Selecting Chocolate

In the United States, the manufacturing and labeling of chocolate is closely controlled by government regulations, and labels can provide a good deal of information for those who know how to interpret them. No label, however, has ever defined the flavor or quality of the chocolate the package contains; this crucial step is up to the confectioner. Years ago, it was virtually impossible to find American-made world-class chocolate; it simply did not exist. Happily, this situation has changed, and several American manufacturers are now making chocolate that equals the best-quality couverture from anywhere in the world.