Recipes, articles, tips and tricks for chocolate making at home
Chocolate is a delicious and indulgent treat that appeals to young and old. It’s been around for centuries, slowly transforming over the years as it transitioned from culture to culture. In this CocoTerra blog, we’re going to take a look at everything chocolate: how it’s made, where it comes from, chocolate science, how to properly store your chocolate (so you don’t throw out those old Easter eggs unnecessarily) to curiosities like “Is there such thing as vegan chocolate?”, and let’s not forget to mention that there will be lots of chocolate recipes! We’ve got you covered (in chocolate) from top to bottom!
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Can sugar bloom be reversed?
It's the question of the year.... Can you bring chocolate back to its original deliciousness after sugar bloom strikes? Keep reading to find out if that white, dull coating caused by sugar crystals on the surface of your chocolate can be fixed! What is sugar bloom?...
The latest cacao virus: CSSV threatens global chocolate production
Cacao trees, which provide the key ingredient in chocolate, are under threat from a serious disease: Cacao Swollen Shoot Virus (CSSV). This virus mainly affects cacao farms in West Africa, where about 70% of the world’s cocoa is grown. Like Witches’ Broom and...
Chocolate 101: Making chocolate from scratch
Making something from scratch might seem hard at first. It takes time, effort, and probably some research and experimentation. But with passion, and a little patience, even complex processes can become second-nature. And when it comes to making something as...
Tools used in chocolate making: Grind gauge & hegman gauge
Have you ever wondered how they measure chocolate texture? One excellent tool for this task is called a grind gauge or grindometer, also known as a Hegman gauge. It's a steel plate with a precisely etched surface. Chocolate samples are spread over the plate to analyze...
What does % cocoa mean on chocolate bars?
Have you ever wondered what the percentage means on the front of a chocolate bar? From the rich, velvety notes of milk chocolate to the bold, intense flavors of dark chocolate, at a high level, the percentage represents cocoa composition, but it’s probably not what...
Stages of cocoa fermentation
Did you know that chocolate is a fermented food? If you didn't, well, yes it is! Chocolate undergoes a fermentation process similar to that of wine. Fermentation is crucial in chocolate making as it significantly reduces bitterness and astringency in the cocoa beans...