Food and Cooking · Topic 10 of 54

Chocolate

Chocolate is made from cacao beans that are fermented, dried, roasted and ground. The Maya and Aztecs drank it as a bitter drink. Sugar and milk make it sweet.

💡 Fun fact

Cacao trees grow only in warm tropical places.

All about Chocolate

Chocolate is made from cacao beans, which grow in pods on cacao trees. The beans are fermented, dried, roasted and ground into a paste called cocoa mass. Sugar, milk and other ingredients are added to make the sweet chocolate we eat.

The Maya and Aztecs drank a bitter chocolate drink made from cacao long before sugar was added. Chocolate later became popular in Europe, where sugar and milk were blended in. Dark chocolate contains more cocoa and less sugar than milk chocolate.

🎮 Try it yourself!

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Real-life uses of Chocolate

Baking chocolate chip cookies
Making hot chocolate with milk
Learning about how crops are grown and traded

Frequently asked questions about Chocolate

Where do cacao trees grow?

In warm, humid tropical regions, mainly in West Africa, South America and Southeast Asia.

What is the difference between cocoa and cacao?

Cacao refers to the plant and raw beans. Cocoa usually refers to processed products made from the beans.

Is dark chocolate healthier?

It contains more cocoa and fewer sugars, but it should still be eaten in moderation.