出典(authority):フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア(Wikipedia)』「2013/07/23 10:30:27」(JST)
この項目では、菓子について記述しています。2001年のアメリカ映画については「チョコレート (映画)」を、DOESの曲については「夜明け前/チョコレート」をご覧ください。 |
この記事には、一部のコンピュータや閲覧ソフトで表示できない文字が含まれています(詳細)。 |
100 g (3.5 oz)あたりの栄養価 | |
エネルギー | 2,422 kJ (579 kcal) |
炭水化物 | 52.42 g |
- 糖分 | 36.71 g |
- 食物繊維 | 8 g |
脂肪 | 38.31 g |
- 飽和脂肪酸 | 22.031 g |
- 一価不飽和脂肪酸 | 11.522 g |
- 多価不飽和脂肪酸 | 1.221 g |
タンパク質 | 6.12 g |
水分 | 1.25 g |
ビタミンA相当量 | 3 μg (0%) |
- βカロテン | 25 μg (0%) |
- ルテインおよびゼアキサンチン | 32 μg |
ビタミンB1 | 0.032 mg (2%) |
ビタミンB2 | 0.049 mg (3%) |
ビタミンB3 | 0.838 mg (6%) |
パントテン酸(ビタミンB5) | 0.3 mg (6%) |
ビタミンB6 | 0.034 mg (3%) |
ビタミンB12 | 0.18 μg (8%) |
ビタミンE | 0.59 mg (4%) |
ビタミンK | 7.2 μg (7%) |
カルシウム | 62 mg (6%) |
鉄分 | 6.32 mg (51%) |
マグネシウム | 176 mg (48%) |
マンガン | 1.325 mg (66%) |
セレン | 8.4 μg (12%) |
リン | 260 mg (37%) |
カリウム | 567 mg (12%) |
塩分 | 10 mg (0%) |
亜鉛 | 2.65 mg (28%) |
カフェイン | 86 mg |
テオブロミン | 632 mg |
%はアメリカにおける成人向けの 栄養摂取目標 (RDI) の割合。 |
チョコレート(英: chocolate)は、カカオの種子を発酵・焙煎したカカオマスを主原料とし、これに砂糖、ココアバター、粉乳などを混ぜて練り固めた食品である。略してチョコともいう。ショコラ(フランス語: chocolat)と呼ばれることもある。
ただし、近年の工業生産チョコレートでは、カカオマス、砂糖、ココアバター、粉乳といった主要材料以外に、原料コスト削減や加工性[1]を上げる目的で植物性の油脂などを加えたり、加工コスト削減の目的で乳化剤などを加えたり、風味の向上の目的で香料や甘味料などを加えるなど、様々な添加物が配合されることも多い。
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イギリス人が固形のチョコレートを考案するまでは、チョコレートといえば飲み物を意味した。現に、例えば米国では今でも「ホット・チョコレート」と言えば日本で言うところの「ホット・ココア」飲料を意味する。日本国内では昨今、ココア粉末を使用したものをココア、生チョコレートの水分を多くしたものをチョコレートドリンクと称し分ける傾向があるが、これらチョコレート飲料の名称について厳密な定義は今のところない。
"chocolate"の語源については、辞典などでナワトル語のチョコラトルが由来とされているが、アステカがスペインに征服される前にはチョコラトルという用例が無く、そもそもナワトル語には「チョコ」という言葉も「ラトル」という言葉も存在しないなど、はっきりしたことはわかっていない(ナワトル語でチョコレート飲料は「カカワトル(カカオの水)」)。一説によれば、スペイン人がマヤ語の「チョコル(熱い)」とアステカ語「アトル(水)」から作った新語だという[2]。チョコレートの歴史#チョコレートの語源も参照。
チョコレートの製造工程としては、まず原料であるカカオ豆の収穫から始まる。収穫されたカカオ豆は豆を包むパルプとともにバナナの葉でくるむか木箱に入れて数日かけて発酵させ、その後天日で乾燥させたのち工場へと運ばれる。工場のほとんどはカカオの産地である熱帯地方ではなく温帯や冷帯に位置するため、ここで船によって輸送されるのが一般的である。
工場に運ばれたカカオは、まず磁石で鉄を除き、風で埃を飛ばして、篩によって石を取り除き選別される。選別されたカカオは砕かれ、篩によって外皮と胚芽を取り除かれる。こうしてできたものはカカオニブと呼ばれる。カカオ豆をここで砕くのは、不ぞろいのカカオ豆を均一の大きさにし、後のロースト時に火がむらなく均一に通るようにするためである。
カカオニブはこの後焙煎され、火が通ることによって酢酸が除かれてまろやかになると同時にメイラード反応によって香りや風味が現れてくる。この後、風味をよくするために数種類のカカオニブをブレンドした後、磨砕機によって細かくすりつぶす。カカオ豆には55%の油脂分(カカオバター)が含まれているためにここでペースト状となる。こうしてできたペーストがカカオマスである。
なお、上記の焙炒法はニブロースト法と呼ばれるもので、ほかに豆を直接焙煎するビーンズロースト法や、磨砕を先に行ってできた液体を焙煎するカカオリカー法といった方法もある。
できたカカオマスにココアバター、砂糖、ミルクなどを混合し、チョコレートドゥと呼ばれるチョコレートの元を作る。このドゥを5段のローラーにかけて数十ミクロン単位にまで細かく砕く。ここで非常に細かくすることで、チョコレートの舌触りが滑らかなものとなる。しかし細かくしすぎるとかえって口どけが悪くなるため、細かな調整が必要である(後述)。磨砕が終わると、コンチェ(コンチングマシン)と呼ばれる攪拌機にて長時間かけて精錬する。精錬が終わると、テンパリング(予備結晶化)と呼ばれる温度調整を行ってチョコレートを安定させ、型に充填した後冷却して固め、包装した後エージング(熟成)を行って完全に安定させた後、チョコレートの完成となる。
種類別名称として定められているチョコレートの種類に関しては、チョコレートの規格を参照のこと。ここでは一般的なチョコレートの風味による分類を記載する。
コーヒーと同様、チョコレートもカカオマスの種類・産地・焙煎により、苦味、酸味、コク、香りなどのバランスが異なる。価格、風味の面を考慮し、複数の産地のカカオマスをブレンドして原料として用いることが一般的となっている。
原料の混合率や、磨砕・精錬の方法などは生産者独自のノウハウがあり、同じ原材料を使用しても全く風味の異なるチョコレートに仕上がることがある。
チョコレートは、製造時に概ね粒径約10 - 30μmに磨砕されるが、この粒径により完成したチョコレートの口溶けが変化する。粒径が大きいほど口溶けが早いが、大きすぎると口内に粒状感を生じ、ざらついた食感となる。粒径が小さいほど滑らかな食感となるが、小さすぎると口溶けが悪くなり、もたつき感を生ずる。また、粒径にあわせて固形分の表面積が変化するため、チョコレートに含有される油脂の量が同じでも、チョコレートの粘性や食感が異なるようになる。
チョコレートの製錬工程において、温度とチョコレートドゥ(精錬生地)の固さは製品の味を決める最も重要な条件である。精錬度の低いチョコレートは雑味が多く、使用する原料によっては特有の臭気を含んでいることがある。このためチョコレートとして望まれている風味を最適な状態で味わえるように精錬を行う。しかし、精錬の度合いが高すぎるとチョコレートの風味が消し飛んでしまう。
作る時の温度も風味に非常に影響する。チョコレートに含まれるカカオバターの結晶にはI型からVI型までの6種類の型があり、融け出す温度は17 ℃(I型) - 34℃(VI型)の幅がある。同一の原材料であっても、型によって食感はまったく異なる。V型が最も美味しいともされる。
作る時の温度推移によって、それぞれの結晶の型の割合・率が変化し、食感・商品としてのランクが変わることになる[3]。ある段階では○○度、次に□□度、その次に△△度と、いくつかの時点で変化させることになり、各段階の温度の組み合わせの数は非常に多くなる。温度設定・設計は品質に関わる重要なノウハウであり、大手製造者などでは企業秘密として扱っていることが多い。良いチョコレート作りを伝授する場面ではこれも伝える必要があるということになる。
固形チョコレートは油分に粉乳や砂糖などの粉末が分散している状態であり、水に不溶である。固形チョコレートを水分と乳化させた物は、ガナッシュ、生チョコレートと呼ばれる。
