Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa powder is pulverized pure chocolate liquor with three-quarters of its cocoa butter removed. Most European cocoa powder is Dutch processed, which means that the cocoa powder has been treated with a mild alkali to mellow its flavor by neutralizing acidity and make it more soluble. The term “alkalized” may appear on the container, but a darker colored powder is a good indication that alkalization has taken place. Most alkalized cocoa contains 22 to 25 percent cocoa butter, while nonalkalized cocoa may contain only 10 to 21 percent cocoa butter. I prefer the flavor of alkalized cocoa.