A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Chocolate is Made

How much do your kids love chocolate? It’s probably safe to say that they love it… a lot! Giving them a treat made from cocoa beans must be an everyday occurrence.

They’ll be even more delighted to learn about how this wonderful product is made. When you think about it, it’s not just a brown sweet, but the result of many different stages of production.

Let your child learn the ins and outs of the chocolate making process with these fun ideas for teaching them about the industry.

Talk About Where Chocolate Comes From

When you’re talking about how chocolate is made, it’s good to start at the beginning. Your child might already know that it’s made from beans, but do they know where they come from? It’s also important to talk about the different types of chocolate.

For example, sweet chocolate is the most common, but it’s not the only type. First, let’s start with the different types of beans that are used in the making of chocolate. – The cacao tree – This is where all our chocolate comes from. The tree itself grows in tropical climates and is native to Central and South America. It’s actually the only place where cacao trees are found naturally.

You’ll notice that most commercial chocolate is called cacao because it’s the raw product that hasn’t been sweetened or flavored yet.

• Criollo Beans – These are said to be the most expensive beans because they’re rare. The trees that produce these beans aren’t easy to find, making them hard to harvest. Criollo beans are mild tasting with hints of fruity and floral flavors. They’re usually used for making gourmet chocolate such as white chocolate.
• Forastero Beans – These are the most common types of beans used in the production of chocolate. They’re easy to find, so they’re also cheaper than the other types of beans.

Show How It’s Made

Explain that before the beans can be turned into chocolate, they have to be processed. The first thing that happens is that the cacao beans are harvested.

The trees only produce a small amount of beans each year, so the harvesting process has to be carefully timed. The cacao pods are then left to ferment. This is important because it makes the beans easier to remove from the pods. Next, the beans are dried out in the sun before being shipped off to chocolate factories across the world. The next step is to grind the beans up into a paste.

This can be done by hand or in a machine. Next, the paste is mixed with sugar and other ingredients to make it taste nice. The final step is to create the chocolate bars that we all love to eat. This is done by adding more ingredients and mixing again.

Go on a Chocolatier’s Tour

Are there any local chocolate factories that offer tours? This is the perfect way to learn about how the process works. If there aren’t any nearby, you can still take your child on a virtual tour online. You’ll find plenty of videos and pictures that let you learn all about the making of chocolate.

You can also find plenty of chocolate making kits that let your child make their own chocolate bars at home. Another option is to visit a museum.

There are plenty of museums that have chocolate exhibitions, so you can learn while you’re there. If you don’t have a nearby museum, you can find plenty of information online.

Have Your Child Taste Test New Chocolates

Your child might have a favorite type of chocolate, but they might also be interested in trying something new. You can use this to your advantage by having them taste different types of chocolate to find out about the different properties of each one.

For example, you can get two chocolate bars and have your child taste test them to see which one they prefer. Then, let them know about the differences between the two types of chocolate, such as the taste and price.

This is a great way to not only teach them about how chocolate is made, but also about how to make good decisions when it comes to buying it.

Help Your Child Become a Chocolatier!

If your child is really interested in chocolate, they might want to learn even more about it. There are plenty of courses that let children learn about the industry and make their own chocolate bars. You can find these courses online or at your local chocolate factory.

They’re a great way to learn more about the industry and make your own chocolate treats at the same time. Now that you’ve learned about how chocolate is made, it’s time to put all that knowledge to good use. Give your child a fun and educational way to enjoy chocolate and learn more about the industry.