Famous Chocolate of Modica

Come and visit the best chocolate producer in Modica, the Quetzal Cooperativa,it has been making chocolate since 1995, they use only fair trade ingredients and each ingredient has to meet rigorous quality standards,the cost is 5 euros per person,you get to see how the chocolate is made,taste all the flavours that you like and take home a chocolate bar each.

History of Modica's Chocolate.
Some historic records say that during the domination of the Spaniards in Sicily in the sixteenth century this process of making chocolate was introduced in the County of Modica, at that time the most important feudal state of southern Italy, with administrative autonomy. The Spaniards, in turn, would have borrowed this culinary delight from the Aztecs. There are many versions of flavors, vanilla and cinnamon,chili pepper,coffee,tea,orange zest,lemon zest, just to name a few. Historically it had been handed down as a typical cake prepared at home of the noble families during the holidays and important occasions. To this day it has been passed down from generations and it still retains its original recipe , and only later it became an internationally acclaimed confectionery product.

How its made.
The cocoa mass is obtained from roasted and grounded cocoa seeds imported from Africa or South America ,with the cocoa butter still in it, is heated to make it smooth paste at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C,then it is mixed with sugar or raw sugar, spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, ginger, pepper,lemon and orange zest. This chocolate has a high percentages of cocoa, at least 65%, up to 90% pure cocoa.
The chocolate bar is obtained with the polished grooves, sometimes more opaque,it has a dark black color with shades of brown and a grainy texture.

The quality of this chocolate its the simplicity of the process and in the absence of butter or other foreign substances (vegetable fat, milk, lecithin).