Is Chocolate Technically Considered Candy? | Chocolate or Candy

Unpacking the Debate: Is Chocolate Considered Candy?

Chocolate holds a special place in the minds and tastebuds of sweet tooth fans around the world. But is this beloved confection actually a type of candy? Or does its rich history and complex production process set it apart? This is a topic of some debate.

The Case for Calling Chocolate a Candy

At first glance, chocolate seems to meet many criteria we attribute to candy:

• It contains sugar
• It has a sweet taste
• It's associated with enjoyment, delight, and treating yourself
• It's often grouped alongside undisputed candies in stores

With ingredients including cocoa butter, cocoa solids, milk solids, and plenty of sugar, many chocolate products share common traits with candies like caramels, toffees, and sweet confections. So it's easy to see why some view chocolate as a member of the candy family.

Reasons Why Chocolate Isn't Always Considered a Candy

However compelling the case for calling all chocolate candy may be, there are some convincing counterarguments. Here's why chocolate stands in its own unique category for many:

• It starts from a bean (the cocoa bean), putting it closer to a food ingredient than manufactured candy
• Quality chocolate contains compounds associated with health benefits lacking in most candies
• Its cacao content and processing methods vary widely compared to typical candies
• Dark chocolate especially is viewed as a more “sophisticated” adult treat rather than a children’s sweet
• It has a distinct and prominent place in world cuisine

Due to this combination of facets differentiating it from your average kids' candy, organizations like the US Food and Drug Administration actually exempt chocolate from their technical definition of confectionery.

Specific Types of Chocolate and Candy Status

With such divided opinions, where you come down on classifying chocolate as candy or not often depends on the specific chocolate product in question:

Dark Chocolate

Because higher cacao percentage dark chocolate contains less added sugar than milk chocolate and more potential health benefits from cacao compounds, it aligns less with typical notions of candy for most people.

Milk Chocolate

The higher amounts of added milk and sugar bring milk chocolate closer to a candy designation in many regards. Yet it still retains enough qualities directly from the cacao bean that some hesitate to fully call it candy.

White Chocolate

Since white chocolate contains no actual cocoa solids, only cocoa butter, it registers as more candy-like to many chocolate purists. However, the creamy confection still stands apart from most candies on the market.

Chocolate Bars

Standard chocolate bars are often stocked alongside candy bars in convenience stories and markets. But the inclusion of a relatively high percentage of chocolate liqueur in quality chocolate bars still gives them more nuanced status than straightforward sugary candy to some.

How Chocolate is Viewed Among Various Audiences

Public consensus on whether chocolate counts as candy also seems to depend somewhat on who you ask:

Kids

Children are generally excited to get chocolate as a special treat. And without as refined a palate, kids tend to lump chocolate in with other candies and sweets in their eyes.

Parents

Responsible parents aiming to limit sugar and empty calories are more inclined to separate chocolate, especially darker varieties, from candy. Yet they still regard it as an occasional treat.

Chocolatiers & Industry Insiders

Serious chocolate makers stress the differences that set their couverture, cocoa percentages, and blending process apart from making mere candy or confections.

Pastry Chefs

In professional kitchens, chocolate is treated as its own distinct baking and dessert ingredient, while candy denotes simple boiled sugary sweets.

Adults

Grown ups with a taste for higher quality chocolate tend to distinguish their artisanal bars and bonbons from the candy aisle, favoring chocolate for its richness and flavor complexity.

Dieters

Followers of plans like the ketogenic diet often make chocolate a approved exception while excluding most products considered candy and supplying empty calories or excess carbs.

Evaluating Chocolate as a Member of the Candy Family

Given these multiple perspectives within the chocolate versus candy debate, where can we land? Does chocolate deserve candy status or not?

Traits Shared With Candy

It's easy to argue for chocolate as a specialized candy based on qualities like:

• Sweet flavor profile
• Solid or semi-solid state at room temperature
• A delicious treat associated with enjoyment and fun
• Ability to be eaten out of hand without preparation or cooking
• Presence of sugar as a primary ingredient

Unique Attributes Setting It Apart

Yet several special facets also separate fine chocolate from the broader candy category:

• Plant-based origins from the cacao tree
• Varying degrees of processing depending on type of chocolate
• Antioxidants, minerals, and other compounds contributing potential health benefits not found in standard candies
• Range of flavors and tasting notes beyond pure sweetness
• Ingredient in sophisticated desserts and baked goods

A Category All Its Own

Given these conflicting lines of reasoning, perhaps the fairest perspective is to view chocolate as occupying its own space separate from candy but still similar in some regards. Rather than lumping it squarely into one box or another, chocolate can be seen as a food product with qualities making it a distinctive indulgence different from other sweets.

Ultimately, the best way to resolve any uncertainty may be to simply enjoy some chocolate yourself! Taste the flavor depth and experience the joy is offers as you make up your own mind whether such a gem can be classified the same as everyday candies.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.