How to make chocolate at home

Chocolate is a delicious dessert that many people enjoy. Making homemade chocolate is truly a wonderful experience. It can be the most delicious chocolate you ever had, and it is fun to make.

One great thing about chocolate is that it is versatile. You can put in on many things, and serve it with almost anything. There are many different kinds, and each offers a unique flavor.

In this article, we will be making real, pure chocolate, which many consider to be bitter. This kind of chocolate is said to be heart healthy and it is rich with antioxidants, which keep your immune system up and ready.

Ingredients

1 lb. of raw cocoa beans (you can find these online or at a farmer's market)
1/2 cup of sugar
Additional flavoring (mint, cherry)

Steps

1.
Roast the raw cocoa beans. Put a single layer of beans on a cookie sheet.Roast them for about 30 minutes in a 300 degree oven. Let the beans cool, and pull the husks off. Discard of the husks or add them to a compost pile.

2.
Break up the beans. This can be done with a hammer and washcloth, or you can use a mortar and pestle. When they are in pieces, grind them in a clean pepper grinder, or continue using the mortar.

3.
When the pieces of bean are small, continue mashing with the mortar and pestle. By this point the beans will have turned into a brown mush. It may look good, but it tastes very bitter.

4.
Heat a large pan of water until it is hot, but not boiling. Transfer the cocoa bean paste to a smaller pan. Place the smaller pan in the pan of hot water. When the paste is heated, but not cooking, transfer the paste back into the bowl and continue to work with the mortar. Continue to use the mortar on the paste until it is of a smooth consistency.

5.
Add the sugar and flavoring, if you decide to use any. When the sugar and flavorings are mixed in, pour the chocolate into molds, or a large pan that you can cut into small bars. Let the chocolate cool and harden. This can be done a room temperature, or in the fridge covered by foil.