PRISTINE
CHOCOLATES
Cocoa Bean Processing
At Pristine Chocolates , we take pride in our unique approach to chocolate making, starting from the cultivation of cocoa beans to the creation of finished products. Our process begins with the careful selection of cocoa beans, followed by meticulous cleaning using advanced bean cleaning machines to remove any extraneous materials. Different varieties of beans are precisely blended to achieve the desired flavor profile, highlighting the art and science of chocolate making.
Roasting
The cocoa beans undergo roasting to develop the characteristic chocolate flavor. This step is crucial and is carried out in large rotary cylinders at high temperatures for a duration ranging from 30 minutes to two hours, depending on the bean varieties and desired outcome. As the beans roast, they transform into a rich brown color, emitting the enticing aroma of chocolate. Subsequently, the roasted beans are cracked and de-shelled, leaving behind the essence of pure chocolate known as "nibs." For Dutch roasts, an alkaline solution is added to produce darker and less acidic nibs.
Cocoa Pressing
Using a cocoa press, a portion of the cocoa butter is hydraulically extracted from the chocolate liquor, resulting in cocoa cakes. The extracted cocoa butter is utilized in chocolate manufacturing, while the remaining cocoa solids are pulverized into cocoa powders.
Conching
Conching is a crucial process for flavor development, where the chocolate undergoes constant agitation. Our conching machines, known as "conches," feature large paddles that sweep through the refined chocolate mass for several hours to days. This process reduces moisture, eliminates lingering acidic flavors, and coats each chocolate particle with a layer of cocoa butter, resulting in a smoother, mellower flavor profile.
Cooling and Packaging
The tempered chocolate is molded into various shapes and sizes before entering controlled cooling tunnels to solidify. Depending on the size of the chocolate pieces, the cooling cycle may take anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. Finally, the cooled chocolates are meticulously packaged for delivery to retailers and, ultimately, into the hands of our valued customers.