固形チョコレートは一般的に、熱に弱く溶けやすい。過度に冷却したもの、融解・再結晶化したもの、長期間保存したものなどには白い色がつくことがある。この白い部分をブルームといい、このような現象をブルーミング現象という。ブルームが生じたものを食べても問題はないが、風味や味は落ちる。ファットブルーム (fat bloom) は、チョコレートの油脂成分のうち融点の低い部分が融解して表面に浮出し、再結晶化したものである。シュガーブルーム (sugar bloom)は、冷却時などにチョコレートの表面に水分が付着した際チョコレートの砂糖が水分に溶解し、その水分が蒸発した時に砂糖が析出したものである。
保存は、15 ℃ - 17 ℃、湿度50%以下が好ましく、香りを吸収するのを防ぐために他の食べ物から遠ざけたりラップに包むなどする。
質量あたりの熱量が大きく携行が容易であることから、固形チョコレートは軍隊のレーションに同封されたり(アメリカ軍用チョコレートなど)、登山などの際の非常食として携帯されたりする。カロリーの面だけでなく、非常の際に甘味やテオブロミンが心身の安らぎをもたらすという意味合いも大きい。テオブロミンの含有量はカカオ分99%のチョコレート100gあたり1100mg[4]。
チョコレートを食べるとニキビができるという迷信があり、経験的にニキビができやすいとする者も多いが、科学的根拠は現在のところない。脂肪分を40%と多く含むこと[5]、カフェイン・チラミン(血管性浮腫誘因物質でアミンの一種)などを含む刺激物であるからということに由来する安易な発想である可能性がある。一方で、チラミンにより血管の収縮が起こり、効果が切れると急激に血管が拡張するため、食べ過ぎると鼻の粘膜が腫れて鼻血が出るという話が存在する[6]。同様のメカニズムで収縮のあとの急激な脳血管の拡張により片頭痛が起こることがある[7]。また、テオブロミンと位置異性体の関係にあるテオフィリンを主成分とした医療用医薬品(キサンチン系気管支拡張薬等)の添付文書には、副作用として「鼻出血」と記載されている[8]。ただし、チョコレートアレルギーによる鼻血はあり得る。カフェインの含有量はカカオ分99%のチョコレート100gあたり120mg[4]。 チョコレートに加えられる事が多い食品には食物アレルギーの表示義務があるミルクやピーナッツがあり、これらが原因になっている可能性が考えられる(カカオにはアレルギー表示の義務も推奨も無い)。
イヌやネコ、鳥類などヒト以外のほとんどの動物はチョコレートを食べると中毒を起こす。これは、チョコレートやココアなどに含まれるテオブロミンを代謝できないことが原因で、死に至ることもある。
「チョコレートの歴史」も参照
紀元前2000年ごろから主に中央アメリカにおいてカカオの栽培が始められ、アメリカ先住民族の間で嗜好品や薬用として珍重され、貨幣として使用する地方もあった。飲み方は、コーンミールやトウガラシを入れることが普通であった。
カカオは1492年にクリストファー・コロンブスによってヨーロッパへと紹介され、やがてアステカ帝国などの中央アメリカ諸王国を滅ぼしてこの地方を支配したスペイン人にも好まれるようになった。そして彼らを通じ、じょじょにヨーロッパ大陸にも浸透していった。この過程で、スペイン人はチョコレートの苦味を打ち消すためにトウガラシの代わりに砂糖を入れるようになり、このやり方が他のヨーロッパの国々に伝わる際も引き継がれた。当初、チョコレートは薬として扱われたが、砂糖を入れることによって徐々に嗜好品へと姿を変えていった。17世紀中ごろにはイギリスに到達し、そのころ隆盛したコーヒー・ハウスにおいてもさかんに供された[9]。この時期には、チョコレートはヨーロッパの王侯貴族や富裕層にとって贅沢な飲み物として受け入れられていた。
19世紀にはいるまではチョコレートは飲み物であったが、19世紀に技術革新が次々と起こって現在のチョコレートの形が成立した。まず、1828年にはオランダのコンラッド・ヨハネス・バン・ホーテンがココアパウダーとココアバターを分離する製法を確立し、さらにカカオにアルカリ処理を行うことで苦味を和らげる方法も考案した。1847年にイギリスのジョセフ・フライが固形チョコレートを発明し、1875年にはスイスの薬剤師であるアンリ・ネスレとショコラティエのダニエル・ペーターがミルクチョコレートを開発した[10]。さらに1879年にはスイスのロドルフ・リンツによりコンチェが発明され、ざらざらしていた固形チョコレートが滑らかな口当たりのものへと変化した。上記の発明は「チョコレートの4大技術革命」とも呼ばれ[11][12]、これらの発明によって固形チョコレートはココアに変わってカカオの利用法のメインとなっていった。
こうした発明によって19世紀後半にはチョコレートは家族的な小企業や職人による生産から大企業による工場での大量生産へと移行していった。スイスのネスレ社、リンツ社、カイエ社やイギリスのキャドバリー社、ロウントリー社、アメリカのハーシー社などの大チョコレート企業が誕生し、安定して大量生産された規格品チョコレートの供給によりチョコレートの価格は下がり、一般市民が気軽に楽しめる菓子となっていった。一方でベルギーやフランスなどを中心にショコラティエによる高級チョコレート店も多数存在している。大チョコレート企業は1960年代以降買収を繰り返しながら巨大化していく一方、高級チョコレート店の職人によるチョコレートにも大きな需要があり、この二つが日常一般市民の食しているチョコレート生産のほとんどを占めている[13]。
2009年にもっともチョコレートを多く生産した国はアメリカ合衆国で、1,569,490 t にのぼる。次いでドイツが多く、1,214,490 t を生産している。以下、イギリス、ブラジル、フランス、イタリア、日本、ポーランドと続く。日本は年間 233,880 t を生産し、世界7位である。
2010年のチョコレート消費量(含む観光客による購入)は、ドイツが最も多く年間で一人当たり 11.6 kg を消費しており、以下スイス、イギリス、ノルウェー、デンマークと続く。日本は年間 2.1 kg で世界16位以下。
順位 | 年間チョコレート生産量 (2009年、単位トン)[14] |
年間一人当たりチョコレート消費量 (2010年、単位kg)[15][16] |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
国 | 生産量 | 国 | 消費量 | |
1 | アメリカ合衆国 | 1,569,490 | ドイツ | 11.6 |
2 | ドイツ | 1,214,490 | スイス | 10.5 |
3 | イギリス | 532,350 | イギリス | 9.7 |
4 | ブラジル | 517,300 | ノルウェー | 9.4 |
5 | フランス | 404,880 | デンマーク | 8.5 |
6 | イタリア | 276,900 | フィンランド | 7.3 |
7 | 日本 | 233,880 | スウェーデン | 6.4 |
8 | ポーランド | 220,000 | フランス | 6.3 |
9 | ベルギー | 191,530 | アメリカ合衆国 | 5.3 |
10 | スイス | 139,965 | オーストラリア | 4.5 |
11 | スペイン | 115,945 | ベルギー | 4.4 |
12 | スウェーデン | 52,282 | イタリア | 3.7 |
日本では、1971年3月、不当景品類及び不当表示防止法第10条第1項の規定に基づき、公正取引委員会の認定を受けた「チョコレート類の表示に関する公正競争規約」によって規格が定められている。
カカオ分は「カカオ脂肪分」(ココアバター)と「非脂肪カカオ分」を合計したものである。カカオ脂肪分は文字通りカカオの脂肪分のみを示し、カカオマス特有の褐色や風味、ポリフェノール、テオブロミン、カフェインなどカカオの主たる薬効成分は非脂肪カカオ分に含有される。
原料となるカカオマス自体は苦く、日本では砂糖で甘味をつけたものが普通であったが、カカオに含まれるポリフェノールが注目されるようになり、2000年代に入ってリンツ・チョコレートの「エクセレンス」、明治製菓の「チョコレート効果」(カカオ分86%)などカカオ比率の高い商品が各種発売されるようになった。しかしその味は当然ながらカカオマス・ココアそのものの苦味が非常にきつく(コーヒー豆ペーストを食べている感覚に近い)、従来のチョコレートのような甘い風味は期待できない。特にカカオ99%を使ったチョコの包装紙には但し書きが付くほどである。
