The accessibility for better ingredients is better than ever, and most people want some of the best ingredients available for specific recipes. Chocolate is no exception. One of the most popular foods of all time, chocolate comes in many forms, and knowing the difference between cocoa and chocolate can help make the best cup with marshmallows for those soon-to-come fall and winter days.
When examining chocolate, there are two parts: Cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Cocoa butter gives chocolate its texture, and cocoa solids contain chocolate’s flavor. So cocoa powder removes an amount of cocoa butter, leaving less texture and a more robust flavor. You can use less cocoa to get a more robust flavor in a cup of hot cocoa, yet you will need to add a sweetener to adjust the bitter taste. For a more balanced taste, use chocolate.