Cocoa solids require the addition of extra cocoa butter to cocoa liquor, leading to a cocoa solids surplus and thus a relatively cheap supply of cocoa powder. This contrasts with the earliest European usage of cocoa where, before milk and dark chocolate was popularized, cocoa powder was the primary product and cocoa butter was little more than a waste product. Cocoa solids contain flavanol antioxidants, amounts of which are reduced if the cocoa is subjected to acid-reducing alkalization. Health benefits have been attributed to cocoa flavonoids. Natural cocoa powder has a light brown color and an extractable pH of 5.3 to 5.8.
Top Chef: Just Desserts (season 2) and Carlos) Display piece: Red blown sugar Entremet cake: Hazelnut Dacquois, passion fruit gelee, milk jam and whipped java cream Savory bread: Focaccia with olive oil, fresh thyme and salt Bonbons: Key lime ganache and speculoos Plated dessert: Dark chocolate flourless cake, raspberry mousse, pecan streusel and milk ice cream Sally (sous chefs Vanarin and Orlando) Display piece: Chocolate with orange chocolate flowers Entremet cake: Chocolate mousee, mango vanilla cream, caramel cremeux and almond petit fours Savory bread: Parker house roll with bacon, onions and gruyere cheese Bonbons: Salted caramel milk chocolate Plated dessert: White chocolate espresso mousse, chocolate cremeux,