なお、ホワイトチョコレートにはほとんどポリフェノールは含まれていないため、健康のためチョコレートを摂るのであればできるだけ「非脂肪カカオ分」が高いものにしたほうがよい。
カカオ分の表記のない製品でも、下記(チョコレート製品)に示された種類別名称からある程度判別できる。「準チョコレート」となっているものはカカオ分がかなり低くなっている[17]。特に生産性や耐久性、原料価格などの理由により、駄菓子のチョコレートは多くが「準チョコレート」規格である。ただし「準チョコレート」規格の中には、カカオ脂肪分は少ないが、ココアを使っているため「非脂肪カカオ分」は多いものもある。
上記「ミルクチョコレート」「準ミルクチョコレート」の種類別名称は、それぞれ「チョコレート」「準チョコレート」として扱われる。
バレンタインデーにチョコレートを贈る風習は、1868年、イギリスのチョコレート会社キャドバリー社の2代目社長であるリチャード・キャドバリーが美しい絵のついた贈答用のチョコレートボックスを発売したことを由来とする。このボックスはバレンタインデーの贈り物として使われるようになり、他社も追従して次第に広がっていった。しかし、ヨーロッパやアメリカのバレンタインデーは日本とは違い、必ずしもチョコレートを贈るものではない。
これに対し日本では、諸説あるものの1958年ごろにはじまったとされ、1970年代には「女性から男性にチョコレートを贈る日」としてバレンタインデーが定着した。バレンタインデーにチョコレートを贈るようになったことをきっかけにして、日本チョコレート・ココア協会が2月14日を「チョコレートの日」として制定し、1970年代に定着した。
また、1875年にはキャドバリー社はチョコレートでできたイースター・エッグを発売し、これも定着してチョコ・イースターエッグはイースターには欠かせないものとなった[18]。
チョコレートは製造法や形状によってチョコレート生地だけで作る板チョコ(ソリッドチョコレート)、中が空洞になっているホローチョコレート、チョコレートで殻を作って中にクリームなどの中身を詰め込むシェルチョコレート、逆に中身になるものにチョコレートを吹き付けて作るパンワークチョコレート、ウエハースやキャンディーバーをチョコレートにくぐらせて作るエンローバーチョコレートなど、いくつかの種類に分かれる。
また、そのまま食べるだけではなく、チョコレートケーキなどの製菓材料としても重要である。なかでもショコラティエが最後の仕上げに使うチョコレートはクーベルチュール・チョコレートと呼ばれ、海外では厳格な規定がある。小鍋で溶かしたチョコレートを果物などにからめて食べるチョコレートフォンデュや、溶けたチョコレートが噴水状に循環するチョコレートファウンテンといった使用法もある。
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ウィキメディア・コモンズには、チョコレートに関連するカテゴリがあります。 |
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It has been suggested that Melting of chocolate be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2013. |
Chocolate most commonly comes in dark, milk, and white varieties, with cocoa solids contributing to the brown coloration
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Main ingredient(s) | Chocolate liquor |
Chocolate i/ˈtʃɒklət/ is a processed, typically sweetened food produced from the seed of the tropical Theobroma cacao tree. Cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. Its earliest documented use is around 1100 BC. The majority of the Mesoamerican people made chocolate beverages, including the Aztecs, who made it into a beverage known as xocolātl [ʃo'kolaːt͡ɬ], a Nahuatl word meaning "bitter water". The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the flavor.
After fermentation, the beans are dried, then cleaned, and then roasted, and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs. The nibs are then ground to cocoa mass, pure chocolate in rough form. Because this cocoa mass usually is liquefied then molded with or without other ingredients, it is called chocolate liquor. The liquor also may be processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Unsweetened baking chocolate (bitter chocolate) contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat, and sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk but no cocoa solids.
Cocoa solids contain alkaloids such as theobromine, phenethylamine and caffeine.[1] These have physiological effects on the body and are linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Some research found that chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower blood pressure.[2] The presence of theobromine renders chocolate toxic to some animals,[3] especially dogs and cats.
Chocolate has become one of the most popular food types and flavors in the world. Chocolate chip cookies have become very common, and very popular, in most parts of Europe and North America. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays. Chocolate is also used in cold and hot beverages, to produce chocolate milk and hot chocolate.
Cocoa mass was used originally in Mesoamerica both as a beverage and as an ingredient in foods. Chocolate played a special role in both Maya and Aztec royal and religious events. Priests presented cacao seeds as offerings to the deities and served chocolate drinks during sacred ceremonies. All of the areas that were conquered by the Aztecs that grew cacao beans were ordered to pay them as a tax, or as the Aztecs called it, a "tribute".[4]
