Everyone loves eating chocolates, be it Dairy Milk, Lindt, or Hershey’s. Despite their different names, and chocolate quality, one thing that remains similar and consistent about chocolates all over the world are those tiny squares or rectangles. These squares are something we barely notice, we simply snap them off and enjoy. However, these ‘handy groves’ are not for an aesthetic appeal, or ease of sharing. The reason behind this lies in confectionary engineering.
The Confectionary Engineering and Manufacturing
The primary reason for these dividers is called ‘scoring’ in the industry. When chocolate is tempered, which means the process of heating and cooling, to ensure cocoa crystallizes correctly. Later, it is poured into molds. These grooves increase the surface area of the chocolate bar. This uniformity helps it to cool down quickly. If these dividers would not exist, our chocolate bars would remain hard on the edges, and soft inside. This would lead to an inconsistent texture.
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The Physics Behind ‘Snap’ Of A Chocolate
A good chocolate is known by its snap - the sound it makes when the chocolate is broken. This sound is a sign of proper tempering. This also prevents the chocolate from becoming messy, inconsistent, and also keeps your fingers clean and portion size controlled.
Chocolate’s Shape Dictates Its Taste
Another interesting fact about these shapes is that, it also dictates the taste of the chocolate. Surprisingly, thinner squares with more surface area melt quickly when placed on the tongue. Since, a chocolate’s flavour is released as it melts, these segments optimise the taste of a chocolate.
Functional Aspect |
Purpose in Confectionary
Thermal Dynamics
Promotes rapid and even cooling process of chocolate
Structural Integrity
Ensures clean break along the tempered chocolate structure
Sensory Design
Optimises melting point and flavour release on the tongue
Portion Control
Visual and physical guide for serving
Conclusion
The next time you savour a bar of chocolate, take a moment to appreciate the geometry, physics and chemistry behind it. As you enjoy the taste of it, don’t forget to remember the culinary art behind those grooves.
(Image Credits: Pinterest)
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