Harmful ingredients in cocoa butter: Not all cocoa butter creams are safe and effective. You need to be precise in choosing the best cocoa butter cream from the market. Therefore, you need to be precise in choosing the best cocoa butter cream from the market. To choose wisely, you need to know harmful chemicals that maybe present in cocoa butter creams and lotions. It is better to know various chemicals and brands that contain harmful ingredients. Below are the list of ingredients that make cocoa butter harmful and dangerous:

1. Artificial Fragrances: As we know cocoa butter is a naturally obtained product. But artificial additives are often used in personal care products like cocoa butter to enhance fragrance and make it look more natural and chocolaty. Artificial chemicals are also easily absorbed by our skin and are stored in the fat cells of the body. In course of time, this creates skin problems. Several researchers have advised that use of artificial products can increase the risk of breast cancer and health problems. So when you buy cosmetic products, check if they are natural and if there are any harmful chemicals in them.

2. Propylene Glycol: Propylene glycol is a chemical which is used for industrial applications like anti-freeze, hydraulic fluid and brake fluid. Propylene glycol is added in face creams and lotions like cocoa butter because it has the capability to keep skin moist and prevent it from dryness.  This chemical can cause irritation and also harm eyes when used. Cocoa butter creams and lotions contain propylene glycol which have the greater risk of causing skin irritation. So it is better to consult dermatitis before you use lotions.

3. Parabens: Parabens is used in food and pharmaceuticals as a preservative. It takes the same role in skin lotions and creams made using cocoa butter. Parabens are added in cocoa butter creams to improve its emulsifying capabilities and product stability. Parabens contain methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, butlyparaben and benzylparaben. So these chemicals can increase the risk of breast cancer by regulating estradiol which is the main cause of breast tumor cells. Creams and lotions of cocoa butter are easily absorbed by the skin. So, when parabens too are absorbed, they may cause illness or harm to the skin in the long term.  Avoid cosmetic products which contain parabens.

4. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the chemical agent which causes foaming in soaps and shampoos. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also used in several industrial applications, such as car engine degreasers, car wash soaps and garage floor cleaners. This chemical causes carcinogenic nitrates and dioxins when added to personal care products. So Sodium Lauryl Sulfate has the greater risk of causing itchiness and rashes in the skin.

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Demerits of Cocoa Butter: Before knowing about the adverse effects of cocoa butter, let us have a look on the grievances in the cultivation of cocoa beans.

Troubled Labor: Developing countries are the growing bed for most of the cocoa beans. The six largest cocoa producing countries according to the Global Exchange are the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria and Cameroon. Child labor is a heart breaking social evil that is prevailing in many of these developing countries. Would any cocoa consumer be happy and joyful if they know that the tasty end product involves the life killing pain of young talents?

“As of 2002, about 300,000 children worked in cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. Few as feasible victims of human trafficking, while many others were continuing  to adore it as a business for their impoverished family” said The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

We are happy when the delicious chocolates with cocoa butter are labeled as “Best Quality Pure candies made from organic cocoa beans, quality guaranteed.” etc. Any product labeled “Organic” indicates that it is free from chemical pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms or ionizing radiation. But these certifications that make us happy have already made many workers gloomy while harvesting, transporting etc. due to the ill-treatment.

Predominant fears of cocoa butter consumption: Cocoa butter is popularly known as a quick remedy for acne. It is a good moisturizer and has been used for ages past for various skin remedies. But many fail to realize that cocoa butter would have an adverse effect on acne as it is reported to clog pores and lead to increased breakouts.

Cocoa butter is also known as theobroma oil. As per a research study it is proven that the intake of 1,000 mg or more of theobromine (222 g of dark chocolate) may cause excitement, extrasystoles, headache, insomnia, mild delirium, muscle tremor, nausea, restlessness, and tachycardia.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome should restrict consuming cocoa. Instruct the patient with cardiovascular disease or special dietary restrictions to minimize consumption of chocolate products containing cocoa butter because it contains high sodium and fat content.