The Europeans sweetened and fattened it by adding refined sugar and milk, two ingredients unknown to the Mexicans. By contrast, the Europeans never infused it into their general diet, but have compartmentalized its use to sweets and desserts. In the 19th century, Briton John Cadbury developed an emulsification process to make solid chocolate, creating the modern chocolate bar. Although cocoa is originally from the Americas, today Western Africa produces almost two-thirds of the world's cocoa, with Côte d'Ivoire growing almost half of it.
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The word "chocolate" entered the English language from Spanish.[5] How the word came into Spanish is less certain, and there are competing explanations. Perhaps the most cited explanation is that "chocolate" comes from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, from the word chocolātl, which many sources derived from xocolātl [ʃokolaːtɬ], from xococ 'sour' or 'bitter', and ātl 'water' or 'drink'.[5] However, as William Bright noted[6] the word "chocolatl" does not occur in central Mexican colonial sources, making this an unlikely derivation. Santamaria[7] gives a derivation from the Yucatec Maya word "chokol" meaning 'hot', and the Nahuatl "atl" meaning 'water'. Sophie and Michael D. Coe agree with this etymology.
Pointing to various sources dating from the time of the Spanish conquest, they identify cacahuatl ("cacao water") as the original Nahuatl word for the cold beverage consumed by the Aztecs. Noting that using a word with caca in it to describe a thick brown beverage would not have gone over well with most speakers of Spanish because "caca" means 'faeces' in Spanish, the Coes suggest that the Spanish colonisers combined the Nahuatl atl with the Yucatec Maya chocol, for, unlike the Aztec, the Maya tended to drink chocolate heated. The Spanish preferred the warm Mayan preparation of the beverage to the cold Aztec one, and so the colonisers substituted chocol in place of the culturally unacceptable caca.[8]
More recently, Dakin and Wichmann derive it from another Nahuatl term, "chicolatl" from eastern Nahuatl, meaning "beaten drink". They derive this term from the word for the frothing stick, "chicoli".[9] However, the Coes write that xicalli referred to the gourd out of which the beverage was consumed and that the use of a frothing stick (known as a molinollo) was a product of creolisation between the Spanish and Aztec; the original frothing method used by the indigenous people was simply pouring the drink from a height into another vessel.[8]
Chocolate has been used as a drink for nearly all of its history. The earliest record of using chocolate dates back before the Olmec. In November 2007, archaeologists reported finding evidence of the oldest known cultivation and use of cacao at a site in Puerto Escondido, Honduras, dating from about 1100 to 1400 BC.[10] The residues found and the kind of vessel they were found in indicate the initial use of cacao was not simply as a beverage, but the white pulp around the cacao beans was likely used as a source of fermentable sugars for an alcoholic drink.[10] The Maya civilization grew cacao trees in their backyards,[11] and used the cacao seeds the trees produced to make a frothy, bitter drink.[12] Documents in Maya hieroglyphs stated chocolate was used for ceremonial purposes, in addition to everyday life.[13] The chocolate residue found in an early ancient Maya pot in Río Azul, Guatemala, suggests the Maya were drinking chocolate around 400 AD.
