Milk Chocolate: Cadbury, Truffles And Fondue

For many people worldwide, there is nothing like the creamy and delicious taste of milk chocolate to satisfy a sweet tooth. There are several other assortments of chocolate such as dark chocolate, white chocolate, and semi-sweet chocolate. So what is it about milk chocolate that makes it one of the most popular choices for curbing a chocolate craving?

The origins of chocolate date back as far as the Mayan Civilization in 600 AD. Chocolate was initially enjoyed in its liquid form. The original chocolate drink was just plain cocoa beans until an Englishman, Sir Hans Sloan, traveling in South America developed a milk chocolate recipe and brought it back to Europe. One of the most famous manufacturers of chocolate, Cadbury, adapted his recipe for making milk chocolate, which eventually was molded into bar form. The Cadbury recipe is comparable to the recipe for milk chocolate that is still used today.

Chocolate liquid, cocoa butter, milk or cream, sweetening, and special flavorings are combined to make milk chocolate. Due to this sweet combination of ingredients, milk chocolate is considered one of the best forms of chocolate for eating. For this reason, it's often the type of chocolate selected to make chocolate candy, for baking, and for use as a coating.

The Cadbury's are still important players in the the chocolate manufacturing industry. Cadbury milk chocolate is used to make a variety of chocolate treats. Every year Easter baskets are adorned with various Cadbury eggs, the most famous being Cadbury Creme Eggs. Cadbury Creme Eggs are only available during the Easter season, and are available in Chocolate Creme, Caramel, and as Mini Egg candies.

Milk chocolate can also be used as the main ingredient to create other delicious chocolate treats. Milk chocolate truffles are made by combining milk chocolate with butter and cream, forming the mixture into balls, and then coating with cocoa powder. Truffles get their name from their similarity in appearance to decadent and expensive mushrooms called truffles. They are often included in gift boxes with other varieties of chocolate candies on holidays such as Valentine's Day or Mother's Day. Godiva and Dove are two brands that sell milk chocolate truffles.

Another treat is chocolate fondue. Chocolate fondue is made by melting chocolate with milk or cream. Fruit is often then dipped into the mixture to make a delicious and interactive dessert. Strawberries are one of the more popular fruits used to dip into chocolate fondue. To experience chocolate fondue as part of a total dining experience, one could go to one of the many restaurants that specialize in chocolate fondue. The most well-known of these restaurants is The Melting Pot, the largest fondue restaurant franchise in the United States.

Milk chocolate is enjoyed in a variety of ways. Whether one enjoys eating Cadbury eggs at Easter, rolling chocolate truffles, making chocolate-dipped strawberries or using milk chocolate as an integral ingredient in other delicious chocolate treats, the sweet and creamy taste is what makes it one of the most favorite varieties of chocolate for eating.


Sources:
History of Chocolate. Cadbury. Cadbury Trebor Bassett. 2007. 4 April 2007
http://www.cadbury.com/
Chocolate Glossary. Cocoa Java Cafe. 2001-2007. 4 April 2007
http://cocoajava.com/cocoa_glossary.html
Recipe Files: Chocolate Truffles. Cooking for Engineers. 18 Nov. 2006. 4 April 2004.
http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe.php?id =195&title=Chocolate+Truffles
The Melting Pot. The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. 2003. 4 April 2007.http://www.meltingpot.com/.