Question

Describe the various stages in which cocoa beans are processed to make bitter chocolate?

Answer 1

Instructions:

• Divide the whole cycle into three stages.
• Explain each stage.

Solution:
The process of making bitter chocolate from cocoa beans can be broken down roughly into three stages:

1. The beginning
2. The intermediate stage
3. The last stage

Beginning:
Once the beens are harvested and transported from the farms, it has to be cleaned and dried properly.

Intermediate stage: This stage can be divided into 3 sub-stages:

a. Winnowing
b. Roasting
c. Grinding

Winnowing: Dry cocoa beans are cracked, and a stream of air separates the shell from the bean. This is called winnowing.

Roasting: The clean and separated cocoa beans are called nibs. The nibs are roasted in special ovens at temperatures between 105°C and 120°C.

Grinding: The roasted nibs are ground in stone mills until the friction and heat of the milling reduces them to a thick chocolate-coloured liquid. This liquid is known as mass. This contains 53-58 percent cocoa butter.

Last stage: The chocolate liquid solidifies into bitter chocolate cake on cooling.