The sweet chocolate residue found in jars from the site of Puerto Escondido in Honduras from around 1100 BC is the earliest found evidence of the use of cacao to date.[14] An early Classic (460–480 AD) period Mayan tomb from the site of Rio Azul, Guatemala, had vessels with the Maya glyph for cacao on them with residue of a chocolate drink.[15] The Maya are generally given credit for creating the first modern chocolate beverage over 2,000 years ago, despite the fact that the beverage would undergo many more changes in Europe.[16]
By the 15th century, the Aztecs gained control of a large part of Mesoamerica, and adopted cacao into their culture. They associated chocolate with Xochiquetzal, the goddess of fertility,[17] and often used chocolate beverages as sacred offerings.[15] The Aztec adaptation of the drink was a bitter, frothy, spicy drink called xocolatl, made much the same way as the Mayan chocolate drinks. It was often seasoned with vanilla, chile pepper, and achiote, and was believed to fight fatigue, which is probably attributable to the theobromine content, a mood enhancer. Because cacao would not grow in the dry central Mexican highlands and had to be imported, chocolate was an important luxury good throughout the Aztec empire, and cocoa beans were often used as currency.[18] For example, the Aztecs used a system in which one turkey cost one hundred cacao beans and one fresh avocado was worth three beans.[19] South American and European cultures have used cocoa to treat diarrhea for hundreds of years.[20] All of the areas ruled by the Aztecs were ordered to pay a tax, leading those that grew the beans to offer cacao seeds as tribute.[21]
The first European contact with chocolate came when Montezuma (then tlatoani of Tenochtitlan) introduced Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, to xocolatl in the 16th century.[15] Antonio de Solís, Philip IV's official Chronicler of the Indies, described Montezuma customarily taking a chocolate beverage after meals, as part of a sumptuous daily ritual:
“ | He had Cups of Gold, and Salvers of the same; and sometimes he drank out of Cocoas [i.e., coconut shells], and natural Shells, very richly set with Jewels.[...] When he had done eating, he usually took a Kind of Chocolate, made after the Manner of the Country, that is, the Substance of the Nut beat up with the Mill till the Cup was filled more with Froth than with Liquor; after which he used to smoak Tobacco perfum'd with liquid Amber.[22] | ” |
Jose de Acosta, a Spanish Jesuit missionary who lived in Peru and then Mexico in the later 16th century, wrote of it:
“ | Loathsome to such as are not acquainted with it, having a scum or froth that is very unpleasant taste. Yet it is a drink very much esteemed among the Indians, where with they feast noble men who pass through their country. The Spaniards, both men and women that are accustomed to the country are very greedy of this Chocolate. They say they make diverse sorts of it, some hot, some cold, and some temperate, and put therein much of that "chili"; yea, they make paste thereof, the which they say is good for the stomach and against the catarrh.[23] | ” |
The first recorded shipment of chocolate to Europe for commercial purposes was in a shipment from Veracruz to Sevilla in 1585.[17] It was still served as a beverage, but the Europeans added cane sugar to counteract the natural bitterness and removed the chili pepper while retaining the vanilla, in addition they added cinnamon as well as other spices.[15]
What the Spaniards then called "chocolatl" was said to be a beverage consisting of a chocolate base flavored with vanilla and other spices that was served cold.[24][25] Montezuma's court reportedly drank about 2,000 cups of xocolatl per day, 50 of which were consumed by Montezuma himself.
Until the 16th century, no European had ever heard of the popular drink from the Central and South American peoples.[26] It was not until the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs that chocolate could be imported to Europe. In Spain, it quickly became a court favorite. In a century it had spread and become popular throughout the European continent.[26] To keep up with the high demand for this new drink, Spanish armies began enslaving Mesoamericans to produce cacao.[27] Even with cacao harvesting becoming a regular business, only royalty and the well-connected could afford to drink this expensive import.[28] Before long, the Spanish began growing cacao beans on plantations, and using an African workforce to help manage them.[29] The situation was different in England. Put simply, anyone with money could buy it.[30] The first chocolate house opened in London in 1657.[30] In 1689, noted physician and collector Hans Sloane developed a milk chocolate drink in Jamaica which was initially used by apothecaries, but later sold to the Cadbury brothers in 1897.[31]
For hundreds of years, the chocolate-making process remained unchanged. When the Industrial Revolution arrived, many changes occurred that brought about the food today in its modern form. The Dutch van Houten family's inventions made mass production of shiny, tasty chocolate bars and related products possible. In the 18th century, mechanical mills were created that squeezed out cocoa butter, which in turn helped to create hard, durable chocolate.[32] But, it was not until the arrival of the Industrial Revolution that these mills were put to bigger use. Not long after the revolution cooled down, companies began advertising this new invention to sell many of the chocolate treats we see today.[33] When new machines were produced, people began experiencing and consuming chocolate worldwide.[34]
At the end of the 18th century, the first form of solid chocolate was invented in Turin by Doret. This chocolate was sold in large quantities from 1826 by Pierre Paul Caffarel in Italy. In 1819, F. L. Cailler opened the first Swiss chocolate factory. In 1828, Dutchman Coenraad Johannes van Houten patented a method for extracting the fat from cocoa beans and making powdered cocoa and cocoa butter. Van Houten also developed the "so-called" Dutch process of treating chocolate with alkali to remove the bitter taste. This made it possible to form the modern chocolate bar. The German company Jordan & Timaeus sold the first known chocolate bar made from cocoa, sugar and goat's milk in 1839.[35] In England, the company, J. S. Fry & Sons discovered a way to mix some of the cocoa butter back into the Dutched chocolate, and added sugar, creating a paste that could be moulded. This led to the first British chocolate bar in 1847, followed in 1849 by the Cadbury brothers.
In 1865, an unknown employee at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company discovered the Broma process of separating cocoa butter from cocoa solids (namely, that if chocolate is hung in a bag in a warm room, the butter will drip out naturally over time).