The arrhythmias or significant cardiovascular diseased patients should be cautioned about the ingestion of large quantities of chocolate products because of the risk of xanthine-induced arrhythmia.

People using cosmetics and toiletries made of cocoa butter should be aware that it may cause some allergic reactions and may lead to itching, prolonged irritation, adult acne, swelling and other such syndromes. So, it is always advisable to consult your dermatologist before opting for any of these products. Every coin has two sides, Cocoa butter is no exception to this principle. It is in the hands of the user to cherish its major significance over its minor drawbacks.

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Cocoa butter lotions can be categorized as hand and body lotions as these parts of the body tend to dry quickly. This article will explain the steps to make cocoa butter lotion/cream right from your kitchen.

How to make cocoa butter at home: Cocoa butter is an important ingredient in chocolate making and it carries the same significance in the making of body lotions as well.

Things Needed:

• Cocoa Butter – 1 oz
• Almond Oil – 1 oz
• Beeswax – 1 oz
• Jar
• Bowl
• Double Burner or Microwave
• Adhesive Label

Preparation Method:

1. Mix 1 oz. of cocoa butter  with 1 oz. of beeswax over a double burner. Stir the mix continuously until it melts together. If not in a double burner, you can alternatively heat the items together in a microwave. Heat the mixture for 30-second increments until the ingredients are melted. After each time increment of heat, take out the bowl and stir the mix for even more heating. As the medley begins to melt, lower the heating increments to 15 seconds each to ensure that the ingredients do not burn.

2. Add 1 oz. of almond oil into the melted mixture and stir well until the ingredients are mixed perfectly. A blender can also be used to mix the ingredients. To be simple, you can very well use a spoon. Mixing with a spoon will not take more than two minutes. The lotion will be effective only if these ingredients are blended properly or any of these ingredients may stagnate separately in the container.

3. Pour the blended medley into a jar before the lotion begins to set. This is because when the liquid starts to thicken, it would take the shape of the jar and the additional work of dumping it from another container could be avoided.  After sometime the lotion will begin to settle down as a thick cream in the jar.

4. This homemade cream can be used for approximately one to two weeks. Label the jar using an adhesive label and a marker mentioning the date in which it is produced. This would be helpful in using the cream.

5. Storage guidelines: Place the jar in the refrigerator. Try this simple method of making cocoa butter creams at your home and avoid wasting time searching for the same in the market.

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Nowadays, technology is growing at a rapid pace and people have started depending on others for each and every need of theirs. Even in this modern era, there are certain things that make us independent and happy and one such is making your own body bar with your favorite cocoa butter. By avoiding the body bars available in the market, you can save your skin from the harmful chemicals added to it.  Cocoa butter is a natural moisturizer that has been used for hundreds of years to keep skin feeling soft and supple. These body bars can be made at your home easily with simple ingredients.

How to make cocoa butter body bars: There are no hard and fast rules for making a body bar. Just follow these simple steps of soapmaking in a systematic way will be more than enough for a cocoa butter body bar

Things Needed:

• Cocoa Butter – 1 cup
• Shea Butter – 1 cup
• Beeswax Pellets – 2 cups
• Sweet Almond Oil – 1 cup
• Jojoba Oil – ½ cup
• Coconut Oil – ½ cup
• Essential Oil – ½ tsp
• Double Boiler
• Soap Molds
• Storage Container

Method of Preparation:

1. Take the double boiler and to the top portion, mix cocoa butter, shea butter, almond oil and beeswax pellets together. Add water to the bottom portion of the boiler. Heat the pan on medium temperature after placing the pan with the butter mixture on top of the base pan that contains water. Heat the pan until the butter mixture melts together. Confirm that all of the beeswax pellets have melted. Remove the double boiler from  heat and allow the butter mixture to cool for 2 minutes.

2. Pour the jojoba oil and the coconut oil to the butter mixture. Mix them slowly to allow the oils to fully fuse with the butter and the beeswax. This blended mixture forms the base of the body bar.

