*Semisweet chocolate is chocolate liquor to which sugar has been added, typically half the sugar content by weight.

*This type of chocolate has 52-65% of chocolate liquor.

*The semisweet chocolate has a semi sweet taste, a strong chocolate flavor, and a creamy consistency, melts easily and easy to work with.

*Generally, bittersweet and semisweet chocolates are interchangeable for baking purposes.

*Semisweet chocolate has chocolate liquor, sugar and vanilla. Sometimes soy lecithin is added to the semisweet chocolate to improve the texture.

*Sometimes bittersweet and semisweet chocolates are also referred to as couverture, meaning they have at least 32% of cocoa butter.

*It is obtained from grinding the dried partially fermented seeds or beans of the cocoa tree, Theobroma cacao, when the fat (called cocoa butter) in the seeds melts and produces a liquid chocolate called chocolate liquor, and then adding sugar to the chocolate liquor.

*The semisweet chocolate also has most of the antioxidants, flavonoids and other phytonutrients that are beneficial for the health.

*It is used for baking purposes, making other types of sweet chocolates, etc.

*Buying and storage: Buy good quality bittersweet chocolate in small amounts required. Wrap tightly in a foil or paper and store in a cool, dry, dark place, as it will easily absorb other strong flavors that are around.

Is it raw?

No, semisweet chocolate is made by adding sugar to chocolate liquor. Other substances like vanilla and soy lecithin are also added. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Semisweet chocolate has good amounts of antioxidants and flavonoids.

2. Antioxidants scavenge the free radicals, preserve the integrity of cell membranes and reduce the risk of heart diseases, inflammatory and degenerative diseases.

3. The beneficial cardiovascular effects are lowering the LDL cholesterol level in the blood, reducing the risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis, and promoting a healthy heart.

4. It can also lower and maintain the blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of hypertension, due to the flavonoids in chocolate having a vasodilating effect.

5. The flavonoids, epicatechin and gallic acid, have anti-carcinogenic properties, which are still being studied.

6. Research indicated that theobromine, the alkaloid present in chocolate, may be effective in preventing persistent coughing, soothing and moistening the throat. It is shown to be more effective than codeine, the component in many cough medicines.

7. Good source of Tryptophan, an essential amino acid present, which is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in the modulation of anger, mood, sleep, sexuality, appetite, etc. This amino acid, relaxes the mood, improves the quality of sleep and appetite.

8. Good source of Phenethylamine, an alkaloid, which acts as a stimulant and is sometimes described as a ‘love chemical’.

9. Moderate source of B-group vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6 and folic acid that are essential to enhance the energy production from the foods.

10. Moderate source of magnesium that helps in relieving fatigue, relaxing the muscles, nerves and blood vessels, thus relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine headaches, tension and soreness in muscles etc.

11. Moderate source of potassium, this along with low amount of sodium helps to maintain blood pressure, reduces water retention, helps transmit nerve impulses to muscles, and improves muscle contraction.

12. Moderate source of other minerals like calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc and manganese, which play a very important role in maintaining normal metabolic activities of the body.

13. Semisweet chocolate also has moderate amounts of protein and dietary fiber.

14. Dietary fiber, though present in moderate amounts, adds roughage to the contents of the intestines, promotes satiety, promotes the health of the colon, and also helps in relieving constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders, etc. It also reduces the risk for colon cancer.