Unlike some opinions, dark chocolate is very nutritious and is considered healthy. Although there are many producers of dark chocolate, healthiness is a prerequisite for production.
This guide will help you learn all you need to know about selecting the best dark chocolate.
What is Dark Chocolate?
Dark Chocolate is made by adding fat and sugar to cocoa, it is without the milk found in milk chocolate. The determinant of dark chocolate is the cocoa content, a chocolate will be regarded as dark chocolate when it has 70% cocoa or above.
Dark chocolate is popularly known as an antioxidant and research shows that it has a greater effect than most antioxidants found in fruits. It has also been observed that eating dark chocolate can help cause a reduction in heart diseases and can help improve brain function.
Components of Dark Chocolate
Regarding the reports published by the Harvard School of Public Health, dark chocolate is comprised of about 50-90% cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar. It is considered a good source of fiber, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, copper, and other minerals.
Benefits of Dark Chocolate
According to Authority Nutrition, there are many benefits of eating dark chocolates but here are a few notable ones:
Types of Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate can have different varieties based on the percentage of cocoa solids in each bar. Generally they are classified into three broad categories:
The higher the amount of cocoa present in the dark chocolate bar, the greater the bitterness. They also contain other ingredients that add flavors and make dark chocolate enjoyable.
A Guide to Buying Dark Chocolate
Everyone has to be careful when buying dark chocolate, this is important because there are ingredients that shouldn’t be present in it. This guide will let you know everything about the best dark chocolate to buy.
THINGS YOU SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR WHILE BUYING DARK CHOCOLATE
The best dark chocolate has only a few ingredients, most dark chocolate has cocoa or chocolate liquor (cocoa in solid or semi-solid form) as its main and first ingredient, then there are others like cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs.
Although some other ingredients are added to improve the flavor, appearance, and longevity, some of these ingredients may have negative effects. Here are a few of the ingredients that should be checked:
- Sugar
Sugar is added to dark chocolate to improve its taste and is generally an important component. It’s very rare to find dark chocolate that doesn’t have sugar.
- Milk
High-quality dark chocolate should not have any milk added as an ingredient, except milk fat. Milk fat is butter from milk that carries soluble vitamins. Chocolate makers sometimes add milk fat to soften dark chocolate and add a little bit of flavor.
- Lecithin
This is an optional ingredient, but it’s added to some dark chocolate to serve as an emulsifier. It helps to keep the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating and blends the flavors. It’s used in very small amounts so if you choose dark chocolate without lecithin, it’s still of the best quality.
- Flavorings
The most common flavoring in dark chocolate is vanilla, flavourings are used to improve the taste of dark chocolate, although it’s hard to differentiate between natural and artificial flavors. It’s advised to choose organic dark chocolate so you can be sure the flavors are natural.
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Trans Fat
The consumption of trans fats are generally bad for the heart, dark chocolate should not contain trans fats, although some manufacturers add them to improve shelf life and consistency. While checking the ingredients list of your dark chocolate, look out for hydrogenated or partly hydrogenated oil. If it’s present then the chocolate bar contains trans fats.
If you want the best dark chocolate, look out for these certain characteristics:
Reasons Why You Should Choose Dark Chocolate
A lot of people wonder why they should eat dark chocolate, if after all the healthy benefits listed you still don’t think you should eat dark chocolate, here are more reasons why you should give it a try:
Dark Chocolate and its Relationship with Health
Dark chocolate is known as the healthiest of all chocolates, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate guidelines also authorize that it’s great to be eaten in moderation and can be an after-dinner snack.
One major benefit and influence of buying and eating dark chocolate is the health benefits. This comprehensive guide to dark chocolate will be incomplete without emphasizing the relationship between health and dark chocolate.
The major reason that a lot of people consume dark chocolate is because of the health privileges. According to everyday health, taking a bite of dark chocolate every day is good for your heart, but it can also alleviate stress and lower the risk of diabetes.
Conclusion
At Kron Chocolatier we’re very intentional about our chocolate making and we ensure our productions are done with the best and right proportions of ingredients.
This is why you can be sure about every chocolate purchase from our store. You can also enjoy supreme chocolate in different forms and sizes. All you have to do is check out our menu and order online.
