Dark chocolate has been reported to carry a lot of health benefits - that's why it has become quite popular in the recent years. If you're not a chocolate connoisseur or expert, you may think that dark chocolate is simply that which appears in the darkest color of them all. But there are other factors to look for to ensure you are getting the best of its type.
First and obvious of all, it has to be dark. Cocoa content in dark chocolate is the highest, so it should appear in a very dark shade of brown or even near black. It should contains no milk at all, and most only come with sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter and sometimes with vanilla to add some flavour.
For dark chocolate to carry the benefits, it has to have at least 70 percent cocoa content. It's better when cocoa content is even higher. The flavonoids in cocoa are rich in antioxidants, and the higher cocoa percentage goes, the more bitter it gets.
Together with its dark looks, the chocolate has to smell dark, too. But how can anything smell dark really? The real dark variety with high cocoa content comes with a distinct pungent and fruity smell. Cocoa comes from the cacao plant which is classified as a fruit, and this distinct smell comes like a slight stench of the fruit about to go bad. If you've picked chocolate that comes with this distinct smell, then you've made the right choice.
Lastly, the best way to find out if you've chosen the right type of dark chocolate is to taste it. Buy a small piece to test it out. Some chocolate shops even offer free samples to their customers. Look for one that comes bitter without the sweetness. The best ones come with a slightly sour taste that blends with the bitterness.
Looks fantastic!!!
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