Gastronomy Essay: Chocolate Analysis, Social Justice, and Concerns

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of chocolate, delving into its various types, diverse flavors, and the significance of its ingredients. It examines the geographical importance of chocolate production, highlighting key regions and the role of single-origin producers. The essay further addresses social justice and environmental concerns within the chocolate industry, exploring key initiatives aimed at addressing these issues. It explores the production processes from cocoa bean to bar, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and ethical sourcing. The essay highlights the impact of chocolate consumption on local cultures and economies, providing a detailed overview of the complex aspects of the chocolate industry, its challenges, and its impact on various stakeholders.

Gastronomy Assessment -
Essay
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Table of contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10
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INTRODUCTION
Gastronomy is the practice of eating, cooking and choosing good food on good scales
(Chisik and et.al., 2018).
The report will analyze what chocolate is, its types, flavours and ingredients along with the
significance of its geography and examples of single origin producers will be explained which
further will be initiated by the social justice and environmental concerns and key initiatives to
address these concerns will be addressed.
MAIN BODY
Chocolate - Chocolate is defined as the sweet which is made from cacao beans which is eaten as
flavouring ingredient in other foods and is also used in the form of candy which may be covered
with chocolate. Chocolate is the preparation of the sweet food which is seen in the form of
liquid, solid, frozen or in block form. Chocolate is mainly brown and white in colour. There are
actually three main types of chocolate which are described as – milk chocolate, dark chocolate
and white chocolate (Gutiérrez, 2017). The types of chocolate other than this are – semisweet
chocolate, unsweetened chocolate also known as baking chocolate, cocoa powder, bittersweet
chocolate, couverture chocolate, ruby chocolate, sweet German chocolate. These types of
chocolate include the key ingredients which makes them different in tastes are also added in the
chocolate. Chocolate also has different colours and shapes which makes it more attractive to the
people and therefore, its uniqueness and taste is attracted by many of the people.
Also, there are nine new chocolate flavours that the world is crushing over which are
named as - Peanut butter chocolate, chai chocolate, thyme chocolate, tahini chocolate, wasabi
chocolate, green tea chocolate, chilli chocolate, sea salt chocolate. These are the different
flavours of chocolate which helps people in tasting the new food products from which the
chocolate is being made (Chen, 2018). The types of flavours which are mentioned above are the
most tasteful and creative ways in which the chocolate is being made so that the people enjoy its
taste and are able to appreciate what has been created to make the flavours tickle on the taste
buds to eat more such sweet. Different flavours to chocolate provide different tastes which
attracts the people in trying new ways of eating or drooling over chocolate.
Ingredients in chocolate also play major part in making or preparation of the chocolate.
The main ingredients which are used or put up in chocolate are – cocoa butter, sugar, lecithin,
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vanilla, chocolate liquor, fruits, nuts, milk etc (Montagna and et.al., 2019). These ingredients
when put up in chocolate create the taste and makes the chocolate even more delicious so that
people are more attracted to it and that also that they have variety of chocolate forms other than
simple chocolate. These ingredients also help in forming and preparing the chocolate in various
other forms through which cakes, cookies, pies can be made.
Therefore, chocolate is the main key sweet which people and children especially like
most as it provides different flavours, types and ingredients so that there are varieties of
chocolates which are made available to the people and that they are attracted to its shape and size
also (Caponio and et.al., 2020). The main function of chocolate is that it helps in providing the
variety as per need and requirement of the people on large scale. Chocolate is the form of sweet
which provides people the sweetness which it holds and can be in different forms, chewable,
swallow or in crunch form. Through this, the chocolate is made in different countries in different
types and forms which make it more equal on the terms of what key ingredients are put
altogether. Chocolate helps in covering the taste scales in sweet, sour, bitter and in other tastes
with equal and proportionate manner (Engeseth and et.al., 2018).
Significance of its geography – Chocolate is the most famous eatable sweet which people and
children like the most and this is the main key source from where the chocolate is being carried
out is from Ghana and Cote d’lvoire who are the main producers of chocolate. These are the
leading producers all over. Cocoa trees thrive in rainforests and chocolate grows around the
globe which is within 10 degrees North and South of the equator (SUMMERS, 2020). The
chocolate came in the world around 3,100 years ago in Central America and this has made
chocolate that much old which has created the ways through which all the things and the path of
where the chocolate came from is observed and is known and valued among the people various
reasons that it provides different types of taste, flavours, colours and shapes.
