Don't let me say, "You just melted it and hardened it, right?" I made chocolate from cacao using the "Bean to Bar Chocolate Kit (1,296 yen including tax)" sold at KALDI Coffee Farm.

■ Time required 4 hours!

This is a handmade kit that allows you to make chocolate from cocoa beans. Roasted cacao beans (100g (3.53oz)), sugar beet (30g (1.06oz)), and 2 chocolate molds. You can experience everything from peeling cocoa beans to mashing, boiling, and chilling. Limited quantity.



If you read the explanation on the back of the package, it will take 4 hours ! Moreover, there is a sentence that says, "Preparation, time to cool chocolate is not included." 4 hours ... It's a little more part-time job ...



What to prepare is a mortar (about 18 to 22 cm), a mortar, a bamboo stick or a brush, a frying pan for a water bath or a flat pot, a cloth, and a spoon. If you use a small mortar, the chocolate may get wet when it is boiled in hot water, so it is recommended to use a mortar of 18 cm or more.

■ Start work!

[Peel the cocoa beans (approximate time: about 40 minutes)]
First, peel the cocoa beans. It is relatively easy to peel off by putting pressure on the center of the beans and making a crack. If it does not break by hand, it is recommended to make a notch with a kitchen knife or tap it with a hard object.



When the skin is cracked, the beans inside may also be crushed, but there is no problem even if it collapses because it will be finely divided later. As you get used to it, it will gradually become more fun.



[Crush finely in a mortar (approximate time: about 50 minutes)]
Now, the hard part starts here! Put the peeled cacao in a mortar and grind it with a pestle until it becomes finer.


I recommended the method of "crushing roughly and then rubbing in small portions" for the package, but I crushed it to some extent with a food processor and then transferred it to a mortar.




It's really hard to start rubbing! At first, I used to squeeze the cacao with excitement, saying, "It smells good with cacao. It's fun."



If the cocoa beans get stuck in the mortar, rub them off with a bamboo brush or brush.


It took about an hour to finish it to a state close to powder. Even if I used a food processor, it took this much, so I think it would take about an hour and a half if I rubbed it with my hands from the beginning. This is harder than I expected ...



[Rubbing while boiling in hot water (approximate time: about 40 minutes)]
Put the folded cloth in a frying pan or pot with hot water of about 60 to 70 degrees Celsius, place a mortar on it, and rub it again with a mortar while warming it in a water bath. Yes, I'm still rubbing.


As I kept moving my arms silently, the cocoa beans that had been smooth became gradually fragile! If you rub it further, it will gradually change to a moist texture. A little touching.





By the way, when I tasted it in this state, it tasted like "burnt part of bread".


[Add sugar and rub (approximate time: about 90 minutes)]
Drop sugar (sugar beet) while boiling in hot water! I've been chilling out, but now I'm in a fragile state again. Continue rubbing for a while until it becomes smooth in a water bath.



When it comes together, remove it from the water bath and rub it, warm it in a water bath and rub it again, and move your arms until it becomes glossy. I feel like a witch of "Nerunerunerune".




From here on, fight against yourself. How smooth it should be and how glossy it should be. Rub silently, rub, rub. Rub it earnestly.


[Pour into a mold]
When it becomes thick and glossy, wash it with a neutral detergent, wipe it dry, and pour the chocolate evenly into a dry chocolate mold with a spoon. When it's poured, lift the mold a little and tap it lightly underneath to flatten it. If you want to spread the chocolate to the edge, arrange it with a bamboo stick.



The author left behind the Alazan that I used before, so I also tried to decorate it.

[Cool in the refrigerator]
After pouring into the mold, cool in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours. When it's hard enough, remove it from the chocolate mold and it's done!

■ What is your favorite taste?

It looks more chocolate than expected! However, what is the taste you care about ...?


A slightly dark taste like high cacao chocolate . The crispy and crispy texture of cacao is an accent. It's a little grainy, but yeah, it's delicious! It's pretty delicious!


I had other editorial staff try it

Male editorial staff A : Good! It's a nice taste for bean to bar lovers!

Male editorial staff B : Better than expected. Normal good. I would be happy if you received this.

Male editorial staff C : Well, I think I'm grateful because I know the process of making it, but if it's handed over as it is ... The chocolate that is sold normally is better ...

Female editorial staff A : I really like it! Maybe it's the most delicious chocolate I've eaten this year? It looks like "minimal" chocolate.

Female editorial staff B : It feels like high cacao chocolate. It tastes highly conscious.

Highly rated overall! I'm happy! I had to spend my strength and time ...!

■ Point

Points to note during work

・ If you have a food processor, you should use it (time saving)
・ Be careful not to let the chocolate get wet during the water bath. ・ Warm the chocolate again when the temperature of the water becomes low during the water bath. ・ If you want to reduce the roughness, rub as hard as possible.

What a place, such as. Anyway, most of the work is "rubbing", so I wonder if it will be a battle with muscle strength, time, and energy.

I think it's better to make it while talking with friends and partners, rather than making it for my favorite personally. Of course, it's fun to do it alone!

■ By the way

Chocolate made over about 4 hours. It's a waste to give it as a gift and end with "Hmm, from cacao? It's amazing". Why don't you paste a picture of how you are making it in the wrapping bag? It's like "I made this chocolate" .


Also, put the video you are working on on the 100-level "greeting card that gives you a video" introduced on our sister site "Enuchi", and put a USB memory or SD card containing the video data that you have been rubbing for 3 hours. There was also a plan to give it as a set. It feels crazy if you do it so far, but it seems that you can convey your feelings! (may be).

KALDI's "Bean to Bar Chocolate Kit" allows you to enjoy the experience of "making chocolate from cacao" for just over 1,000 yen. Why don't you try to be more enthusiastic about this year's Valentine?