The best varieties of chocolate

Andrey Mosov, head of the expert area of ​​NP Roskontrol, doctor:

“Lead and cadmium are very toxic, they accumulate in the human body, have a negative effect on the nervous system, blood cells, the state of bones and internal organs. If you eat 50 grams of chocolate every day, then in a year you will receive 9 mg of lead. At the same time, according to studies, the average city dweller already receives about 20 mg of this heavy metal per year with all other products containing lead and from the polluted atmosphere. Such a dose is already enough for the first signs of toxic effects to appear: a decrease in mental activity, high blood pressure, headaches and memory impairment. That's why you shouldn't get too carried away with chocolate. "

All types of chocolate: classification by shape and consistency, method of processing ingredients, content of cocoa products. Brands, manufacturers and brands of chocolate.

Chocolate products are as multifaceted as precious stones. And the production of a noble product is almost a piece of jewelry. The multicolored wrappers that smile at us from the store shelves are used to expose chocolate products of different composition, shape and taste. A detailed classification of chocolate and an acquaintance with its best brands and trade marks will help you navigate this variety.

So, what are the types of chocolate

Let's start with the fact that chocolate is a product based on cocoa butter and grains of the cocoa tree growing in the tropics - cocoa beans. The fruits of the cocoa tree deserve a separate classification.

Types of cocoa beans by origin

• American;
• Asian;
• African.

Types of cocoa beans by quality

• Varietal or noble - have a pleasant delicate aroma and delicate taste.
• Ordinary or consumer - have a pungent aroma and a tart, bitter-sour taste.

Chocolate classification

Types of chocolate according to the content of cocoa products

• Bitter - contains at least 55% cocoa products.
• Classic or ordinary - consists of 35-60% cocoa products.
• Dairy - contains less than 35% cocoa products.

Types of chocolate according to the ingredients and the method of their processing

1. Ordinary - contains 63% sugar and 35% cocoa mass. It is made, as a rule, from consumer varieties of cocoa beans.
2. Dessert - unlike ordinary ones, it is produced only from noble varieties of cocoa beans, consists of a more finely ground mass, and also contains less sugar and more cocoa mass (from 45%), respectively, has a better quality and aroma.
3. Porous - made from dessert chocolate using a special technology: it undergoes special processing at variable pressure, due to which it acquires a porous structure.
4. Chocolate with filling - nutty, creamy, fruit-marmalade, jelly, fondant, creamy, etc. The proportion of the filling should not exceed 50% of the total mass of the product.
5. Special-purpose chocolate (dietary chocolate, for patients with diabetes mellitus).

The first three types of chocolate - ordinary, porous and dessert, are produced with and without additives.

It is interesting! The composition of dark dark chocolate without additives is considered a reference. It is a product made from cocoa butter, grated roasted cocoa beans and powdered sugar, with a bright aroma and pleasant bitterness. This type of chocolate is considered the most respected in the world.

A bar that contains any additives is inferior in value to pure chocolate, which contains more cocoa, which is the main quality criterion. Kernels of nuts, candied fruits, coffee, waffles, dried fruits are used as additives.

Types of chocolate with additives

1. Milk - with cream, condensed or powdered milk.
2. White - confectionery mass without the addition of grated cocoa.
3. Nutty - with roasted nuts: crushed or ground.
4. Coffee - with coffee extract or ground coffee.
5. With roasted nuts - chopped nuts and caramel.
6. With large additions: whole nuts, dried fruits, candied fruits.
7. With waffle crumbs.

Types of chocolate in shape and consistency

1. Chocolate bars (porous or solid) - usually rectangular.
2. Patterned - in the form of figures, hollow, solid or stuffed (eggs, animals, shells, etc.).
3. Figured - in the form of flat relief figures like coins.
4. Bars (porous or monolithic), with or without filling.
5. Glaze is melted chocolate, which is mainly used to decorate confectionery: cakes, ice cream, glazed curds.

The largest chocolate makers, famous brands and the best brands

Today, a huge number of brands of chocolate products are available to us, which, thanks to the efforts of thousands of masters, are constantly acquiring new forms and tastes. At the same time, there are companies, as well as individual brands, that occupy leading positions in the chocolate production.