There are different origins in which chocolate is being formed and created. Cocoa is the
key ingredient which is helping in forming the ways through which harvesting of cocoa is very
important (Neilson and et.al., 2018). The harvesting and farming of chocolate seeds in different
regions depends on the scale of how chocolate is being fermented, grown and dried so as to reach
millions of people around the world. And after that roasting, grinding and pressing of chocolate
is been made. People of mostly Europe and the United States consume more chocolate as it is
formed there. Europeans are the ones who are fond of chocolate and therefore the consumption
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as per the geographic scale is being consumed there. Various types of chocolates is consumed
which has provided the scale of how the chocolate consumption is being done on large scale by
the people worldwide on large scale (Wilbur and et.al., 2020). Europe and United States are the
regions which play major role in carrying the variety, tastes, flavours of chocolate on different
scales which helps in providing people the dense and the light forms of what the chocolate tastes
like in greater regions.
The geographic scales are being measured on the basis that what are the regions in which
the chocolate is being formed on large scale and this has made creative importance and new
ways of how and in what forms and flavours chocolate can be made so that it attracts more
people across different regions which makes specific types of chocolate on large numbers and on
high qualitative aspects (Hunter and et.al., 2018). Therefore, chocolate is the basis which attracts
the people visiting different regions and on that note they are able to create the forms through
which chocolate is made to reach the people as per their needs and requirements on large scale.
And for this, the variety of chocolate is being prepared which helps in making and creating the
forms of what are the ingredients which are added in the formation and preparation of chocolate
within various geographic regions and countries on expanded form.
Thus, the main key aspect for chocolate is that different geographic regions provide
different flavours and tastes along with other key essential elements which are there in the form
of what are the major requirements that are to be fulfilled and as per that people make the form
in which all the essential elements are added to make chocolate significant and tasteful in
effective ways (Brown, 2019).
Examples of “Single Origin” producers – Chocolate are the form which has specific and
precise producers and this has made the change in the whole process of how the producers are
being analyzed on large scale. Single origin chocolate is so called single origin because the cocoa
beans are taken from the single source which denotes the plantation of chocolate is done in single
countries (Cadby and et.al., 2021). The origination of cocoa beans for the chocolate creates the
chocolate which is formed in complete chocolate. The taste of cocoa differs in the variety of
ways which helps in creating the ways through which different flavours are being tasted which is
unique in its own way and taste. The origin of cocoa depends upon the type of chocolate which
makes the whole chocolate flavour either good or bad. There are regions which help the
chocolate to take form in which it grows.
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There are specific countries such as Madagascar and Venezuela which are finest in
producing cocoa in the whole world. These two countries are the single origin producers which
helps the chocolate in taking different tastes and flavours according to what is being adored by
them on large scale. There are then many variables which help these producers in originating
from the sources which helps to run the fields and growth of chocolate (Otter and et.al., 2018).
The quality of cocoa is used to create the ways in which different chocolate types and flavours
are being created. The plantation of cocoa helps in making chocolate in variety of ways which
initiates how the process of chocolate is being originated on large scale. There are regions which
produce very fine and best flavour cocoa which makes the most of the use of how the countries
are taking the effective and efficient work in progress to create chocolate plantations on large
scale among which Africa and Australia are also the major producers which helps the chocolate
in formation of different taste through different cultures (Bianchi and et.al., 2021). There are
purest and finest ingredients which helps chocolate ion forming its value to create the chocolate
from bean to bar and this helps in making and creating the ways through which chocolate is
considered in different countries.
The bean to bar chocolate makers has been on the top of producing chocolate which
showcases the different flavours and tastes of cocoa. The mentioned below are the single origin
chocolate in the world – Pralus, Amedei, Valrhona, Michel Cluizel. Single origin chocolate
initiates the importance of single origin producers which helps them in making and creating the
ways through which all the process and procedure of producing the chocolate is being granted
and through this the main aim of providing the people the best of flavours and tastes which are
imbibed by the chocolate helps in creating the ways in which all the possible aspects of what is
the formation and how the chocolate is being distributed across countries on large scale (García-
Herrero and et.al., 2019). Thus, the single origin producers helps in forming the pattern through
which the producers are able to make the changes in the way to make the chocolate reach large
number of people by providing various flavours, tastes and how effective and efficient are the
countries able to produce the chocolate on ground basis to large forms.
Social justice and environmental concerns – Chocolate industry concerns the aspects of social
justice which initiates the promoting and fighting for the political agenda that insists the justice
of how chocolate is being made and this has created the efforts through which all the aspects of
chocolate industry is created for concern (Kwil and et.al., 2019). The social justice concerns the
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cacao chocolate supply chain which helped in collaborating with the resources of chocolate
industry which helps in providing the resources of how the chocolate is being formed and
framed. Chocolate industry for social justice aspires the way through which the chocolate
industry grows and develops and through which all the things are taken into consideration. The
social justice for chocolate industry helps in creating the strategy for which the approach of how
the chocolate is being framed is on large scale (Kahle-Piasecki and et.al., 2021). The connected
social justice for chocolate has created the ways in which all the aspects are known for keeping
the ways creative and efficient so that the business of chocolate is known effective and efficient.
