Caffeine is a natural alkaloid found in some plants such as coffee tree, tea, cocoa, mate, guarana, cola and several others. It is synthesized by plants to protect against insects that eat leaves, stems and grains and to encourage pollinators.
Man is one of those creatures, that can consume it without serious health consequences. In its pure form, this substance is a white crystalline powder, odorless and has a slightly bitter taste. Caffeine is extracted from tea waste, coffee beans. In industry, caffeine is synthesized from uric acid and xanthine.
Chocolate is often associated with energy or mood enhancement. It is extracted from seeds found in the fruit of cocoa trees that grow near the equator. These seeds are often called cocoa beans. Cacao beans are removed from their shells, fermented, dried and liquefied as part of the chocolate making process.
Chocolate contains a small amount of caffeine, as well as other substances that can help boost mood or energy for some people. One chocolate can contain about 30 mg of this substance. This is one of the reasons why chocolate can lift your mood. Commercially prepared chocolate products also contain added ingredients such as sugar, vanilla and lecithin.
The darker the chocolate, the higher the caffeine content. When cocoa beans are liquefied, the resulting liquid contains cocoa butter and cocoa solids. Both are used to make chocolate, although the amounts differ depending on the type of chocolate. Caffeine is found in the cocoa solids, but not in the cocoa butter.
The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa particles it contains. This increases the amount of caffeine. Because white chocolate contains only cocoa butter and no cocoa solids, it has no caffeine.
The amount of caffeine in chocolate products can vary, especially if extra caffeine is added to provide an energy boost. Added caffeine can be found in energy bars and other products that also contain chocolate.
