thyroid gland;
- the appearance of unpleasant symptoms during menstruation and menopause.
The benefits of dark chocolate for men
Recent studies have proven that the delicacy is also beneficial for men. If you consume a real, high-quality product little by little, you can maintain vigor and health for a long time. What are the benefits of dark chocolate for men? If you eat a treat with natural ingredients, you can:
- reduce the risk of diseases of the vascular system, heart - heart attack by 15%;
- prevent stroke;
- raise vitality;
- improve mood due to the formation of endorphins;
- increase male strength;
- increase libido;
- activate sexual life - is an aphrodisiac.
Is it possible to eat dark chocolate on a diet?
There is an opinion that the high calorie content of the product contributes to weight gain. This is true if you overindulge in the amount of treats you eat. A few pieces a day will only help you lose weight, because it contains substances that stimulate fat burning. Dark chocolate is used in diets for weight loss because:
- cholesterol and blood sugar levels decrease.
- metabolism accelerates;
- the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract improves;
- the elimination of toxins is activated;
- the feeling of hunger is prevented.
How many calories are in dark chocolate?
The product is high in calories and, if consumed in excess, can cause fat deposition. One tile contains a fifth of the daily requirement. The calorie content of dark chocolate depends on the percentage of cocoa beans indicated on the package. The lower the value, the more sugar it contains. This indicates that the calorie content of the product is higher (in the range of 400–610 kcal per 100 grams). For example, Elite, 75%, from the Babaevsky confectionery concern, has a nutritional value of 540 kcal.
Composition of dark chocolate
Domestic manufacturers make the delicacy in compliance with GOST, which describes all the components and their ratio in the composition. The label contains numbers - percentages indicating the content of cocoa liquor - it should be more than 55%. The higher the indicator, the better the quality, aroma and taste. Composition contains:
- cocoa beans, preferably raw. But more often during production, grains are subjected to fermentation, drying, roasting, and thorough mixing at high temperatures;
- sugar –20–40%.
Dark chocolate contains vitamins, calcium and iron, magnesium and phosphorus, and potassium. It contains carbohydrates, organic acids, monosaccharides, and dietary fiber. Undesirable components are ethyl alcohol, vegetable fats, flavorings. The required ingredients of the product are:
- cocoa butter, the amount of which should be at least half the weight of the bar, the main component is saturated fat;
- lecithin - helps create a homogeneous mass, indicated on the packaging as “E322 emulsifier” (vegetable or soy) or animal “E476 emulsifier”.
How to choose dark chocolate
To avoid counterfeits, you need to pay attention to a number of parameters when purchasing. How to choose the right dark chocolate? If the delicacy is sold by weight, the tile should crack and crumble when broken. Pay attention to the appearance:
- the color of the product should be dark brown - light indicates the addition of soy;
- surface smooth, glossy;
- there is no white coating - a sign of improper storage.
For factory-made chocolate, the characteristics are written on the packaging. GOST R 52821-2007 should be mentioned - compliance with state standards. A high-quality product contains a minimum of unnecessary components. The following must be indicated on the chocolate bar wrapper:
- high amount of cocoa in grated form - more than 70%;
- soy lecithin – “emulsifier E322”;
- cocoa butter – not less than 33%.
Price of dark chocolate
You can buy this bitter delicacy at your nearest store; its cost is low. There are slight differences between brands. How much does dark chocolate cost? Price in rubles:
What is the best dark chocolate in Russia?
Many domestic confectionery factories produce this tasty delicacy. Below is the rating of dark chocolate in Russia, indicating the manufacturer:
- “Loyalty to Quality” – “A Priori” 99%, 610 kcal, no sugar;
- “Russian Chocolate” – Elite bitter porous 70%, 526 kcal;
- “Pobeda” – Bitter 72%, natural sweetener, sugar-free, 460 kcal;
- “Russia” – Gorky 72%, natural vanilla, stabilizer – milk fat, 583 kcal;
- Korkunov 72%, classic, 568 kcal.
