Whats the difference between dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate?
Milk chocolate is a mixture of cocoa butter, milk, sweeteners, flavorings, and chocolate liquor. Despite its name, chocolate liquor is alcohol free; it’s made by grinding the center of the cocoa bean into a liquid after roasting. All milk chocolate made in the United States must contain at least 10 percent chocolate liquor and 12% whole milk, according to CMA. Dark chocolate has fewer ingredients and more cocoa than milk chocolate. It’s made with chocolate liquor, sweeteners, and cocoa butter. It must contain at least 35% chocolate liquor but often the amount is much higher. White chocolate contains no cocoa solids, which explains its white color. It’s made with sugar, cocoa butter, milk, and flavorings. Read the label before you buy. Some white chocolate is made with vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter. What does “cacao” on chocolate products mean? The phrase “cacao” refers to the total percentage of ingredients, by weight, which comes from the cocoa bean, including chocolate liquor
