How is chocolate made out of cacao beans?
Chocolate comes from cacao beans, which grow inside fruit produced by the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao). Manufacturers turn the cacao beans into cocoa powder or chocolate liquor for baking, or into white, milk or dark chocolate for candy-making.HarvestingHarvesters cut the cacao pods off the tree, crack them open and remove the beans. The beans ferment, dry and are shipped to a processor.RoastingAfter an inspector ensures the beans are in good condition, they are cleaned and roasted. According to the World Cocoa Foundation, “chocolate manufacturers prefer to roast the beans before shelling them,” while cocoa processors prefer to shell the beans and then roast the inside, which is called the nib.Chocolate LiquorAfter shelling and roasting the beans, the manufacturer grinds the nibs; the resulting paste is called cocoa liquor, or chocolate liquor, and it serves as the basis for cocoa products.Making CocoaTo make cocoa, a large press removes the majority of the cocoa butter from the liquor