Babaevsky elite bitter chocolate
The Babaevsky confectionery concern has long and successfully produced products of high quality and excellent taste. Chocolate bar Babaevsky Elite 75% has a calorie content of 530 kcal/100 grams, the composition includes proteins, dietary fiber, carbohydrates, and fats. The product contains the following ingredients:
- grated cocoa;
- cocoa powder;
- sugar;
- cacao butter;
- animal lecithin E 476;
- Vanilla flavoring;
- A small amount of nuts is acceptable.
Dark chocolate without sugar Pobeda
A distinctive feature of this brand, produced by the Pobeda factory, is the replacement of beet sugar with a vegetable sweetener - stevia, which is indicated on the packaging. This is what it looks like in the photo. Pobeda bitter chocolate 72% has an energy value of 460 kcal and does not contain GMOs. The composition, in addition to proteins, carbohydrates, fats, contains the following ingredients:
- cocoa mass;
- cocoa butter;
- natural prebiotic (inulin);
- cocoa powder;
- emulsifier (lecithin);
- flavoring (vanillin);
- natural sweetener stevia.
Russian production, engaged in the production of chocolate products since the 19th century, is famous for its excellent quality. Chocolate factory Red October 80% has a calorie content of 550 kcal, prepared according to specifications 9125-003-51938624. The composition contains more protein than other brands. The content of cocoa products is high, but cocoa powder is in 3rd place on the list. There is more of it than cocoa butter, which is not a good option. The composition of chocolate, in addition to the necessary components, contains:
- soy lecithin;
- vanilla flavoring.
How to make dark chocolate at home
Do you want to please your loved ones with a dark chocolate treat? Make it according to your home recipe. The ingredients can be ordered and purchased in the online store at an affordable price. You will need 100 grams of cocoa beans and cocoa butter, 3 tablespoons of honey. Nuts, raisins, and vanilla can be used as additives. To prepare chocolate you should:
- grind cocoa beans with a coffee grinder;
- melt cocoa butter in a water bath;
- mix, add additives;
- cool, add honey;
- put into molds;
- cool in the cold.
There is a more affordable recipe for homemade dark chocolate, which contains the following ingredients: 50 grams of butter, 100 g of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of sugar. The delicacy is prepared in the following sequence:
- butter is cut into pieces;
- melted in a water bath;
- cocoa powder is mixed in;
- sugar is added;
- the mass is poured into a mold covered with cling film;
- exposed to the cold.
Harm of dark chocolate
A delicacy with excellent taste and nutritional properties, it is not useful for everyone, especially in large quantities. Why is dark chocolate harmful? The reason lies in the components:
- sugar increases the acidity of the body, disrupts digestion and metabolic processes;
- carbohydrates are stored as fat;
- Digestion of the product requires a large amount of enzymes, which causes problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- caffeine leads to stimulation of the nervous system, sleep disturbances, and heartburn.
This tasty and healthy product, if consumed in moderation, can cause metabolic disorders. Substances in chocolate cause the appearance of oxalate stones in the kidneys and an increase in the amount of urine. The product has the following contraindications for use:
- violation of metabolic processes;
- allergy to components;
- problems with high blood pressure;
- obesity;
- urolithiasis disease;
- gout;
- joint diseases;
- suffered a stroke, heart attack.
Video
Chocolate! Melting in the mouth and enveloping with its delicate sweetness and slight bitterness. Many women and girls can give up a lot to maintain their figure, but never chocolate! Find out how to connect your love for this dessert with the process of losing weight - which chocolate is healthier, how much to eat without harm, and what are the benefits of chocolate. Check out the nutritionist's verdict.
A participant in sacred rituals, a “sweet sin”, a remedy for depression and illness, a sweet drug – how much has been said about the chocolate we are used to over the entire history of its existence. Annual studies of chocolate are conducted, the harm or benefit of which is then questioned, then proven again. Invented especially for those with a sweet tooth! Meanwhile, the healing properties that this dessert has belong to only two components, and all other additives add harm and cause problems with the figure.
Let's take it in order...