3. The body bar at this stage would hold the natural fragrance of coconut oil and if you are pleased with the divine smell of coconut oil, you can leave it without adding any of the essential oils. If you are interested in adding any essential oil, you can add those mild flavors like lavender, jasmine or vanilla. They create a pleasant aroma when combined with your cocoa butter body bars.

4. Pour the warm mixture into soap molds . There is no need to set up your body bars in your boiler pan again.

5. After pouring the mixture into the soap molds, allow them to cool completely. You can now gift wrap these special bars either for your friends or your family to make them feel the special touch of cocoa butter and your love as you have specially made the soap yourself with lot of care.

6. Storage guidelines: Store the new cocoa butter body bars in the freezer or in a cool room till you use them.

Homemade CB3 or Cocoa Butter Body Bar will be a unique experience for anyone who is used to market bars. The right formula for fascinating beauty, cocoa butter body bars is something that will save your wallet as well as your skin!

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How to make cocoa butter lotion: The making of cocoa butter cream is easy and is less expensive unlike the ones sold in the market.

Things required:

• Cocoa Butter
• Coconut Oil
• Essential Oil
• Blender
• Vitamin E Capsules
• Liquid Lecithin
• Bottle with a lid

Steps to make cocoa butter lotion:

1. To start with the initial process, take a blender and add ¾ cups of coconut oil, ¼ cup of pure cocoa butter and 1 tbsp. of liquid lecithin. If you are unable to get coconut oil, you can replace it with sweet almond oil. Coconut oil is ideal to treat all types of skin. The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture. It makes an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough and wrinkled skin.

2. Most of the body lotions are made special by the aroma or the flavor they possess. The most popular combinations that are made with cocoa butter body lotion are vanilla, coffee, chocolate or any one of the fruit essential oils.  Add 15 drops of essential oil to the mixture. If you are a variety lover, you can either add a combination of two or more essential oils.

3. Take two 400 IU vitamin E capsules and squeeze the oil from it. Add the extracted oil from the capsule to the blender. Vitamin E is an amazing supplement, which is highly essential to life. It has a powerful antioxidant property that protects your skin throughout the day and supports circulation. Thus it is rightly called as the “wonder drug”.

4. Until the ingredients are mixed well, blend them on a whip.

5. Pour the finely mixed cocoa butter lotion into a bottle and close it with a lid that is perfectly fitting. The wonder skin remedy is ready right in front of you.

6. Shake the bottle well every time, before using your body lotion,. Apply it twice daily for better results.

7. Storage guidelines: Store the body lotion in a cool, dark place. If you are residing in a hot climate, preserve them in the refrigerator.

Cocoa butter body lotion nourishes the skin and gives it a new life. Beautify your skin and make the world around you beautiful. Try this simple home made remedy and bid farewell to skin disorders.

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About cocoa butter: You know it, still a briefing always makes facts clear. Cocoa butter is a fat extracted from cocoa beans, which is mainly used in chocolates and creams and now, in soaps, cosmetics and lotions too. Cocoa butter has a pleasant fragrance and is used as a moisturizer in several beauty products. The antioxidants found in cocoa butter help to promote the benefits of cocoa butter lotion, and has become a popular choice  to keep the skin fresh and wrinkle free.

Cocoa beans are picked and then roasted and pressed to create an aromatic solid. The dough is raised for a solid texture of butter, which is light yellowish in color with the pleasant smell of chocolate. Cocoa butter base is often mixed with other ingredients to form a product. Colors, scents and additives are  blended. Cocoa butter is a natural product for healing the skin.

Why cocoa butter lotion? Cocoa butter is stable at room temperature, but melts at body temperature. So it is easily absorbed by the skin and is used in several creams, cosmetics and lotions. The most important thing is its moisturizing benefit – it moisturizes the skin with sweet chocolate aroma which is used in lipsticks, lip gloss, soaps and skin creams. A popular cosmetic additive, cocoa butter is rich in natural antioxidants.

