Have Your Herbal Chocolate And Eat It Too

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Herbal chocolate is not just a passing trend, because it's already a part of healthy lifestyles for people all over the world. The problem with traditional sweet chocolates is that every ounce contains 155 calories. It is choc-a-bloc full of sugar, along with an array of additives and preservatives. A healthy recipe would eliminate these harmful substances and allow people to enjoy the delicious sweetness without worrying about their weight or health risks.

Traditional chocolates are made by harvesting, fermenting, refining, roasting and grinding cocoa beans. Milk and sugar are then added for flavoring and the viscous liquid is stored for molding into smaller units in the desired shape. Going herbal requires a slight modification of this process, with some ingredients replaced by healthier options.

A large selection of herbs and naturally available ingredients can produce delicious chocolates with none of the excess calories or harmful additives. The simplest option is to mix honey with cocoa butter and some powdered cocoa. Flavoring may be added using mint, lavender, rose petals or cinnamon.

There's really no set formula that must be followed here. Just start with some dark chocolate and milk as the core ingredients. Those who are desperate to sink their fangs into something sweet should include honey as the third core component of the recipe. It replaces sugar and is a lot healthier while at the same time maintaining the delicious sweetness of the concoction.

The cocoa should be powdered in order to facilitate mixing and addition of just the right measure. The tried and tested combination that provides best results is a mix of three tablespoons of cocoa to go with three cups of milk and two spoons of honey. After this, the rest of the recipe can be whipped up by a process of experimentation to find a combination that matches preferences and tastes.

For instance, vanilla-flavored chocolates require nothing more than an addition of a few spoons of vanilla extract, which is available in organic gluten-free versions. To give it an edge of mint, simply add a couple of drops of peppermint oil. This is a concentrated oil that will suppress all other tastes and flavors if used in excess.

There is another possible recipe for those who want to completely avoid the carbohydrates and calories of a sweet concoction. This one replaces honey and milk with coconut oil and stevia. Add finely chopped mint leaves for natural flavoring. The cocoa powder and the rest of the ingredients must be added to heated and liquid coconut oil so that it mixes properly.

It's well-nigh impossible for such recipes to compete with global brands and their large factories and thousands of distributors. Even so, people manage to locate providers offering herbal alternatives that satisfy gastronomic urges without risking their health. It's always possible to cook up a batch at home. Herbal chocolate is not only good for the whole family, but is also the perfect holiday season gift. It is also the healthy option for kids who consume huge amounts of chocolates at birthday parties and other such celebrations.