Not to be confused with the white-flavored or vanilla-flavored coating that is often found in sub-par products. Many ask, “Is white chocolate, chocolate?” The answer is yes because it contains ingredients from the cacao bean. According to their definition, in order for something to be considered white chocolate it must contain at least 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk, and no more than 55% sugar.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets standards of classification for each kind of chocolate. The cocoa solids are what give chocolate it’s dark brown color and chocolatey taste that we all know and love. White chocolate is unique because it does not contain any cocoa solids. Good quality white chocolate will have a rich, soft, and creamy texture - a characteristic that comes from its cocoa butter base and high sugar and milk content.

White chocolate often has a flavor profile that can be described as predominately sweet, with bold notes of sweetened condensed milk and vanilla. These ingredients give white chocolate its sweet vanilla aroma.

It is made by combining sugar, cocoa butter, milk, vanilla, and lecithin (an emulsifier that helps the ingredients blend together). White chocolate is easy to identify because of its cream or ivory color. Despite the name, chocolate liquor does not actually contain alcohol. Under high pressure, this paste separates into cocoa butter and cocoa powder (also called cocoa solids). Chocolate liquor is 100% cocoa, with no added ingredients. When heated, this paste turns to a liquid that can be formed into bars or chips. The nibs are finely ground to a smooth texture. This thick, dark brown paste is created from cacao nibs, the inside of the cocoa bean. Chocolate LiquorĬhocolate liquor, sometimes referred to as unsweetened chocolate, is the base of all types of chocolate. Read on to learn about the varying flavors, compositions, and characteristics of each kind of chocolate.

But, how much do you actually know about the different kinds of chocolate? Do you know what differentiates semisweet from bittersweet? Or why white chocolate is softer than milk chocolate? It all comes down to how the chocolate is made and what ingredients are used to make it. Everyone has their favorite, go-to flavor. There are three main types of chocolate - white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate.

Rose diagram chocolate flavor