The difference between cocoa and chocolate: understand the impact on taste and your health!

Chocolate, as we find it in supermarkets, is an industrialized product that contains cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sugar, milk and often additives such as emulsifiers and flavorings. The percentage of cocoa varies greatly: in milk chocolate, it is usually between 25% and 40%, while semi-sweet and bitter chocolates can have from 50% to over 80%.

White chocolate, despite its name, contains no cocoa mass, only cocoa butter, which makes it the "least chocolate" of all chocolates. It is also the richest in sugar and fat.

Cocoa, on the other hand, is the original ingredient - a seed rich in antioxidant flavonoids, theobromine (a stimulant similar to caffeine), and minerals such as iron, magnesium and zinc.

Studies show that consuming pure cocoa or chocolates with a high concentration of cocoa can benefit cardiovascular health, regulate mood and even improve brain function.

The key to a more conscious choice lies in the ingredients and the percentage of cocoa.

• The more cocoa, the more benefits and the less sugar.
• Chocolates above 70% cocoa are ideal if the focus is on health - although the taste is more intense and less sweet.
• Milk and white eggs, although more appealing to children's palates, contain less cocoa and more sugars, fats and additives.

It also helps to look at the list of ingredients and the order in which they appear: the earlier the sugar appears, the greater the amount in the product.

White chocolate:

• Cocoa (%): 0%
• Sugar: High
• Health benefits: None
• Taste: Sweet and creamy

Milk chocolate:

• Cocoa (%): 25-40%
• Sugar: High
• Health benefits: Few
• Taste: Sweet and balanced

Semi-sweet chocolate:

• Cocoa (%): 50-70%
• Sugar: Medium
• Health benefits: Moderate
• Flavor: More intense flavor

Dark chocolate:

• Cocoa (%): 70%+
• Sugar: Low
• Health benefits: High
• Flavor: Bitter and striking

Pure cocoa powder

• Cocoa (%): 100%
• Sugar: Zero
• Health benefits: Maximum
• Taste: Used as a base, not consumed pure

Next time you choose your Easter chocolate, think beyond the immediate taste. Cocoa is the silent hero behind chocolate - and the more present it is, the better for your health and your dining experience.

If you want to balance pleasure and health, go for semi-sweet or 70% cocoa. And if you're adventurous in the kitchen, using pure cocoa powder in recipes can turn your sweets into more nutritious versions