The political agenda insists upon justice for all the things which are on basis of how everything
is being concerned and connected on the social grounds. This has also helped in creating ways
through which all the justice factors are on the scale of how promotion of the chocolate is being
considered on large scale (Roos, 2018). There are various labour practices which affects the
chocolate industry in which child labour is being abused for working off hours and in hours in
the chocolate industry. The cocoa farming also inculcates the labour abuse in the various poor
regions of the different countries.
Environmental concerns for chocolate are the raw materials which produces chocolate in
the packaging which is the major environmental hotspot. The impact of the environment is major
concern which is due to milk, cocoa derivatives, palm oil and sugar. Some of the chocolate
ingredients may harm the environment which helps in creating the major effects through which
all the things are directly impacting what has been done on the ground level. Production of milk
powder is very energy intensive which harms the environment (Lerro and et.al., 2019). Dairy
cows also produce significant green house gas per litre which is produced by milk. This harms
and effects the environment on large scale. The main aim of how the environmental concerns
impact the growth and development of the chocolate industry and this has created the point in
which the environment is affected. The climate and body temperatures of people are the basic
aspects which spoils the environment while taking into consideration the cocoa farms on large
scale. The cocoa trees are too sensitive to heat and draught and whenever this happens the main
chocolate ingredients are hampered which affects farmers and the chocolate industry on large
scale (Bartley, 2020). Global demand for cocoa is fast rising but producers are struggling to
produce cocoa which is being affected by the environmental aspects on large scale. Due to
deforestation, the cocoa plant is also affected which increases the massive deforestation practice
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and through this the main aim of how the chocolate industry is creating the fact that all the
reusable ingredients are being used. For this main aspect is by keeping environment productive
and keeping cocoa growth significant.
Key initiatives to address social justice and environmental concerns – Chocolate is being one
of the most interesting and attractive sweet for people and for this, they are taking the major
decisions and strategies are being formed which helps the chocolate industry in its growth and
development on large scale in an effective and efficient manner (Camargo and et.al., 2019). And
as known, there are key initiatives which are taken in concern of how the chocolate industry
should grow and develop its ways in which all the process and the systems are taken in
consideration and through this the main aim of chocolate industry should be of how and in what
ways chocolate in various flavours and tastes should be promoted so that the business is not
hampered on large scale. This will also help industry in contributing to livelihood for social
justice grounds (Islam and et.al., 2020). One of key consideration points which should be taken
note of is that how the child slavery and labour trafficking is to be stopped so that chocolate
industry is able to create ways through which all the aspects are in major concern and this
activity is being stopped. Also the cultural norms are also followed and practiced for stopping
these types of actions. Social justice in chocolate industry can be promoted by consumer
initiative which helps the industry in taking major concerns of how and in what process industry
should take the norms and follow patterns of developing and creating significant path for the
growth of cocoa industry. As much as consumers are attracted and taking initiatives for creating
benefits within chocolate industry, more paths have been created in following it.
Key initiatives for the environmental concerns should be taken into action so that the
chocolate industry faces on difficulties on large scale. The key initiatives taken for the
environmental concerns should be taken in proper and efficient way so that the chocolate
industry is not being affected on large scale (Neilson and et.al., 2018). Also, along with this, the
environment should be taken as an important perspective which helps the chocolate industry in
making and creating the patterns which helps in promoting and branding of chocolate products
on large scale. Environment should be taken care of while preparing chocolates in the factories
so that they do not emit any harmful gases in its production process. The main aim of the
chocolate industry should be to not harm the environment and through this the motto of the
chocolate industry concerns the value of all the important things so that the environment is not
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harmed and the chocolate industry is taken on the way of how the things are being initiated. The
environmental concerns take part in how the core structure is being taken for the purpose of
putting stoppage to the deforestation process so that the environment is not harmed and the basic
initiative is being taken so that the main purpose of all the things is being solved and this is taken
care of that the environment is not harmed and directly does not impact the environment (Silva
and et.al., 2018). Thus, the environmental concerns should be taken care of and initiatives must
be taken into consideration as through this the main aim is to consider the whole thing on the
scale of how the measures of environment.
CONCLUSION
Thus, it is concluded from the above report that it is defined what chocolate is, its types,
flavours and ingredients along with the significance of its geography and examples of single
origin producers were being explained which further were initiated by the social justice and
environmental concerns and key initiatives to address these were also determined.
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