Van Houten Hot Chocolate (100 sachets)

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Some chocolate pioneers have amassed decades of chocolate expertise-this includes perfecting the art and science of chocolate making.

In 1828, Casparus van Houten Sr. (and not his son, who is usually credited) [1] patented an inexpensive method for pressing the fat from roasted cocoa beans. The center of the bean, known as the "nib", contains an average of 54% of cocoa butter, which is a natural fat. Van Houten's machine – a hydraulic press – reduced the cocoa butter content by nearly half. This created a "cake" that could be pulverized into cocoa powder, which was to become the basis of all chocolate products. Courtwright, David T. (2002). Forces of Habit: Drugs and the Making of the Modern World. Harvard UP. p.25. ISBN 978-0-674-01003-1. Coenraad Van Houten introduced a further improvement by treating the powder with alkaline salts ( potassium or sodium carbonates) so that the powder would mix more easily with water. Today, this process is known as "Dutching". The final product, Dutch chocolate, has a dark color and a mild taste. [2] Later career [ edit ] Coenraad's son Casparus Johannes (1844–1901), employed since 1865, had a gift for marketing and contributed greatly to the growth of the company. Advertisements for Van Houten could be found on trams throughout Europe and the United States. As early as 1899, Van Houten produced a commercial film that depicted a sleepy clerk who recovers miraculously after eating some chocolate. [3] The factory was a boost for the town of Weesp, whose population doubled in the second half of the 19th century. Casparus Jr. had himself built a 99-room Jugendstil villa in Weesp, by the renowned architect Abraham Salm (1857–1915). [4] Work was started in 1897 but not completed until 1901, the year he died. [5]Riding on its success, Van Houten expanded rapidly and by the end of the 19th century, it had expanded into the United Kingdom, the United States, France and Germany. By then, the Van Houten name was synonymous with high quality cocoa powder. What sound does it make when you break a piece off a chocolate bar? You want to hear a nice snap. Higher quality chocolates have higher levels of cocoa butter, smaller particle size and are well tempered which will yield a crisp, clean snap.

The ultimate connoisseur involves all five senses to appreciate his or her chocolate. Here are some suggestions to help you to derive the greatest pleasure and satisfaction from chocolate: Your sense of touch will tell you how smooth or how even a chocolate bar is. When you touch the chocolate, it should not melt immediately in your hands, this is an indication of how well it has been tempered and stored. Cocoa mass was treated with alkaline salts to remove the bitter taste and make cocoa solids more water-soluble; the resulting product is called “Dutch process” chocolate. Today, this process is known as “Dutching”. The final product, Dutch chocolate, has a dark color and a mild taste. Choose from an extensive range of quality hot chocolate mixes from leading brands, all of which have been carefully selected by us to offer you a mind-blowing chocolate taste for your drinks and beverages. Ideal for use with either hot water or milk, this collection takes your hot chocolate drinks to the next level with exceptional taste, luxurious texture and great value for money. The Chocolate Mix Range

Create your perfect hot, smooth and delicious hot chocolate drink with our extensive range of chocolate mixes. From hot chocolate powders and hot malty blends to hot chocolate bags, you’ll find numerous options in our selection including dark, milk and white chocolates, allowing you to experiment with different flavours and create drinks that are truly special. a b "Onderzoekers in actie: Peter van Dam De geschiedenis van de firma Van Houten Cacao" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007 . Retrieved 25 May 2008. Good chocolate should have a consistent color, texture and a natural-looking finish, free of air bubbles and blemishes.