Understanding the rich and complex world of chocolate involves familiarizing yourself with various terms and processes that define its journey from the cocoa bean to the final delicious product.
Here’s a comprehensive glossary of chocolate terminology to enhance your appreciation and knowledge of this beloved treat.
Bean-to-Bar
Bean-to-bar refers to the process where a chocolate maker controls the entire production chain, from sourcing cocoa beans to producing the finished vegan chocolate bars.
This method allows for greater quality control and the ability to highlight the unique flavors of different cocoa bean varieties.
Zotter Chocolates is renowned for its bean-to-bar production, ensuring that every step is meticulously managed to produce exceptional chocolate.
Direct Cacao Sourcing
Direct Cacao Sourcing involves obtaining cocoa beans directly from farmers, often through fair trade agreements.
This practice ensures that farmers receive fair compensation for their work, promotes sustainable farming methods, and enhances the quality of the cocoa beans.
Zotter Chocolates sources its beans directly from fair trade verified farms, emphasizing ethical practices and superior quality.
Roasting
Roasting is a critical step in chocolate production, where cocoa beans are heated to develop their flavor.
Different beans require specific roasting times and temperatures to bring out their unique characteristics.
For example, beans with a nutty flavor profile are roasted to enhance these notes without overpowering them.
Conching
Conching is the process of continuously mixing and aerating chocolate to refine its texture and flavor.
This step smooths out the chocolate and can last from a few hours to several days, depending on the desired outcome.
Conching is essential for achieving the silky, melt-in-your-mouth quality that defines high-quality chocolate.
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is the natural fat extracted from cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process.
It is a key ingredient in all types of chocolate, including white chocolate, which does not contain cocoa solids but relies on cocoa butter for its smooth texture and rich flavor.
Couverture
Couverture refers to high-quality chocolate that contains a higher percentage of cocoa butter, making it ideal for tempering and coating confections.
The term “couverture” is French for “blanket,” reflecting its use in creating a glossy, smooth finish on chocolates.
Tempering
Tempering is the process of heating and cooling chocolate to stabilize its crystals, giving it a shiny appearance and a crisp snap when broken.
Properly tempered chocolate is essential for creating professional-looking and tasting chocolate products.
Single-Origin Chocolate
Single-origin chocolate is made from cocoa beans sourced from a specific region or even a single estate.
This type of chocolate highlights the unique flavors and characteristics of the beans from that particular area often called “terroir.”
Zotter Chocolates offers a variety of single-origin chocolates, each telling a story of its geographic origin.
Fair Trade Chocolate
Fair trade chocolate ensures that the cocoa farmers are paid fairly and work under safe conditions.
This practice not only supports the farmers but also promotes sustainable farming practices.
Zotter Chocolates is committed to using fair trade ingredients, reflecting their dedication to ethical chocolate production.
Organic Chocolate
Organic Chocolate is made from cocoa beans and other ingredients that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Zotter Chocolates uses organic ingredients to create high-quality, environmentally friendly chocolate products.
Hand-Scooped Chocolates
Hand-scooped chocolates are a specialty of Zotter, involving layers of different fillings and flavors, coated in a rich chocolate shell.
These artisanal chocolates are crafted with creativity and precision, offering a unique tasting experience with every bite. Learn more about the process of making hand-scooped chocolate.
Chocolate Bloom
Chocolate Bloom refers to the whitish coating that can appear on the surface of chocolate due to fat or sugar crystals rising to the surface.
This can happen if the chocolate is stored improperly, but it does not affect the safety or flavor of the chocolate. Proper storage in a cool, dry place can prevent blooming.
Drinking Chocolate
Drinking Chocolate is a luxurious beverage made by melting high-quality chocolate into milk or water, offering a richer and more intense flavor compared to regular hot cocoa. Zotter’s drinking chocolates come in various flavors, providing a decadent treat for chocolate lovers.
Couverture Chocolate
Couverture Chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa butter, which makes it perfect for tempering and coating confectionery items. It is known for its excellent quality and smooth texture, making it a favorite among professional chocolatiers.
Cocoa Mass
Cocoa Mass is another term for chocolate liquor, referring to the ground-up cocoa nibs that form a paste and become liquid to be used in chocolate production.
Cacao Nibs
Cacao Nibs are small pieces of crushed cocoa beans that have a strong, slightly bitter chocolate flavor. They are often used in baking and as a topping for various desserts.
Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate is made by combining cocoa solids with milk powder, sugar, and additional cocoa butter. The milk gives it a creamy texture and a sweeter taste compared to dark vegan chocolate. Zotter’s milk chocolate uses organic milk from the Alps to achieve its exceptional flavor.
White Chocolate
White Chocolate is made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids but does not contain cocoa solids, which gives it its pale color and sweet, creamy flavor. Despite lacking cocoa solids, it still qualifies as chocolate due to its cocoa butter content.
Why Our Chocolate Isn’t White
Many companies make white chocolate using cocoa butter, sugar, milk solids, milk fat, and lecithin. Unfortunately, some products labeled as white chocolate are made with palm oil, vanilla flavoring, and other low-quality ingredients.
Zotter’s white chocolate stands out from the rest with 35% cocoa butter. This gives it a natural pale yellow hue to our white chocolate, reflecting the quality of the cocoa butter we use. We also incorporate premium Bourbon vanilla, enhancing both the flavor and the color.
Dark Chocolate
Dark Chocolate contains a high percentage of cocoa solids and cocoa butter, with little to no milk solids. It is known for its rich, intense flavor and is often considered the healthiest form of chocolate due to its high antioxidant content.
Want to Learn More About Chocolate and Experience Chocolatey Goodness?
Embark on a sensory journey with Zotter Chocolates, where every piece is a testament to the soulful essence of Bean-To-Bar, organic, and fair trade practices. Savor the results of 30+ years of passionate craftsmanship, as each bite whispers tales from Austria’s heartlands.
Let the unique and distinct flavors of our chocolates embrace your senses, reminding you of the love and dedication poured into every piece. Our diverse range boasts approximately 170 different varieties, offering something to satisfy every palate.
Will your next favorite be a hand-scooped chocolate, perhaps the Currant’N’Chili, with its unexpected yet harmonious fusion of flavors? Or will you be drawn to the exquisite dark, single-origin Labooko bar, a true purist’s delight? Join us in the pursuit of chocolate perfection, where every piece is a piece of joy, waiting to be discovered.
Disclaimer: All our products containing dairy don’t carry the USDA Organic Seal, as there is an exemption in the organic equivalency agreement between the U.S. and the EU when it comes to the use of antibiotics.
While in the US an animal that has been treated with antibiotics cannot be used in production ever again, the EU allows a certain wait time until the animal can be used again for the production of dairy.
It means that our products are 100% organic certified in the EU, but they are not in the United States. All our vegan, dairy free products are 100% USDA organic certified according to USDA regulations. Each product page has more detailed information on the ingredients section.