The most famous chocolate companies

• Maestrani (Italy);
• Valor (Spain);
• Stollwerck (Germany);
• Hershey (USA);
• Craft Foods (USA);
• Valrhona (France);
• Godiva Chocolatier (Belgium);
• Nestle (Switzerland);
• Barry Callebaut (Switzerland);
• DeLafee (Switzerland).

The most famous chocolate brands

• Lindt @ Sprungli (Switzerland);
• Toblerone (Switzerland);
• KitKat (Nestlé, Switzerland);
• Cadbury (UK);
• Guylian (Belgium);
• Patchi (Lebanon);
• Mars (USA);
• Galaxy (Mars, USA);
• Ghirardelli (USA);
• Ferrero Rocher (Italy).

It should be noted that Russia has also succeeded in producing a noble product. Domestic chocolate is known all over the world. You can safely buy a product with a TU mark on its packaging: GOST 6534-89 "Chocolate" or TU "Chocolate": this is high-quality chocolate that meets all Russian GOST standards.

The best confectionery factories in Russia

• "Sweetheart";
• Russian Chocolate;
• "Victory of Taste";
• Babaevsky Confectionery Concern;
• "Russia";
• "Bogatyr";
• JSC "Red October";
• "Loyalty to quality";
• Rot Front OJSC;
• LLC "Odintsovskaya Confectionery Factory".

The most popular brands of slab chocolate in Russia

• Ritter Sport;
• Alenka;
• Nestle;
• Fruit & Nut;
• Alpen Gold;
• A.Korkunov;
• Milka;
• Nesquik;
• Russian chocolate;
• Spartacus.

Love for a noble product, especially of the beautiful half of humanity, inspires chocolate masters to new feats every day. This is how real masterpieces are born - exquisite types of chocolate, designed to delight those who know a lot about products made from cocoa beans.

Rating of the best chocolate in the world

Chocolate is not just a cocoa bean confection, but a product of happiness. It is believed that the delicacy has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, stimulates the production of serotonin, improving mood, and, thanks to the presence of glucose, improves mental and physical performance. The main thing that you should not forget about when eating chocolate is a sense of proportion.

9th place. Vosges (USA). The American manufacturer is famous for the combination of incongruous tastes. For example, milk chocolate with pieces of smoked bacon is very popular; the rich assortment also includes fillings in the form of mushrooms, wasabi, curry sauce, chili peppers, etc. (TheFoodJunk)

8th place. Soma (Canada). The history of the company dates back to 2003. The manufacturer has gained popularity due to the high quality and variety of its products. (jara_mae)

7th place. Lindt (Switzerland). The history of the company dates back to 1845. The manufacturer is renowned for its premium high quality chocolate; Lindt products are represented in the markets of 100 countries around the world. (Live4Soccer (L4S))

6th place. Scharffen Berger (USA). The manufacturer is famous for its elite chocolate with a high cocoa content and complexity of the recipe. (John Loo)

5th place. Michel Cluizel (France). The manufacturer is famous for the so-called "noble ingredients", which are perfectly matched and meeting all the criteria of the highest quality chocolate components; Michel Cluizel products are represented in the markets of 40 countries of the world.(Floccinaucinihilipilification)

4th place. Valrhona (France). The history of the company dates back to 1922. The assortment consists mainly of dark chocolate. For the production of the product, different varieties of cocoa beans, different roasting methods and a long process of conching chocolate masses are used. (Everjean)

3rd place. Bovetti (France). The history of the company dates back to 1994. Bovetti's assortment includes more than 150 items; there are very original symbiosis of tastes; for example, chocolate with flower petals (violets, lavender, roses), fruits (whole pieces of banana, orange, cherry), spices (mustard, rosemary). (Coralie Ferreira

2nd place. Leonidas (Belgium). The history of the company dates back to 1913. Today Leonidas is considered one of the best chocolate manufacturers in Europe. (Purrrpl_Haze)

1 place. Amedei (Italy). The history of the company dates back to 1990. Amedei products have been repeatedly recognized as the best in the world. Some Amedei items are the most expensive in the world today. (Sarah R)

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• Category: food, ratings