Benefits of cocoa butter lotion:

1. A good moisturizer: Cocoa butter’s moisturizing lotion reduces skin irritation and avoids dehydration of skin which may cause itchy rashes on the skin. The cocoa mass polyphenol which is available in cocoa butter can prevent skin inflammation. The moisture in cocoa butter helps create a protective shield in the skin and also prevents skin from urine irritation and rashes.

2. Reduces stretch marks: Cocoa butter lotions help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and prevent them from further development. Application of cocoa butter lotions penetrate the lines and heal them.  Pure cocoa butter’s nutritional properties promote production of collagen which gives skin elasticity and reduces stretch marks after weight loss or weight gain.  On regular usage, several people have noticed the difference in the appearance of signs of stretch marks.

3. Treats dermatological problems: Cocoa butter lotions  are the best for healing severe conditions like eczema and dermatitis. Pure and natural cocoa butter contains cocoa mass polyphenol which controls growth of immuno globulin, the main cause of skin irritations like dermatitis, eczema, skin allergies and psoriasis. Applying cocoa butter can heal dermatological problems and additionally can reduce cancers.

4. Aromatherapy and massage: Cocoa butter cream or lotions have a pleasant smell of chocolate which is the best for massage or aromatherapy treatments. So when we inhale the aroma of cocoa butter from lotions, we can relax our body and mind. The sweet aromatic cocoa butter heals our skin by enriching dry and dull skin.

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Cocoa butter and shea butter are very similar in their benefits – they moisturize the hair, skin and are highly useful in the personal care industry etc. But they differ from each other right from their origin to production – cocoa butter is made from cocoa or cacao beans, while shea butter is made from the nuts of shea tree in Africa. This article will deal in detail on the pros, cons, differences and similarities of cocoa butter and shea butter.

What is cocoa butter? Cocoa butter is a natural fat extracted from cocoa beans. It remains stable at room temperature but melts at body temperature. This is why all natural chocolates carry a soft, smooth and silky texture and melt in our mouth.

Benefits of cocoa butter: Cocoa butter is a vegan food and is best for treating skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. Cocoa butter is a great skin moisturizer and hence goes deep into the dermal layer to treat skin problems. Creams made using cocoa butter protect sensitive skin from impurities and maintains skin color and glow. Cocoa Butter is rich in natural antioxidants which could provide long life for products up to 2 years. Cocoa butter is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. Vitamin E which is available in cocoa butter  helps soften the skin,  hydrate and balance hormones, especially collagen which reduces wrinkles and aging. Cocoa butter is used in various health and beauty products such as face creams, lotions and pharmaceuticals.

Apart from this, cocoa butter is used to treat acne scars, stretch marks, skin disorders, burns, wounds and other skin damages. It is a major ingredient in chocolate-making.

What is Shea Butter? Shea butter is from the tropical regions of Africa, which are extracted from nuts of the shea tree. It has a high content of irremovable fatty acids which provide shea butter with its unique healing properties.

Benefits and uses: Shea butter is an extract from selected shea nuts which are cracked and grilled. They are then boiled for several hours until the shea butter is risen to the top surface. This is  followed by storage in a bottle and then cooling. Shea butter is solid at room temperature and melts at body temperature as cocoa butter. Also, like cocoa butter, it is completely a natural product with high quality, appearance and smell depending on the region in which it is grown.

Cocoa Butter vs Shea Butter:

Skin-energizers: Shea butter and cocoa butter are the two best ingredients that revitalize the beauty of our skin. The basic common thing in shea butter and cocoa butter is their ability to enhance skin tone and prevent skin dryness and aging.

Sun protection: Shea butter has  been used for thousands of years to heal burns, skin diseases and wounds. Shea butter has the great ability to regenerate skin aging and  also protect us from UV rays. Shea butter is composed of vegetable fats which definitely helps promote cell regeneration and also improve blood circulation, eventually preventing pimples.

Protection from skin damage: Cocoa butter is more popular and has a wider scope of applications compared to shea butter. It is used as a drug which is found in several supplements or capsules. Cocoa butter is also used as lip balm which heals cracks or lips. Above all, cocoa butter is most commonly used as an additive in soaps, shampoos and cosmetics and acts as a natural preservative, as a fragrant,  healing agent and beauty to the skin.

