Photographs by Robyn Lee With recent interest surrounding whether chocolate is a health food, I am regularly asked: "Is chocolate a health food?" What's the deal? It seems like everyday, there's a news report about a medical study confirming chocolate is, in fact, good for heart health, cardiovascular health, and even diabetes. This is added to what we already know about chocolate: it doesn't really cause acne and a chemical inside chocolate actually inhibits the formation of cavities. Of course, the real answers are not so cut and dry....
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Photograph of a longitudinal conche at the Felchlin factory in Schywz, Swtizerland. As an invited guest and featured speaker at the 100th anniversary celebration for major chocolate company Max Felchlin AG in Switzerland last week, I was reminded that chocolate didn't possess the smooth, creamy texture we take for granted today until Rudolphe Lindt invented the conche in 1879. The Swiss are famous for producing chocolates with a very fine "mouth feel," achieved through a number of manufacturing secrets, last of which is "conching." Perhaps apocryphal, the creation story of the conche says that Lindt, well known for his chocolate manufacturing techniques, left his lab one Friday afternoon to go hunting for the weekend, but forgot to turn off...
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If you're not sure exactly how to approach fudgy brownies, Matthew Amster-Burton is your go-to guy. He answers his own comprehensive list of cocoa powder FAQs on Culinate. The article enlightens chocolate lovers about uses, measurement, fanciness, and Dutched vs. natural. A sample insight: Q: Is higher-fat or lower-fat cocoa better? A: You’re kidding, right? Related What's the best cocoa powder for chocolate cake? What brand cocoa powder is most chocolaty for baking? Your favorite hot cocoa recipe...
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