White Chocolate

Until recently, white chocolate was not considered chocolate because it contains no cocoa solids, which are brown. Lesser-quality varieties contained palm kernel oil, so, in fact, they contained no chocolate component whatsoever. White chocolate, which is now recognized as real white chocolate, contains cocoa butter, milk solids, vanilla or vanillin, sugar, and lecithin. U.S. government standards require a minimum of 20 percent cocoa butter and 14 percent milk solids. High-quality white chocolate, however, contains about 30 to 35 percent cocoa butter, 21 to 27 percent milk solids, and 38 to 44 percent sugar. White chocolate can have no fat other than the cocoa butter that gives it its lovely deep ivory color and luxurious texture. Green & Black’s white chocolate also contains the delicious little seeds of vanilla bean.