http://www.boxochocolates.com/chocolate/dutch-chocolate.html Dutch chocolate is chocolate that's gone through a process called "dutching." This process is what gives Dutch chocolate a milder flavor and different color. en-us Tue, 11 Oct 2005 14:38:24 EDT Tue, 11 Oct 2005 14:38:24 EDT Weblog Editor 2.0 Who can you thank for chocolate being as available to everyone as it is today? The Dutch! Dutch Chocolate and the Industrial Revolution When you do research on Dutch chocolate, you're likely to find many versions of the same true story about a Dutch inventor named C. J. van Houten who invented a machine to process cocoa. This machine was called a cocoa press, and it helped in the process of alkalizing and defatting the chocolate. This is a process called "Dutching," and the cocoa press revolutionized the chocolate industry by making chocolate affordable so everyone could enjoy it. The alkalizing process also changes the color of the chocolate and gives it a more mild flavor. Cocoa that's gone through this Dutching process is referred to as Dutch chocolate, and it's an ingredient in many desserts, dessert mixes and drink mixes. Speaking of drinks....there's an alcoholic beverage called Vermeer that's made from Dutch chocolate, dairy cream and vodka. If you prefer a healthier drink, many low carb shakes and protein powders come in Dutch chocolate flavor. And of course, there's always Dutch chocolate cake and ice cream, too. One of the first Dutch chocolates ever invented was meant to melt in your mouth. In fact, the shape of it indicates that it was meant for just that purpose--flat on the bottom and round on top--the perfect size to sit on on your tongue and melt between your tongue and the roof of your mouth. Yummo! Although Dutch chocolate isn't gourmet chocolate in the sense that other European chocolate is (like Belgian chocolate or Swiss chocolate) it is still an important piece of chocolate history. Tue, 11 Oct 2005 14:38:24 EDT