Chocolate production
Different manufacturers use their own recipes and experiment with the composition. True chocolatiers keep secret the special nuances of production. But we will look at those stages that are the basis for chocolate production.1. Roasting cocoa beans
The fruits of the cocoa tree undergo cleaning and selection of ripened and ripe beans. The best ones are fried until uniformly brown.2. Refining
The stage of cooling the cocoa beans after roasting and dumping them into a bean machine, which grinds, refines, and removes the husk. Then thorough grinding occurs.3. Extracting cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is squeezed out of the resulting particles, for this they are subjected to heat treatment and sent under the press. The dry residue is separated, which is the cocoa powder we are used to.4. Adding ingredients
The following are mixed in different proportions, depending on the quality of the final product: - Cocoa mass;Sugar;
Cocoa butter (to save money, manufacturers replace it with cheap palm oil or trans fats, and the remainder of the cocoa butter is sold for cosmetic purposes);
Vanilla (according to recipe).
On a note! There should be nothing else in classic chocolate; read the labels and choose high-quality chocolate without unnecessary food and chemical additives.
5. Thorough kneading
The chocolate mass with added ingredients is mixed in special machines at high temperatures to evaporate moisture, obtain a homogeneous structure and remove excess substances.6. Tempering
The most important stage at which chocolate becomes an appetizing bar. Several alternating steps of cooling and then heating the cocoa mass to achieve the shine and hardness of the original product.7. Molding and cooling
After adding the filling (nuts, dried fruits, etc.), the thick mass is poured into molds and placed in the refrigerator.Composition of chocolate, benefits and harms
Chocolate differs in:- Gorky (black)
- Lactic
- White
Composition of dark chocolate
– cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter.
The high content of cocoa liquor and minimal sugar make dark chocolate bitter and can hardly be classified as sweet. This type of treat will tone you up no less than a cup of coffee.
Composition of milk chocolate
– cocoa mass, sugar, milk (most often powdered), cocoa butter.
The sugar content and high fat content make it sweeter and more delicate in texture.
White chocolate composition
– milk, sugar, cocoa butter.
“Sweet milk, but not chocolate” - true gourmets do not recognize this dessert as chocolate. The delicacy was classified as chocolate only because of the cocoa butter in the composition, which in many bars is replaced with lecithin, palm oil or butter.
Cocoa liquor contains up to 60% cocoa butter, which is the main criterion for determining the quality of chocolate. In cheap sweets that have nothing in common with real chocolate, practically no cocoa butter is added. But an inflated price will not guarantee the quality of the product.
On a note! When reading the bar wrapper, pay attention to the order in which the cocoa butter in the composition is indicated. If you see that it is placed after cocoa powder in bitter chocolate and after sugar in milk chocolate, and in addition to the composition there is no milk fat, palm oil, or thickeners, then with a high degree of probability you have a quality product.
From this it follows that real classic chocolate consists of only 3-4 main components. The presence of food additives, substitutes and analogues makes the product useless for health, and in some cases even harmful.
Which chocolate is healthier for your diet?
The benefits of chocolate come only from cocoa liquor and cocoa butter.Active substances - calcium, magnesium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, flavonoids, caffeine, theobromine, antioxidants - all this is contained in cocoa and has a positive effect on the biochemical processes of the body.
On a note! Cocoa is beneficial for those who are more sensitive to caffeine and cannot afford to drink coffee. Cocoa contains a lot of tonic components and antioxidants, just like coffee. Causes an increase in mood, helps to gain vigor and tone without attacks of tachycardia, which is different from coffee-containing drinks. It is useful to drink cocoa with milk during work periods in the evenings without fear of developing insomnia.
Please note that white chocolate does not contain all of the above. This means that there is no benefit in it and there is nowhere to come from - only pure sugar and fat.
The benefit of dark chocolate is its 2 times lower sugar content compared to milk chocolate. On the contrary, cocoa products predominate in the dark treat and provide a fortified product. Dark chocolate, in comparison with milk chocolate, differs in its iron content by as much as 5 times!
According to the composition requirements of Russian and European manufacturers, it is better to choose chocolate, be it black or milk, made in Europe.
Bottom line: You have already guessed that dark chocolate is preferable in all respects, but do not forget to read the label and study the possible benefits of dark chocolate.
How to choose quality dark chocolate?
