Chocolate Ingredients

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Tom and Debra Ocasio, owners of The Chocolate Lounge in Long Branch, N.J., recently participated and Tom says the amount of knowledge and expertise they received from the staff and the other participants was priceless.

Robert Weidner has joined the Blommer commodity team as senior strategic sourcing manager.

While it may be easy to understand why ancient cultures thought chocolate could provide an energy boost, and cocoa butter was used to treat skin disease, a new book also reveals that chocolate has been used as a remedy for tuberculosis and even snake bites.

It was about 3,500 years ago, in 1500 B.C. somewhere in South Central Mexico that a culinary genius amongst the Olmecs first realized that cocoa should be used for food.

Barry Callebaut has further strengthened its local presence in Mexico and Central America, and moved closer to its customers there by opening a second factory in the country.

Oberholler produces all his chocolate products by hand, insisting on only the finest local ingredients and his personal touch.

Last year, sales for the Auna di Sott, Italy-based wafer and chocolate specialisties company reached $350 million, about a 10 percent jump from 2011.

Innovations in the compound coatings field have transformed the ingredient.

“Many Brazilian chocolate experts travel to Europe and North America to take courses. Now they can find a high-level place around the corner, here in Brazil," explains Bertrand Busquet, French chef and technical advisor at the new Brazilian chocolate training center.

More good news for those looking to justify eating chocolate — a new study shows cocoa may help fight obesity-related inflammation diseases, such as diabetes.