Chocolate field glossary

Cocoa mass

Finely ground cacao nibs containing both native cocoa butter and non-fat cocoa solids.

Making · working definition

Use the word
with precision.

Why it matters: It is the central cacao ingredient in dark and milk chocolate and already contains both cocoa butter and non-fat solids.
Common confusion: Cocoa mass, cocoa liquor and chocolate liquor usually refer to the same ground-nib material; none contains alcohol.
Practical example: A 70% bar may combine 55% cocoa mass with 15% added cocoa butter rather than containing 70% dark solids.

Evidence trail

International reference point for cocoa mass, cocoa butter, powder and chocolate product standards.

EU compositional definitions and reserved chocolate product names.