Here are a few steps on how to choose dark chocolate:According to GOST R 52821-2007, for all manufacturers of dark chocolate there is a restriction on the content grated cocoa at least 55%, for cocoa butter the minimum value is 33%.1) Choose chocolate with a cocoa content of 75% or higher;
2) Do not trust both low and inflated prices;
3) Study the composition for the presence of foreign additives.
The problem is that manufacturers have the right not to indicate these percentages on the label. So, we are dealing with a large number of low-quality products on the shelves.
At the beginning of 2015, SOEKS ANO Soyuzexpertiza of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held analysis of samples for compliance with GOST of popular brands of dark chocolate taken from store shelves. The samples included both domestic and foreign products.
Participants in the experiment with violations of GOST:
- "Victory",
- "Autumn Waltz"
- "SladCo"
- "Amur",
- "Gold medal",
- “Frey” NOIR 85% CACAO dark bitter (Switzerland),
- “Ritter SPORT” bitter with elite cocoa from Ecuador 71% cocoa (Germany).
1 place– Manufacturer: “Red October”, Moscow Region, Kolomna “Bitter chocolate 80% cocoa”
2nd place- Manufacturer: OJSC “Babaevsky Confectionery Concern”, Moscow “Babaevsky Chocolate” elite bitter 75% cocoa”
3rd place- Manufacturer: Krupskaya Confectionery Factory LLC, St. Petersburg “Bitter dessert chocolate “Vernisage” 70% cocoa”
4th place- Manufacturer: CF “Volshebnitsa”, Moscow region, Lyuberetsky district “Golden Medal” bitter chocolate”
When is the best time to eat chocolate?
If you are at the stage of losing weight:
Time to eat any product related to fast carbohydrates (Why do we use chocolate? To become more cheerful, cheerful, kinder. To experience pleasure. But we don’t even think about what other benefits our favorite delicacy provides. We will not list the beneficial properties of chocolate now. However, we will discuss one of the healthiest types of sweet products - chocolate, which contains 75% cocoa.
Its most important benefit is that 75% chocolate is high quality. It retains all the good properties of cocoa beans, thanks to their quantity in the chocolate bar. After all, cocoa percentage is the proportion of cocoa beans used to create chocolate. That is, 75% chocolate consists of 75% cocoa beans.
This also means that the percentage of sugar and other components in this chocolate is 25%. This type of chocolate is called dark or bitter. People with a sweet tooth do not really like it, since in order to create sweet chocolate, only 25-30% cocoa and 70-75% sugar and other substances are used. Compared, for example, with regular milk chocolate, 75% chocolate is too bitter, a little tart.
For what purposes is 75% dark chocolate used?
Basically, 75% of chocolate is used for confectionery purposes. It melts perfectly without leaving any lumps. Gives confectionery a pleasant chocolate taste and aroma, with a touch of piquant tartness.
The calorie content of dark chocolate 75% is about 554 kcal. But this frightening figure for many does not prevent nutritionists from recommending this chocolate for weight loss. This chocolate, due to its calorie content, quickly fills you up. It is enough to eat a bar of 75% chocolate, and you will lose your appetite for half a day. There is even a special chocolate diet. Its meaning is to consume chocolate with breakfast, lunch and dinner. This way you won't have to snack between meals.
Now you know that dark chocolate with 75% cocoa content, which is quite high in calories, is actually a good friend for your figure.
The following chocolates are of high quality: dark chocolate “Elite 75% cocoa” from the Babayevsky concern, dark chocolate called “75% chocolate” from the “Fidelity to Quality” factory, a chocolate bar “Polar Expedition; 75% chocolate" from the Russian Chocolate confectionery plant. The chocolate market is overflowing with products, but the chocolates listed above have undergone strict control, and we can be confident in them. Unlike other chocolates.
Interesting fact
75% chocolate contains a minimal amount of chitin, a cockroach protein. Colonies of tropical cockroaches often inhabit cocoa plantations. As a result, insects are sometimes encountered when making chocolate. The higher the amount of cocoa beans in chocolate, the more expensive it is. And since it is more expensive, it is more thoroughly cleaned and tested for chitin content.
You shouldn’t give up your favorite sweets because of this. Chitin does not harm the body, is easily digestible and does not spoil the taste of chocolate.
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