The Deceptive Truth About Chocolate That You're Likely Unaware Of

Let's face it, not everything that we refer to as chocolate is authentic chocolate. There are regulations that help us understand what we are consuming, and it can either be chocolate or compound chocolate, which is also quite enjoyable, by the way. Authentic chocolate is made from cocoa mass and cocoa butter. If the packaging contains cocoa powder and vegetable fat, it is compound chocolate. Genuine chocolate should consist of at least 35% cocoa solid and roughly 18% cocoa butter. If you try both types of chocolate, you'll likely discover that the compound one is more flavorful since it has various flavorings. Not surprisingly, compound chocolate appears to be much more popular than authentic chocolate since it is less expensive and easier to store.

White chocolate, on the other hand, is not compound chocolate. It is not even related to chocolate. While compound chocolate has cocoa particles, white chocolate has none. It does, however, have cocoa butter, which is a little different from that in genuine chocolate. The cocoa butter in white chocolate does not give it the distinctive chocolate flavor. Additionally, authentic chocolate contains specific compounds that trigger our brains and make us happy. As a result, white chocolate cannot do the same.

Many people love Nutella, but have you ever considered how many nuts are in each jar? According to the company, each jar contains about 50 hazelnuts, which may seem like a lot, but they only make up around 13% of the jar's content. Sugar and palm oil make up 50% of the content of Nutella. The original recipe for Nutella was far more nutty. Nutella was inspired by a traditional Piedmont recipe called gianduja. It was a blend of chocolate with 30% hazelnut paste in the late 18th century. It had various interpretations and could be used as a filling for chocolates or eaten as bars. In the mid-20th century, the recipe was modified, and it contained a whopping 71.5% hazelnuts and only about 19.5% chocolate.

Now, let's talk about another global commodity, coffee. First, let's debunk a myth: there is no such thing as 100% decaffeinated coffee. Any coffee that has at least 97% caffeine removed is considered decaf. There are a few different methods of removing caffeine, including using a special solvent to wash the coffee beans and then washing off the caffeine once it has been removed. Another method called The Swiss water process involves carbon dioxide or a charcoal filter. Coffee beans are actually the pits of berries, so your morning coffee is a drink made of stewed fruit.

Instant noodles may not contain any hidden lies, but they have a fascinating backstory. While the modern version of instant noodles is undoubtedly Japanese, the very first prototype was invented in China. The noodles were fried and then served in soup. According to a legend, a chef boiled already-cooked noodles again to rescue them. He then fried them in hot oil, and the modern Japanese version was created to extend the food's shelf life. Instant noodles were initially considered a luxury item since they were more expensive than the fresh noodles that everyone was accustomed to.

Here is the context: We all love lemonade, and pink lemonade has that lovely color due to grape juice or added colorants. Two legends claim to explain how it was created, both involving circus workers. The first tale alleges that Henry E. Allot, a circus worker, inadvertently dropped a few red cinnamon candies in the lemonade, which gave it its vibrant pink hue. The second story is somewhat repugnant, claiming that another circus worker named Pete Conklin once ran out of water for lemonade and used the water from the tub where one of his colleagues had washed her red stockings. The water turned pink after the stockings were washed, and thus, the pink lemonade was born.

So, while both tales may be interesting, the truth of how pink lemonade came to be is somewhat murky. It is possible that the first tale is more believable, as cinnamon candies have been used in various drinks and food items to add color and flavor. However, the second story is certainly more intriguing, if not a little disgusting. Regardless of which tale is true, we can all agree that pink lemonade is a refreshing and delicious beverage that we enjoy on hot summer days.