Chocolate liqueur is chocolate in its purest liquid form. It is derived from the seeds of ground cocoa beans, which are then ground into a liquid consisting of cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Straight chocolate liqueur is about half and half, but can be modified by adding butter to change qualities like the texture of the chocolate. More cocoa butter means a higher amount of fat. Forming solid blocks of chocolate when cooled, the liqueur can be purchased plain or quality assessed to determine what type of chocolate to use.
Chocolate liquor is obtained from ground cocoa beans.
Bittersweet chocolate has the highest percentage of chocolate liquor of all. The type of liquor used is also very rich in cocoa butter, but has the benefits of being edible and suitable for baking or cooking other chocolate treats. Liquor of this type is often used to make chocolate mousse and ganache brownies. A lower content of chocolate liquor is used to make semisweet and sweet chocolate, such as for chocolate chip cookies.
Bittersweet chocolate liqueur is often used to make ganache.
Milk chocolate contains the least amount of liquor, so its flavor is not as strong as other forms of chocolate. The choice of a chocolate liqueur depends on how it is made. Filter systems break it down to separate the butter solids so that each can be added to a new mix in different amounts. The flavor is further modified by adding sugar to the mix.
Semi-sweet chocolate is usually used to make chocolate chips.
Chocolate liquor is often selected by manufacturers of other chocolate products based on the desired quality of their final product. An emulsifier called lecithin holds the mixture together for consistency, while the oils also affect the quality of the chocolate. Other flavorings may also be added depending on the nature of the chocolate and its intended use. More cocoa butter, and therefore fat, will be added to produce dark chocolates. The percentage of fat is indicated on the label of the chocolate liqueur or the product in which it is used.
Chocolate liqueur is a popular ingredient in chocolate mousse.
The choice of chocolate liqueur can also be made based on nutrient levels. Cocoa includes healthy ingredients known to lower cholesterol, as well as B vitamins. The antioxidants in cocoa also carry many health benefits. The butter to solids ratio can be chosen based on the sale of a healthy food product or one based on the healthy value that dark chocolate is known for.
