Ever wonder how chocolate is made? The short story is that these are made from bitter cacao beans and then molded into chocolate bars. If you were a chocolate company like Hershey’s, you would need a lot of them and to give you an idea how it is made, here is a guide in the production process.
The first thing that needs to be done is to harvest the cacao beans. Large companies buy these from farmers or buy the farm and harvest these themselves. They then put these in an oven at a temperature between 120 to 163 degrees Celsius that is about 250 to 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 35 minutes.
Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack.
There are two reasons why cacao beans stay in an oven at varying times.
First is to prevent them from burning. Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack. Naturally, you will gradually lower the temperature and stop roasting them when the beans start to crack.
Second, the cooking time of cacao beans varies depending on the type of bean that is being used.
Since companies produce chocolates in vast quantities, the cacao beans are stored in drums and then rotated over a gas grill. After they are roasted, the beans must be cracked into small bits better known as nibs while those that can’t are removed.
The next step is to grind the nibs into a cacao liqueur. For that, you will need a machine to liquefy this and at the same time separate the remaining husks that were not removed after roasting.
You then conch and refine the chocolate so you are able to give the chocolate its distinct taste. This is what makes Hershey’s chocolates different than for example M&M which can be achieved by using a powerful wet grinder.
You first have to melt the chocolate and the cocoa butter in the over at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. You should then mix non fat dry milk powder, sugar, lecithin and a vanilla pod for about an hour. This mixture is then poured into a grinder together with some heat to keep the chocolate in liquid form. This should be refined for at least 10 hours but not more than 36 hours.
When it is ready, you then temper the chocolate so it looks shiny and soft enough to easily melt in your hand.
The second to the last part in making chocolate is to mold this into whatever shape or form that you would like. To produce these in vast quantities, chocolate companies but custom made molds. The chocolate is then poured there and after this is cooled, this is then packaged and ready for delivery to stores.
Some companies even sell these in the form of blocks so people can buy them, melt it and mold this to whatever shape they desire.
Making chocolate is easy as long as you have the equipment and all the ingredients needed. It doesn’t matter if this is produced in large volumes or in small quantities because the principle behind it is the same. If you want to learn more about making chocolate, sign up for some classes.
Most people love eating sweets. This is why chocolates are a booming biz and have continued its prominence through time. If you know your way into making chocolate, you might as well earn from the process.
It is easy to market such treat because you will find people who love it anywhere you go. All you need to remember now is how you will be able to market your products the right way and the most beneficial towards your end.
The Four Ps of Marketing
Consider this strategy when you are on the planning stage of your sweets biz. If you are just starting out and just want to make extra income through the product that you will also enjoy, here's a brief explanation of this concept.
Product
The first P is the product. You have to know your product well, in this instance, your chocolates. To be able to tell people good things about what you are selling, you must know first and foremost everything about it.
Yes, it is a good idea if you will take time to research about the scientific background of this treat. But you can also just focus on what you want to sell.
You may want to focus on chocolate cakes. Or how about chocolates in gift baskets? There are many options that you can try for such reason.
Place
Where are you located? Who lives in your neighborhood? And how often do you think they will buy? You have to think about those things to be able to plan out accordingly what will be a big hit for these people. You must give them what they are looking for. You must present them with new ideas that you are very sure that they will like.
It is a good thing that you are from the area. You no longer have to resort on hiring people to do a market analysis to know who these people are. Just spread your wings and increase your public relations. This will also increase the probability that these people are going to buy from you.
Price
You must offer your products at rates that your target market can afford. To decide easily about this matter, you must study your direct competitors. You no longer have to hire someone to do this. All you need is to buy their products to know about their pricing. You must not be too far away from their strategies. People are looking for quality products at rates they can afford. So the best thing that you can do is to give them what they are looking for.
Promotion
Your biz, however small it is, will not survive without venturing into promotions. As a startup of a small business, you can start the buzz about you through word of mouth. To achieve this, you must first come with a very good product. Give those out to people the first few days. If you are confident with what you are selling, for sure, people will also like it. They will be your good source of free advertising.
Turn your hobby of making chocolate into a fun-filled and profit generating venture. Consider the abovementioned in starting up your biz. Create a noise for yourself and establish your name in the industry.
In time, you will find your niche. You never know, your hobby can turn into one money-making road to your own success.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy