Chocolate comprises a number of raw and processed foods that are produced from the seed of the tropical cacao tree. Native to lowland, tropical South America, cacao has been cultivated for at least three millennia in Central America and Mexico, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC. The seeds of the cacao tree have an intense bitter taste, and must be fermented to develop the flavor. After fermentation, the beans are dried, cleaned, and roasted, and the shell is removed to produce cacao nibs.
How to make Chocolate
by: wikihow.com
Roast the cocoa beans. The process is similar to roasting coffee beans, except with gentler requirements: 5-35 minutes at temperatures between 120-163 degrees C (250-325 F). You must generally expose the beans to an initial high temperature, lower the temperature gradually, and stop roasting when the beans start to crack.
If roasting in your oven, you will need to do a bit of experimenting because roasting times depend on the type of bean you’re using. Lay the beans in a single layer across a cookie sheet. Start off with an 18 minute roast in a preheated oven at 150 degrees C
Read more..
Wine has been made for centuries from just a two simple ingredients: yeast and grape juice. Actually, just about any fruit juice can be used, but by far the majority of all wine is made from the juice of the grape.
The Basics of Making Wine
By Tim Tunis
It is popular new trend that has taken America by force, making wine. All across the nation people are making wine in garages, sheds and kitchens. Is it legal? Yes. Is it difficult to begin? No, all you need to start is a wine makers kit with all the ingredients: yeast, any kind of fruit juice (grape juice recommended for starters) and other additives to ensure sterility. You will also need a carboy (a special kind of glass container for the wine), a siphoning hose, an airtight rubber stopper and an airlock device (allows oxygen to escape during fermentation but does not allow any in). You will also need corks and bottles for bottling. Any wine bottles are good for use as long as they are sterilized beforehand, all these things can be purchased at your local winery or on a internet shop. Labels can also be purchased if you want to brand your wine.
Make sure you sterilize your hands, tools and work area before working with your wine; any bacteria at all can ruin a perfectly good batch of wine. Your wine kit should come with instructions on how to go at making the wine.
Read more..
