You might be perfectly happy with a simple square or two of Hershey’s, but the fabulousness of chocolate goes well beyond that basic bar. Explore the chocolate world and you’ll find some surprises… including something pink!

Milk Chocolate

Milk chocolate must contain 25% cocoa and 14% milk-derived substances. It’s typically made of sugar, milk powder, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor (a combination of cocoa butter and cocoa solids that results from the grinding of cocoa nibs), soy lecithin, which is a food additive made from soybeans, and vanilla.

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Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate contains at least 50% cocoa solids—there are varying levels of dark chocolate, some with as much as 90% cocoa solids. Dark chocolate may also contain cocoa butter and sugar, and lower quality chocolates may also include butter fat, vegetable oils, or artificial colors or flavors.

Photography: Pinterest/Kathleen | The Floured Table

Unsweetened chocolate

Unsweetened chocolate is a type of dark chocolate that’s 100% cocoa, with no sugar or other additives. It's made from the entire bean (that’s ground up), and so contains both cocoa solids and fat. It’s very bitter and is typically used in baking.

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White Chocolate

White chocolate is made using only cocoa butter (the fat from the cocoa bean) but none of the brown-colored cocoa liquor. It also contains sugar and milk, and sometimes vanilla. Because it doesn’t contain cocoa liquor, some people say white chocolate is not truly chocolate, but you don’t see them turning it down!

Cocoa Powder

After cacao beans have been fermented, roasted and pressed to extract most of the cocoa butter, what’s leftover is cocoa powder. The flavorful powder is bitter and strong and adds a concentrated chocolate flavor to baked goods.

Couverture chocolate

Used by discriminating bakers and pastry chefs, couverture chocolate has a high percentage of cocoa butter (around 30-40%). It contains cocoa solids and sugar, as well, but it’s known and loved for its high ratio of cocoa butter. It’s also ground to a finer texture, which contributes to its smooth texture and luxurious, rich flavor.

Photography: Pinterest/HappyBeanChocolate

Ruby Chocolate

This pinkish-purplish type of chocolate is created from a distinct variety of cacao beans that are grown in specific regions of Ecuador, Brazil and Ivory Coast. The bean has a pink-red color and a slightly sweet, fruity flavor. It’s very tasty and more expensive than other types of chocolate.