Chocolate Ingredients
Chocolate has never failed to entertain people. Aside from its beyond pleasant taste, it can enhance one’s mood due to its nutritional contents. However, chocolate is not always healthy. When its processing takes too long, it is bound to lose its flavonoids which have antioxidant qualities that help fight free radicals that can cause certain types of illnesses.
To boost the value of chocolates all the more, manufacturers have come up with the idea of putting in ingredients that add up to their nutritional value and palatability. Such ingredients can be classified into two categories: common ingredients and exotic ingredients.
The most common ingredients are nuts and fruits. Nuts that are usually found in chocolates are almonds, cashews and macadamia nuts. Nuts are known to pack a lot of nutrition. Studies have shown that it can enhance the brain activity and it even helps in fat-burning, great for the figure-conscious people.
Previously, the only fruits used in chocolates are berries. As time passed by, chocolate has become more out of the ordinary and it now contains other fruits such as coconuts, oranges, pineapples, and even exotic fruits like durian. Berries are known for their antioxidant properties while the other chocolates add fiber and vitamins. Other common ingredients put in chocolates are honey, butter cream, and caramel.
Exotic ingredients that manufacturers are putting in their chocolates such as wasabi, curry, and even red chili pepper that gives a different kind of kick. Other exotic ingredients found in chocolates are fungi in the form of mushroom and plants like tongkat ali and even roses. Mushrooms contain vitamin B2 and it is proven to help in the production of red blood cells and calcium in the body. Tongkat ali is an organic drug which is proven to help in energizing a person, while roses contain vitamin C which is known to boost the immune system.
There are other exotic ingredients that are not listed here. So go ahead and try them out yourself!
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Categories: chocolate articles Tags: Chocolates, Ingredients, Recipe Ingredients
Chocolate Cake- No Flour, No Sugar
This chocolate cake has no grain whatsoever in it, or sugar for that matter. It has black beans (I promise it doesn’t taste like beans at all!), and xylitol and stevia for the sweetener. Recipe: Ingredients: 1-15 ounce can black beans 5 large eggs or 6 medium eggs 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 6 tablespoons unsalted organic butter OR extra virgin coconut oil 1/2 cup xylitol, and 2 tsp. stevia (or stevia to taste- brand potency really varies.) 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon water Preparation: Oven: 325F. Spray a 9″ cake pan with nonstick spray. Drain and rinse beans in a strainer or colander. Shake off excess water. Place beans, 3 of the eggs and vanilla. Blend on high until beans are completely liquefied. No lumps! Whisk together cocoa powder, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Beat butter with xylitol and stevia until light and fluffy. Add remaining two eggs, beating for a minute after each addition. Pour bean batter into egg mixture and mix. Finally, stir in cocoa powder and water (if using), and beat the batter on high for one minute, until smooth. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Cake is done with the top is rounded and firm to the touch.
Categories: chocolate videos Tags: Preparation Oven, Recipe Ingredients
