Why Is Dutch Cocoa The Best In The World?

Video: Why Is Dutch Cocoa The Best In The World?

Video: Why Is Dutch Cocoa The Best In The World?
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Why Is Dutch Cocoa The Best In The World?
Why Is Dutch Cocoa The Best In The World?
Anonim

There are only a few people in the world who do not like to eat chocolate. And what is real chocolate made of? Of course, from cocoa.

Before we get into the essence of our topic, namely why Dutch cocoa is considered the best, it is good to introduce you to what cocoa itself is and what its varieties are.

Cocoa is extracted from a plant that has been named Theobroma cacao, which translated from Greek means Dish of the Gods. This plant was found only as a wild plant and was known to the locals on the Yucatan Island as early as about the 4th century BC. Gradually, the Aztecs, Olmecs, Toltecs, and Mayans played an important role in the process of extracting cocoa beans from their pods.

They are used cocoa only in the form of a bitter drink, which was mixed even with hot peppers. It was known as a powerful aphrodisiac, as it is today, and was so highly valued that it was used as a means of payment for some time. A real gift from the Gods!

But let's get back to the main topic. So it can cocoa to be usable, the beans must be removed from each pod, allowed to ferment, dried and ground. In this way a rather oily mass is obtained, the acidity of which is between 5 and 6 Ph. This is it natural cocoawhich has a rather bitter and astringent taste.

Natural cocoa
Natural cocoa

We turn the story around to 1828, when Corad Johannes van Houten, a Dutchman, invents a special press to cocoa is treated with potassium carbonate. Ie it is alkalized in order to reach a neutral Ph around 7. In this way the cocoa becomes sweeter, softer and acquires a much darker color.

So nowadays cocoa is divided mainly into natural and Dutch cocoa, the latter can also be found as European or Danish cocoa. About 1 kg of Dutch cocoa can be bought for about BGN 20-25. It is very rich in saturated fats and alkaloids.

Today, some confectioners prefer to use natural cocoa, but undoubtedly the Dutch has become a real hit since its inception. As it is today.

And can you guess what our favorite Oreo cookies are made of? It is from Dutch cocoa.

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