05/27/2024
What is cocoa powder anyway?!? 👇
Have you ever pondered this question? We have - many times. If you’ve ever browsed the baking aisle at the grocery store, you know there are many different versions of cocoa powder on the shelves. 🍫 To be exact, there are 8 (yes, you read that correctly!) different types of cocoa powder on the market. We’ll delve into that in a bit... so keep reading.
Back to our original question: What exactly is cocoa powder? 🍫 Cocoa powder is made by grinding dried and roasted cacao beans into a fine powder after the cocoa butter has been extracted from the beans.
Now, more on those 8 types of cocoa powder. Do we *really* need 8 different types? Chocolatiers ... maybe. For you, here are the 3 most important ones:
🍫 Natural cocoa powder: Lightest in color, this cocoa powder has not been alkalinized (thus it’s higher in polyphenols) and has tart, bitter, and astringent notes. When a recipe calls for “cocoa powder,” it is referring to natural cocoa powder, especially if the recipe calls for baking soda.
🍫 Dutch cocoa powder: Dutched cocoa powder has been alkalinized using a potassium carbonate wash, resulting in deeper, earthier flavors and a darker color. This “Dutching” process produces a milder-tasting cocoa powder with caramel notes. Recipes that are fudgier in taste often call for Dutch cocoa powder.
🍫 Hot cocoa mix: Though not pure cocoa powder, this powdery mix of unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, and often dried milk comes in individual packets for quick-serve hot chocolate. A readily available form of hot cocoa, these packet mixes should not be confused with the drinking chocolates we sell, made from pure cacao.
Which cocoa powder is in your pantry? 👇
