http://www.chocorific.com/chocolate/european-chocolate/ European chocolate is different from American chocolate in subtle ways. Which do you like better--European chocolate or American chocolate? en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 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? Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT http://www.chocorific.com/chocolate/european-chocolate/french-chocolate/ French chocolate comes in many different varieties and flavors. This could be because the production of French chocolate is highly regulated as far as what it is made from. en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.chocorific.com/chocolate/european-chocolate/belgian-chocolate/ Belgian chocolate is known for it's smooth taste and texture. A Belgian chocolate is quite a treat--and an excellent gift for a chocolate lover. en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.chocorific.com/chocolate/european-chocolate/german-chocolate/ German chocolate cake isn't from Germany at all. Learn about the origin of German chocolate here. en-us Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:54:49 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 http://www.chocorific.com/chocolate/european-chocolate/dutch-chocolate/ Dutch chocolate isn't the same as other types of chocolate. Learn a little something about Dutch chocolate here. en-us Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:57:17 EDT Fri, 09 Sep 2005 17:57:17 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0