Daniel Peter, a Swiss candle maker, joined his father-in-law's chocolate business. In 1867, he began experimenting with milk as an ingredient. He brought his new product, milk chocolate, to market in 1875. He was assisted in removing the water content from the milk to prevent mildewing by a neighbour, a baby food manufacturer named Henri Nestlé. Rodolphe Lindt invented the process called conching, which involves heating and grinding the chocolate solids very finely to ensure that the liquid is evenly blended. This enabled Milton Hershey to make chocolate even more popular by mass-producing affordable chocolate bars.
Several types of chocolate can be distinguished. Pure, unsweetened chocolate contains primarily cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions. Much of the chocolate consumed today is in the form of sweet chocolate, combining chocolate with sugar. Milk chocolate is sweet chocolate that additionally contains milk powder or condensed milk. In the U.K. and Ireland milk chocolate must contain a minimum of 20% total dry cocoa solids; in the rest of the European Union the minimum is 25%.[36] "White chocolate" contains cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but no cocoa solids. Chocolate contains alkaloids such as theobromine and phenethylamine, which have some physiological effects in humans, but the presence of theobromine renders it toxic to some animals, such as dogs and cats.[37] It has been linked to serotonin levels in the brain. Dark chocolate has been promoted for unproven health benefits,[38] as it seems to possess substantial amount of antioxidants that reduce the formation of free radicals.
White chocolate is formed from a mixture of sugar, cocoa butter and milk solids. Although its texture is similar to milk and dark chocolate, it does not contain any cocoa solids. Because of this, many countries do not consider white chocolate as chocolate at all.[39] Although first introduced by Hebert Candies in 1955, Mars, Incorporated was the first to produce white chocolate within the United States. Because it does not contain any cocoa solids, white chocolate does not contain any theobromine, meaning it can be consumed by animals. It is usually not used for cooking.
Dark chocolate is produced by adding fat and sugar to the cacao mixture. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration calls this "sweet chocolate", and requires a 15% concentration of chocolate liquor. European rules specify a minimum of 35% cocoa solids.[36] Dark chocolate, with its high cocoa content, is a rich source of epicatechin and gallic acid, which are thought to possess cardioprotective properties. Dark chocolate has also been said to reduce the possibility of a heart attack when consumed regularly in small amounts.[40] Semisweet chocolate is a dark chocolate with a low sugar content. Bittersweet chocolate is chocolate liquor to which some sugar (typically a third), more cocoa butter, vanilla and sometimes lecithin have been added. It has less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate, but the two are interchangeable in baking.
Unsweetened chocolate is pure chocolate liquor, also known as bitter or baking chocolate. It is unadulterated chocolate: the pure, ground, roasted chocolate beans impart a strong, deep chocolate flavor.
Raw chocolate, often referred to as raw cacao, is always dark and a minimum of 75% cacao. Because the act of processing results in the loss of certain vitamins and minerals (such as magnesium), some consider raw cacao to be a more nutritious form of chocolate.[41]
Some people who purchase chocolate off the store shelf can be disappointed when they see whitish spots on the dark chocolate part. This is called chocolate bloom and is not an indication of chocolate gone bad. Instead, this is just an indication that sugar and/or fat has separated due to poor storage.
Roughly two-thirds of the entire world's cocoa is produced in West Africa, with 43% sourced from Côte d'Ivoire,[42] where child labor is a common practice to obtain the product.[43][44][45] According to the World Cocoa Foundation, some 50 million people around the world depend on cocoa as a source of livelihood.[46] In the UK, most chocolatiers purchase their chocolate from them, to melt, mold and package to their own design.[47]
Chocolate is any product made primarily of cocoa solids and cocoa butter.
Production costs can be decreased by reducing cocoa solid content or by substituting cocoa butter with another fat. Cocoa growers object to allowing the resulting food to be called "chocolate", due to the risk of lower demand for their crops.[46] The sequencing in 2010 of genome of the cacao tree may allow yields to be improved.[48]
There are two main jobs associated with creating chocolate candy, chocolate makers and chocolatiers. Chocolate makers use harvested cacao beans and other ingredients to produce couverture chocolate (covering). Chocolatiers use the finished couverture to make chocolate candies (bars, truffles, etc.).[49]
Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, the dried and partially fermented seeds of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), a small (4–8 m (or 15–26 ft) tall) evergreen tree native to the deep tropical region of the Americas. Recent genetic studies suggest that the most common genotype of the plant originated in the Amazon basin and was gradually transported by humans throughout South and Central America. Early forms of another genotype have also been found in what is now Venezuela. The scientific name, Theobroma, means "food of the deities".[50] The fruit, called a cacao pod, is ovoid, 15–30 cm (or 6–12 in) long and 8–10 cm (3–4 in) wide, ripening yellow to orange, and weighs about 500 g (1 lb) when ripe.
Cacao trees are small, understory trees that need rich, well-drained soils. They naturally grow within 20 degrees of either side of the equator because they need about 2000 millimeters of rainfall a year, and temperatures in the range of 21 to 32 °C. Cacao trees cannot tolerate a temperature lower than 15 °C (59 °F).[51]
The three main varieties of cacao beans used in chocolate are criollo, forastero, and trinitario.