The most important qualities of shea butter which cocoa butter lacks is the ability to protect skin from the sun. Several people believe that cocoa butter may accelerate and intensify the process of tanning while, in the sun protection factor shea butter has a slight advantage over cocoa butter.

To conclude, it can be said that cocoa butter and shea butter are on par with each other in several areas. Both are great moisturizers and are the best you can use for your skin. Keep your skin ever youthful with cocoa butter and shea butter!

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Origin of chocolate: In 1615, after the marriage of the French Emperor Louis XIII to Anne of Austria, the French court discovered the strange brew famous for its replenishing properties. Later, Louis XIV took the special privilege of making and selling the extraordinary confection known as “chocolat” on David Chaillou, the boutique owner on the rue de L’Abre-sec in Paris. In 1778, a Parisian invented the first machine to grind, mix and compress chocolate.

After several years in 1825, Antoine Brutus Menier built the first mechanized chocolate factory in Noisel-sur-Marne, labeling the debut of the modern chocolate works and the sweet entry of chocolate into the lives of every human being in this world.

Process in making chocolates: There are various processes involved in chocolate making. They are:

1. Roasting: Roasting is an important stage which decides the final flavor of a chocolate. The supreme quality of a chocolate relies on the systematic process followed at  the time of roasting the cocoa beans. Roasting is the first stage in a product’s customization and it develops the flavor of beans resulting in the rich flavor of the chocolate.

Types of roasting:

Pre-roasting: Cocoa beans are treated with hot air or infra-red radiant heaters to separate the shells from the bean content. The beans are roasted at 100°C (212°F) to 150°C (300°F) for about twenty to forty minutes.

Direct roasting: The shelly beans are roasted and then shelled together. This is the traditional method that permits the flavor to develop perfectly. This direct roasting is done between 150°C and 160°C (300°F-320°F) for forty to fifty minutes.

2. Shelling: Roasting is followed by shelling where the beans are shelled. Shelling stage is complete when there are very few residual shells and grains of regular size are left. These beans can be made into fine, smooth chocolate.

3. Milling: Milling is done to depreciate the beans to even finer particles. Care should be taken as the friction generated heat can cause smoky or burnt off-flavors and may spoil the flavor of chocolate.

4. Refining: In the refining process, the milled particles are converted into liquid cocoa mass.

5. Conching: A conche is a container filled with metal beads that act as grinders. Conching involves powerful machines that stir the chocolate in a controlled way. The more the conching period, the better the quality and smoothness of the chocolate.

6. Tempering: Tempering is the art of converting liquid, or semi-liquid chocolate into a solid one. Chocolate is heated up to a certain temperature till the cocoa butter crystals melt perfectly. After which the heated chocolate is cooled at a specific temperature.

The secret behind tastier chocolates is nothing but the careful processing of cocoa butter. When processed in the right way, with proper ingredients and flair, one can make world-favorite chocolates.

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Major varieties of cocoa trees:

Criollo (1-5 percent of production): The finest chocolates are always made from Criollo cocoa. Criollo is derived from Creole which means native, authentic and indigenous. Criollo grows in very small numbers in Mexico, Nicaragua and Guatemala. Criollo can also be found in Venezuela, Columbia and some Caribbean islands including Trinidad, Jamaica and Grenada but in a virtuous and more restricted form. Criollo also has its presence spread on the islands of the Indian Ocean such as Java, Madagascar and the Comoros.

Characteristics of cocoa butter made from Criollo:

• It has a slightly bitter taste but it is pleasant
• It adds aroma along with fortitude and delight
• It has a mild astringent property and is low in tanning
• It is pale in color and gives a reddish tinge to the chocolate
• It grants a fine flavor which can be compared to that of the arabica coffee

Forastero (80-90 percent of production): Forastero means a ‘foreigner’ or ’stranger’. Forastero has its origin in the upper Amazon region. It grows in several South American countries including Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Guyana, French Guyana and in Southern Venezuela near the Orinoco. It is also found in West Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Sao Tome and in South-East Asia.

