No, Dove chocolate is not "real" chocolate in the sense that many dark chocolate purists might define it. While it is undeniably chocolate, and uses cocoa beans in its production, it's categorized as milk chocolate, often containing significant amounts of milk solids and sugar. This distinguishes it from dark chocolate, which generally has a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less sugar.
What is Dove Chocolate?
Dove (sold as Galaxy in some regions) is a brand of chocolate owned and manufactured by Mars, a massive confectionery company. The brand offers a wide variety of milk chocolate products, including bars, candies, and even chocolate-flavored drinks and desserts. [Reference: Dove (sold as Galaxy in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East, India and Australia) is an American brand of chocolate owned and manufactured by Mars. Dove produces a wide range of chocolate candies, as well as other chocolate products such as milks, cakes and ice creams.]
Understanding "Real" Chocolate
The term "real chocolate" is subjective. For some, it implies a high percentage of cocoa solids, minimal sugar, and possibly organic or ethically sourced ingredients. For others, it simply means chocolate made from cocoa beans. Dove chocolate, while undoubtedly a chocolate product made from cocoa beans, fits the latter definition, but not necessarily the former, more refined one.
-
Dove's Composition: Dove chocolate primarily uses milk solids and sugar in addition to cocoa. This influences its taste and overall composition. The specific cocoa percentage varies depending on the specific Dove product.
-
Different Types of Chocolate: It's important to distinguish between various chocolate types: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, and others. Each has a distinct ratio of cocoa, milk, and sugar.
Conclusion
Dove is a brand of commercially produced milk chocolate. Whether this meets one's personal definition of "real chocolate" depends on individual preferences and standards.