Representing only five percent of all cocoa beans grown,[52] criollo is the rarest and most expensive cocoa on the market, and is native to Central America, the Caribbean islands and the northern tier of South American states.[53] There is some dispute about the genetic purity of cocoas sold today as criollo, as most populations have been exposed to the genetic influence of other varieties. Criollos are particularly difficult to grow, as they are vulnerable to a variety of environmental threats and produce low yields of cocoa per tree. The flavor of criollo is described as delicate yet complex, low in classic chocolate flavor, but rich in "secondary" notes of long duration.[54]
The most commonly grown bean is forastero,[52] a large group of wild and cultivated cacaos, most likely native to the Amazon basin. The African cocoa crop is entirely of the forastero variety. They are significantly hardier and of higher yield than criollo. The source of most chocolate marketed,[52] forastero cocoas are typically strong in classic "chocolate" flavor, but have a short duration and are unsupported by secondary flavors, producing "quite bland" chocolate.[52]
Trinitario is a natural hybrid of criollo and forastero. Trinitario originated in Trinidad after an introduction of forastero to the local criollo crop. Nearly all cacao produced over the past five decades is of the forastero or lower-grade trinitario varieties.[55]
Cacao pods are harvested by cutting the pods from the tree using a machete, or by knocking them off the tree using a stick. The beans with their surrounding pulp are removed from the pods and placed in piles or bins, allowing access to microorganisms so that fermentation of the pectin-containing material can begin. Yeast produce ethanol, lactic acid bacteria produce lactic acid and acetic acid bacteria produce acetic acid. The fermentation process, which takes up to seven days, also produces several flavor precursors, eventually resulting in the familiar chocolate taste.[56]
It is important to harvest the pods when they are fully ripe because if the pod is unripe, the beans will have a low cocoa butter content, or there will be insufficient sugars in the white pulp for fermentation, resulting in a weak flavor. After fermentation, the beans must be quickly dried to prevent mold growth. Climate and weather permitting, this is done by spreading the beans out in the sun from five to seven days.[57]
The dried beans are then transported to a chocolate manufacturing facility. The beans are cleaned (removing twigs, stones, and other debris), roasted, and graded. Next, the shell of each bean is removed to extract the nib. Finally, the nibs are ground and liquefied, resulting in pure chocolate in fluid form: chocolate liquor.[58] The liquor can be further processed into two components: cocoa solids and cocoa butter.[59]
Chocolate liquor is blended with the cocoa butter in varying quantities to make different types of chocolate or couvertures. The basic blends of ingredients for the various types of chocolate (in order of highest quantity of cocoa liquor first), are as follows:
Usually, an emulsifying agent, such as soy lecithin, is added, though a few manufacturers prefer to exclude this ingredient for purity reasons and to remain GMO-free, sometimes at the cost of a perfectly smooth texture. Some manufacturers are now using PGPR, an artificial emulsifier derived from castor oil that allows them to reduce the amount of cocoa butter while maintaining the same mouthfeel.
The texture is also heavily influenced by processing, specifically conching (see below). The more expensive chocolate tends to be processed longer and thus have a smoother texture and mouthfeel, regardless of whether emulsifying agents are added.
Different manufacturers develop their own "signature" blends based on the above formulas, but varying proportions of the different constituents are used. The finest, plain dark chocolate couvertures contain at least 70% cocoa (both solids and butter), whereas milk chocolate usually contains up to 50%. High-quality white chocolate couvertures contain only about 35% cocoa.
Producers of high quality, small batch chocolate argue that mass production produces bad quality chocolate.[52] Some mass-produced chocolate contains much less cocoa (as low as 7% in many cases), and fats other than cocoa butter. Vegetable oils and artificial vanilla flavor are often used in cheaper chocolate to mask poorly fermented and/or roasted beans.[52]
In 2007, the Chocolate Manufacturers Association in the United States, whose members include Hershey, Nestlé, and Archer Daniels Midland, lobbied the Food and Drug Administration to change the legal definition of chocolate to let them substitute partially hydrogenated vegetable oils for cocoa butter, in addition to using artificial sweeteners and milk substitutes.[60] Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not allow a product to be referred to as "chocolate" if the product contains any of these ingredients.[61][62]
The penultimate process is called conching. A conche is a container filled with metal beads, which act as grinders. The refined and blended chocolate mass is kept in a liquid state by frictional heat. Chocolate prior to conching has an uneven and gritty texture. The conching process produces cocoa and sugar particles smaller than the tongue can detect, hence the smooth feel in the mouth. The length of the conching process determines the final smoothness and quality of the chocolate. High-quality chocolate is conched for about 72 hours, lesser grades about four to six hours. After the process is complete, the chocolate mass is stored in tanks heated to approximately 45–50 °C (113–122 °F) until final processing.[63]
The final process is called tempering. Uncontrolled crystallization of cocoa butter typically results in crystals of varying size, some or all large enough to be clearly seen with the naked eye. This causes the surface of the chocolate to appear mottled and matte, and causes the chocolate to crumble rather than snap when broken.[64] The uniform sheen and crisp bite of properly processed chocolate are the result of consistently small cocoa butter crystals produced by the tempering process.
The fats in cocoa butter can crystallize in six different forms (polymorphous crystallization).[64][65] The primary purpose of tempering is to assure that only the best form is present. The six different crystal forms have different properties.
Crystal | Melting temp. | Notes |
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I | 17 °C (63 °F) | Soft, crumbly, melts too easily |
II | 21 °C (70 °F) | Soft, crumbly, melts too easily |
III | 26 °C (79 °F) | Firm, poor snap, melts too easily |
IV | 28 °C (82 °F) | Firm, good snap, melts too easily |
V | 34 °C (93 °F) | Glossy, firm, best snap, melts near body temperature (37 °C) |
VI | 36 °C (97 °F) | Hard, takes weeks to form |
Making chocolate considered "good" is about forming as many type V crystals as possible. This provides the best appearance and texture and creates the most stable crystals, so the texture and appearance will not degrade over time. To accomplish this, the temperature is carefully manipulated during the crystallization.
Generally, the chocolate is first heated to 45 °C (113 °F) to melt all six forms of crystals.[64][65] Next, the chocolate is cooled to about 27 °C (81 °F), which will allow crystal types IV and V to form. At this temperature, the chocolate is agitated to create many small crystal "seeds" which will serve as nuclei to create small crystals in the chocolate. The chocolate is then heated to about 31 °C (88 °F) to eliminate any type IV crystals, leaving just type V. After this point, any excessive heating of the chocolate will destroy the temper and this process will have to be repeated. However, there are other methods of chocolate tempering used. The most common variant is introducing already tempered, solid "seed" chocolate. The temper of chocolate can be measured with a chocolate temper meter to ensure accuracy and consistency. A sample cup is filled with the chocolate and placed in the unit which then displays or prints the results.
