| Valentine ’ s Day |
Different types of chocolate to give this Valentine ’ s Day
Chocolate is a popular gift on Valentine ’ s Day . According to the Nielsen Company , Valentine ’ s Day is the third busiest holiday for chocolate sales , following Halloween and Easter .
More than 70 million pounds of chocolate are purchased each year and offered as Valentine ’ s Day gifts . Chocolate connoisseurs can learn more about the different types of chocolate to find the one their loved one will find most appealing .
• Milk chocolate : Milk chocolate is produced with low levels of cocoa and high amounts of sugar and milk . In addition , it contains cocoa butter and chocolate liquor . Milk chocolate often is made up of 3.39 percent butterfat , 10 percent chocolate liquor and 12 percent milk solids .
• Semi-sweet chocolate : Semi-sweet chocolate is largely an American creation and term . It contains at least 35 percent cocoa solids and is darker than sweet dark chocolate . The amount of sugar varies across brands .
• Bittersweet chocolate : Bittersweet chocolate typically contains at least 50 percent chocolate liquor , but some will have between 70 and 80 percent . The sugar content is unregulated , so one
manufacturer ’ s bittersweet may not be as bitter as another ’ s .
• Baking chocolate : Also known as bitter chocolate , this is pure chocolate liquor made from ground cocoa beans . It may look like chocolate , but it is used in recipes where it is combined with sugar . It should not be eaten on its own .
• White chocolate : White chocolate has cocoa butter but no chocolate liquor or cocoa products . Therefore , it is not truly chocolate .
• Candy coating chocolate : This has no cocoa butter and uses vegetable or palm oils in the recipe . It often is used in dipping or enrobing because of its excellent melting ability .
• Couverture chocolate : In the United States , the ideal standard for couverture chocolate involves a minimum of 35 percent cocoa solids and 31 percent cocoa butter . This chocolate is tempered and used when coating ingredients or dipping items in chocolate .
Chocolate shines on Valentine ’ s Day . Gift givers can select a chocolate variety that appeals most to their recipients ’ palates .
90 Winter 2022 Thomasville Scene