There are several different varieties of chocolate available on the market today, but most people do not know what exactly the difference is between them. Chocolate is characterized by the amount of cocoa in the mixture and the other ingredients that are included. Some chocolate are not meant to be eaten alone, and are only good for cooking. Other types of chocolate are available to consume immediately. The following are some of the most popular variations of chocolate, and the means by which they are classified:

Dark Chocolate

The rules and regulations for classifying dark chocolate can vary depending on parts of the world. This chocolate never contains solids from milk, but contains cocoa butter and sweeteners. In European nations, dark chocolate must contain at least 35% cocoa solids, and in the United States, it must contain 15% chocolate liquor concentrate.

Milk Chocolate

Powdered and condensed milk is used in the production of milk chocolate. The mixture must contain at least 25% cocoa solids in Europe, and the requires at least 12% milk solids and 10% chocolate liquor in the United States. This type of chocolate is the most common in chocolate gifts,  candy, and for consuming immediately.

Semi-Sweet Chocolate

This product is manufactured from unsweetened chocolate liquor, and sugar, cocoa butter, vanilla, and lecithin is mixed into the chocolate. This type of chocolate usually contains between 35% and 50% of unsweetened chocolate.

Couverture Chocolate

These are the gourmet chocolates that are rich in cocoa butter, which gives the product a high fat content. Cocoa butter is extracting from the chocolate liquor, and they contain a high percentage of cocoa. Cocoa is the powder that is left over when the butter is taken out of the chocolate liquor.

White Chocolate

This product is not really chocolate at all, since it does not contain 100% chocolate solid base. White chocolate actually contains no cocoa solids, but simply made up of sugar, milk solids, and cocoa butter. Many people think white chocolate is a type of chocolate, but the name does not mean this is true.

These are just a few of the types of chocolate available for consumption. You should try as many variations of this wonderful food as you can, and explore the distinct tastes of this sweet confection.