Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is also sometimes called black chocolate or plain chocolate. They are produced by adding sugar and fat to cocoa. They have lesser milk than the milk chocolates and sometimes even contain no milk at all. In the US, they have at least 15% chocolate liquor. In Europe, they must contain at least 35% cocoa solids.

These chocolates can be eaten as they are or can also be used as gourmet ingredients. They come in three types.

Semi-sweet dark chocolate is known for its gourmet purposes. This chocolate has half as much as sugar as cocoa.

Bitter-sweet dark chocolate is made of chocolate liquor with some sugar, more vanilla, cocoa butter and sometimes the addition of lecithin. Compared to semi-sweet chocolate, it has more liquor and less sugar. It can also be used for baking.

Couverture is cocoa butter rich chocolate. It is counted among the popular brands that are used by professional pastry chefs.

Amongst the popular brands of dark chocolates are the following: Valrhona Noir Extra Amer with 85% cacao, chocolove XOXOX Extra Strong with 77% cacao, Green and Black's with 85% cacao, Dagoba Eclipse with 87% cacao, Scharffen Berger Extra Dark with 82% cacao and Ecuador with 85% cacao.

Of course, one's preference is very subjective. These brands are highly recommended for their proven unique tastes.

Besides the fact that dark chocolates are great wine accompaniments, they also have healthy features. They contain antioxidants, courtesy of flavonoids, which protect the body from harmful radicals that cause aging. In this manner, they also protect the heart from diseases. And for those watching the carbohydrate values, these chocolates' servicing size are usually high. As a guide, there's normally a listing at the back of the chocolate bar.

Some of these chocolates can only be found in high end groceries or select stores. Fortunately, Serenata has them available and easily delivered to anyone's doorstep.