In this blog we are going to tell you about The Difference between Bittersweet and Semisweet Chocolate, so read this blog carefully to get the complete information.

There are a variety of cacao ingredients present in our kitchen. People who love to make chocolate dishes must know about all types of chocolates from unsweetened cocoa powder to white chocolate. Bittersweet and Semisweet are two common chocolates used in dishes. So in this article, we will tell you what Bittersweet and Semisweet chocolate are and how they differ from each other. 

What is Bittersweet Chocolate?

Bittersweet chocolate is a variety of chocolate in which the cacao percentage is about 70%. This high cacao content makes the flavor of the chocolate deep and less sweet. It has a slightly dry or crumbly texture. People who have tasted it may know that it is extremely similar in flavor and texture to semisweet chocolate. And this is the reason many people use them as substitutes for one another. Looking at the chocolate spectrum, bittersweet chocolate is darker than milk chocolate and semisweet chocolate but is not as dark as the true dark chocolate. Some manufacturers keep the bittersweet chocolate in the category of general dark chocolate but technically it is sweeter than the real dark chocolate as the cacao percentage is above 75% in the true dark chocolate. 

What is Semisweet Chocolate?

Semisweet Chocolate is a variety of chocolate in which cacao percentage is around 60%. It has relatively high cacao content which makes the flavor of the chocolate deep and less sweet. It also has this slightly dry or crumbly texture like bittersweet chocolate. This is the reason home cooks may use it when the recipe needs semisweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate is also darker than milk chocolate but it is not as dark as bittersweet chocolate or true dark chocolate. Sometimes manufacturers keep semisweet chocolate along with bittersweet chocolate into the category of dark chocolate but technically both semisweet and bittersweet chocolate is sweeter than true dark chocolate. 

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Differences between Bittersweet and Semisweet Chocolate

The following are the main differences between Bittersweet and Semisweet chocolate as mentioned below:

  • Cacao Percentage

The main difference between Bittersweet and Semisweet chocolate is the cacao percentage as chocolate recipes are made as per the cacao percentage. The cacao percentage of bittersweet chocolate is slightly higher than Semisweet chocolate. Bittersweet chocolate has around 70% of cacao content while semisweet chocolate has around 60% of cacao content. The higher percentage of cacao tells the lower amounts of sugar and cocoa butter. 

  • The flavor of the Chocolate

Bittersweet chocolate contains more cacao flavor than Semisweet Chocolate. This means it contains less sugar in comparison to semisweet chocolate so has a slightly deeper and more bitter flavor. In comparison, Semisweet chocolate is slightly sweeter than bittersweet chocolate and this is the reason most people barely taste the difference because of the slightly different flavor. 

  • The texture of the Chocolate

In comparison to semisweet chocolate, bittersweet chocolate contains a slightly higher cacao content so has a lower cocoa butter or milk solids percentage. This makes the texture of bittersweet chocolate drier and crumblier than semisweet chocolate. Semisweet chocolate is smoother and creamier. But due to the slight difference, most people barely notice any difference in the texture of the chocolates. 

  • Color of the Chocolate

As bittersweet chocolate contains slightly more cacao content so it may appear darker than semisweet chocolate. So the color of the chocolates may appear slightly different if you notice it properly.

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Conclusion

Bittersweet and Semisweet chocolates are extremely similar and this is the reason they are interchangeable in many recipes. Most home cooks and casual bakers use these chocolates interchangeably. However, there is a slight difference in flavor, color, and texture of these chocolates. So if you want to provide your particular recipe with the perfect flavor and feature then you have to use the chocolate appropriately. Generally, the darker the chocolate the better it is for recipes to give them a deep and bitter chocolate flavor. Most people use bittersweet chocolate for baked goods recipes that contain other sweet ingredients so that they can balance out the bitterness. On the other hand, the lighter the chocolate the better it is for producing a milder chocolate flavor in recipes that require little sugars or sweeteners. So we hope that this article was helpful and now as you know the difference you can use them appropriately. 

I Hope this blog is sufficient enough to provide the information about The Difference between Bittersweet and Semisweet Chocolate. Thanks for reading this blog.