Dove chocolate is made through a process that focuses on achieving its signature silky-smooth texture. It begins with carefully selected cocoa beans and involves cleaning, roasting, and refining.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
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Cleaning and Winnowing: The cocoa beans are first cleaned to remove any impurities. Then, they undergo winnowing, which separates the outer shells from the cocoa nibs (the core of the bean).
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Roasting: The cocoa nibs are then roasted. This process develops the characteristic chocolate flavor and aroma.
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Grinding and Mixing: The roasted nibs are ground into a cocoa liquor. This liquor is then mixed with other ingredients, such as sugar and milk (for milk chocolate), according to Dove's specific recipes.
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Roll Refining: This is a crucial step in creating Dove's smooth texture. The mixture is passed through rollers that refine the cocoa particles to a very small size (micro-particles). This ensures a melt-in-your-mouth feel.
In essence, Dove's unique process, particularly the roll refining stage, is key to achieving its distinctive, silky-smooth chocolate.
