D

Chocolate field glossary

Dutch-process cocoa

Cocoa powder or material treated with alkali; its pH and baking behavior differ from natural cocoa.

Ingredients · working definition

Use the word
with precision.

Why it matters
Alkalization changes color, acidity, flavor and baking behavior, so the powder must match the recipe's leavening system.
Common confusion
Darker color does not automatically mean more cocoa, stronger flavor or higher quality.
Practical example
A cake designed around acidic natural cocoa and baking soda may behave differently when Dutch-process powder is substituted.
Evidence trail

Read beyond
the definition.

StandardCodex standards for cocoa products and chocolate

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

FAO / WHO Codex Alimentarius
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