What Makes Chocolate Healthy?

What is the difference between bean to bar and tree to bar chocolate?

Dr. Beata Lerman explains the chocolate-making process from cacao farms to finished bars. She discusses how chocolate makers start with whole cacao beans, roasting and refining them, which differs from chocolatiers who use already-made chocolate to create confections. Some chocolate makers work directly with farmers to source beans and handle fermentation methods, placing them between bean to bar and tree to bar approaches. 

This episode covers the importance of fermentation, how yeast from banana leaves drives the process, and the impact of roasting on nutrients. Dr. Lerman also highlights why some companies use soy lecithin and what it indicates about chocolate quality. 

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Key Takeaways

1. The episode distinguishes between “bean to bar” and “tree to bar” chocolate. "Bean to bar" refers to chocolate makers who start with whole cacao beans and control each step until the finished chocolate bar. "Tree to bar" goes even further, involving direct relationships with farmers, starting from the cacao tree itself, ensuring greater traceability and authenticity.

2. There’s a crucial difference between chocolate makers and chocolatiers. Chocolate makers transform raw cacao beans into chocolate, mastering processes like roasting and winnowing, while chocolatiers are chefs or artists who use pre-made chocolate to craft confections, bonbons, and sculptures. Rarely do individuals or companies excel at both.

3. Large-scale chocolate production is often disconnected from cacao origins and focuses on mass processing, sometimes sacrificing ethics and quality. Artisanal makers, however, place emphasis on origins, flavor profiles, and ingredient quality, seeking to craft healthier, more authentic products.

4. Ingredient lists reveal quality. Additives like soy lecithin are common in ultra-processed chocolate to achieve shelf stability or emulsification. Truly healthy chocolate typically contains just cacao and perhaps sugar, without unnecessary additives, making it a functional food rather than an ultra-processed one.

5. The craft process—from cacao pod harvest, fermentation (noting the optimal six-day fermentation in the speaker’s method), sun-drying, gentle roasting, to stone grinding—directly impacts flavor and health. Controlled fermentation and minimal processing preserve nutraceuticals, vitamins, and amino acids, yielding chocolate that nourishes beyond taste.

Timestamped Overview

00:00 Chocolate Makers vs Chocolatiers

03:06 "Tree-to-Bar Artisan Chocolate Journey"

08:47 "Chocolate: Apocalypse Food and Emulsifiers"

12:28 Cacao Fermentation's Health Benefits

14:59 "Optimizing Fermentation for Healthier Chocolate"

18:09 Crafting Chocolate the Mayan Way

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