Chocorific - European Chocolate

European Chocolate

The Birth of European Chocolate

Christopher Columbus first brought cocoa beans to Europe in the 16th Century, but chocolate itself didn't become popular until the 17th Century. At first, European chocolate was considered a luxury, and therefore, only the upper class enjoyed it. but they didn't enjoy it the way you and I think. They drank it! That's right--it was referred to as European sipping chocolate. In fact later, the Europeans were the first to combine cocoa powder with sugar and melted cocoa butter. This produced a smooth, velvety texture that replaced chocolates with grainier textures that had been produced up to that point. By the end of the 19th Century, it was more accessible and very popular, as you can well imagine.

Differences in Chocolate

So, what's the difference between American Chocolate and European chocolate? Well American chocolate tends to be lighter and sweeter than European chocolate. In addition, the flavors are clearer and more defined. In fact, European chocolate is often referred to as "bittersweet" chocolate because it's not as sweet as American chocolate.

Another major difference between American chocolate and European chocolate is the amount of cocoa butter and sugar in each. In addition, butter and creams in Europe have a higher fat content. They also add alcohol to some of their fillings to help bring out the flavor. In America, 36 states ban this practice.

Most people have a preference towards one or the other, but it really depends on your palate, so there's really no way to say definitively which one is best. If you were raised on European chocolate, you might find American chocolate to be too sweet. Conversely, if you were raised on American chocolate, you might find European chocolate to be too bitter. Why not try to enjoy both?