Features of cocoa from Forastero:

• It is very bitter
• It is  tannic, astringent and overpowering with their strong aromatic power
• It offers a restricted range of flavors and are compared to robusta coffee

Trinitario (10-15 percent of production): Trinitario is an outcome of the cross of Criollo and Forastero made in the eighteenth century when there was an environmental disaster. It has taken the name from its origin – the island of Trinidad. They are spread from the island of Trinidad off the coast of Venezuela. They are grown in almost all the regions where Criollo is found. They are found in the islands of Lesser Antilles and Trinidad. Jave, Papua-New-Guinea, Sri Lanka and Cameroon are also contributing to the Trinitario population.

Features of Trinitario: As it is a cross between Criollo and Forastero, it possesses the characteristics that are common in both the varieties and it is very famous for it’s strong aroma.

Mavericks: Mavericks are grown in South America and they cannot be related or classified with the three main varieties of cocoa trees. They are less popular than the three major varieties. The most significant of these is Ecuador’s ‘national’ cocoa tree. It is well known for its large, green, wrinkled pods with large purple beans. The least popular variety is the Forastero cocoa tree of Surinam.

Features of Mavericks:

• The Ecuador’s ‘national’ cocoa is also known as ‘Arriba’
• Arriba is highly aromatic
• This is very tannic than Criollo and has a darker color

These are all the members of the cocoa tree family from where delicious cocoa butter is extracted. One tasty chocolate that we consume holds the perspiring labor of a millions of farmers, chocolatiers, helpers, traders and many more. Let us thank them all from the next time we yummy eat chocolates!

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Chocolate is indeed, a magical substance for mankind and what makes it magical is the wonderful cocoa butter forming a part of it.

Can we make chocolate without cocoa butter? Straight answer is – we cannot! Cocoa butter is a major ingredient in any chocolate. Cocoa butter gives the creamy taste to chocolates and makes them melt in mouth. The very making of chocolate starts only after the arrival of cocoa beans from the cocoa growing countries. Right from the birth of chocolate it has been smoothed out with the elixir called cocoa butter, an emulsified form of cacao that gives the finished product its silky texture.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration, the federal arbiter of food standards, commands that a product can’t lawfully be labeled as chocolate unless cocoa butter is part of the formula and no other vegetable fat is allowed to replace its place. But because of drought and political violence in the Ivory Coast, a major source for cacao beans, the price of cocoa butter has skyrocketed. This has stimulated some of the major chocolate makers to corridor the F.D.A. with a trade-group petition for a transformation that would allow them to substitute such cheaper ingredients such as vegetable oil and dried milk for cocoa butter and still call their products chocolate.

Fear of chocolate lovers: Chocolate purists are frightened regarding this substitution of cheaper vegetable oils for cocoa butter that could lead to health hazards. Cocoa butter has an unique property that chocolate lovers adore. The natural fragrance and creamy taste give a luxurious feel to the chocolate.

Karen Hochman, the editorial director of food magazine ‘The Nibble’ told the FDA, “I’m vehemently opposed to allowing a vegetable-oil product to be called ‘chocolate.’.. the organic and natural food industry is growing at 15% a year because Americans want better ingredients for themselves and their family, not cheaper substitutes like vegetable oil for cocoa butter. No one would willingly eat or give their families vegetable-oil chocolate who were eating authentic cocoa-butter chocolate.”

Vegetable oils and other cheaper supplements: In the making of chocolates, no other supplement can replace cocoa butter, even though these supplements have their own advantages. Vegetable oils could cost less resulting in savings for companies and consumers. Certain industry representatives also say that there are vegetable oils that could even be healthier.

Chocolate symbolizes many things for many people – it brings back childhood days, extremely joyous moments, friendship, love, gratitude, respect, intimate pleasure, cherished moments and all together unlimited happiness. Such a special momentum should be enjoyed in it’s original and natural way just with the presence of cocoa butter in it.

Thus a chocolate without cocoa butter would be a jelly fish existence, where the jelly fish would die the moment it is removed from water.

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