Two classic ways of manually tempering chocolate are:
Chocolate tempering machines (or temperers) with computer controls can be used for producing consistently tempered chocolate, particularly for large volume applications.
Chocolate is very sensitive to temperature and humidity. Ideal storage temperatures are between 15 and 17 °C (59 and 63 °F), with a relative humidity of less than 50%. Various types of "blooming" effects can occur if chocolate is stored or served improperly. Fat bloom is caused by storage temperature fluctuating or exceeding 24 C while sugar bloom is caused by temperature below 15 C or excess humidity. To distinguish between different types of bloom, one can rub the surface of the chocolate lightly, and if the bloom disappears, it is fat bloom. One can get rid of bloom by re-tempering the chocolate or using it for anything that requires melting the chocolate.[66]
Chocolate is generally stored away from other foods, as it can absorb different aromas. Ideally, chocolates are packed or wrapped, and placed in proper storage with the correct humidity and temperature. Additionally, chocolate is frequently stored in a dark place or protected from light by wrapping paper.
If refrigerated or frozen without containment, chocolate can absorb enough moisture to cause a whitish discoloration, the result of fat or sugar crystals rising to the surface. Moving chocolate from one temperature extreme to another, such as from a refrigerator on a hot day, can result in an oily texture. Although visually unappealing, chocolate suffering from bloom is perfectly safe for consumption.[67][68][69]
Some manufacturers provide the percentage of chocolate in a finished chocolate confection as a label quoting percentage of "cocoa" or "cacao". It should be noted that this refers to the combined percentage of both cocoa solids and cocoa butter in the bar, not just the percentage of cocoa solids.[94]
Chocolates that are organic[95] or fair trade certified[96] carry labels accordingly.
In the United States, some large chocolate manufacturers lobbied the federal government to permit confections containing cheaper hydrogenated vegetable oil in place of cocoa butter to be sold as "chocolate". In June 2007, as a response to consumer concern after the proposed change, the FDA reiterated "Cacao fat, as one of the signature characteristics of the product, will remain a principal component of standardized chocolate."[97]
Many chocolate manufacturers have created products from chocolate bars to fudge, hoping to attract more consumers with each creation. Hershey and Mars have become the largest manufacturers in the world.[citation needed] Other large manufacturers include Nestlé, Kraft Foods and Lindt.
The Hershey Company, known for their Hershey bar, Hershey's Kisses and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America.[98] Mars, Incorporated, one of the largest privately owned U.S. corporations, is a worldwide manufacturer of confectionery and other food products, with US$21 billion in annual sales in 2006. Mars is known for Mars Bar, Milky Way, M&M's, Twix and Snickers, as well as other confectionery items, such Skittles.
Food conglomerates Nestlé SA and Kraft Foods both have chocolate brands. Nestlé acquired Rowntree's in 1988 and now market chocolates under their own brand, including Smarties and Kit Kat; Kraft Foods through its 1990 acquisition of Jacobs Suchard, now own Milka and Suchard. In February 2010, Kraft also acquired British-based Cadbury plc, the world's largest confectionery manufacturer.[99] Cadbury is well known for its Dairy Milk range and Creme Egg; Fry's, Trebor Basset, the fair-trade brand Green & Black's also belong to the group.
The chocolate industry, a steadily growing, $50 billion-a-year worldwide business centered on the sale and consumption of chocolate, is prevalent on five out of seven continents.[100] Big Chocolate, as it is also called, is essentially an oligopoly between major international chocolate companies in Europe and the U.S. These U.S. companies, such as Mars and Hershey’s alone, generate $13 billion a year in chocolate sales and account for two-thirds of U.S. manufacturers.[101] However, Europe accounts for 45% of the world's chocolate revenue.[102]
Chocolate is one of the most popular holiday gifts. Gifts of chocolate molded into different shapes have become traditional on certain holidays: chocolate bunnies and eggs are popular on Easter, chocolate coins on Hanukkah, snowmen and other holiday symbols on Christmas, and chocolate hearts or chocolate in heart-shaped boxes on Valentine's Day.
The International Chocolate Day is observed on 13 September.[103] On Valentine's Day, a box of chocolates is traditional, usually presented with flowers and a greeting card. It may be given on other holidays, and birthdays. At Easter, chocolate eggs are traditional. This is a confection made primarily of chocolate, and can either be solid, hollow, or filled with other sweets or fondant. Many confectioners make holiday-specific chocolate candies, usually variants of their standard fare. Hollow chocolate bunnies (Easter) and hollow Santa Claus figures (Christmas) are two examples.
Chocolate has been the center of several successful book and film adaptations. In 1964, Roald Dahl published a children's novel titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The novel centers on a poor boy named Charlie Bucket who takes a tour through the greatest chocolate factory in the world, owned by Willy Wonka. Two film adaptations of the novel were produced. The first was Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, a 1971 film which later became a cult classic, and spawned the real world Willy Wonka Candy Company, which produces chocolate products to this day. Thirty-four years later, a second film adaptation was produced, titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The 2005 film was very well received by critics[104] and was one of the highest grossing films that year, earning over US$470,000,000 worldwide.[105] Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was also recognized at the 78th Academy Awards, where it was nominated for Best Costume Design for Gabriella Pesucci.[106]
Like Water for Chocolate (Como agua para chocolate), a 1989 love story by novelist Laura Esquivel, was adapted to film in 1992. The plot incorporates magical realism with Mexican cuisine, and the title is a double entendre in its native language, referring both to a recipe for hot chocolate and to an idiom that is a metaphor for sexual arousal. The film earned 11 Ariel Awards from the Academia Mexicana de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas, including Best Picture.
Chocolat, a 1999 novel by Joanne Harris, tells the story of Vianne Rocher, a young mother, whose confections change the lives of the townspeople. The 2000 film adaptation, Chocolat, also proved successful, grossing over US$150,000,000 worldwide,[107] and receiving Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Score.[108][109]
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リンク元 | 「cocoa」「cacao」「Theobroma cacao」「チョコレート」 |
拡張検索 | 「chocolate agar」「chocolate agar medium」 |
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