Chocolate is a product derived from cocoa beans that have been roasted and ground, which can exist in various forms such as liquid, solid, or paste, either by itself or as a flavor enhancer in different dishes. The cacao tree has been utilized as a food source for over 5,300 years, beginning with the Mayo-Chinchipe culture in modern-day Ecuador. In later times, ancient Mesoamerican societies enjoyed cacao drinks, including chocolate, which was brought to Europe during the 16th century.

The cacao tree's seeds (Theobroma cacao) have a strong bitter flavor and require fermentation to enhance their taste. Following fermentation, the seeds undergo the processes of drying, cleaning, and roasting. The shell is taken off to create nibs, which are afterwards crushed into cocoa mass, raw chocolate in its pure state. When the cocoa mass is melted through heat, it becomes known as chocolate liquor.

The alcohol can also be chilled and separated into its two parts: cocoa solids and cocoa butter. Baking chocolate, also known as bitter chocolate, consists of cocoa solids and cocoa butter in different ratios and does not contain any additional sugar. Cocoa powder with higher fiber content than cocoa butter can be treated with alkali to create Dutch cocoa.

 A large portion of the chocolate that people eat nowadays consists of sweet chocolate, which is made up of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, vegetable oils, and sugar. Milk chocolate is filled with sweetness and also includes milk powder. White chocolate consists of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but does not contain any cocoa solids.

Chocolate is a highly favored food and flavor worldwide, with a variety of chocolate-based foods, especially desserts like cakes, pudding, mousse, brownies, and chocolate chip cookies. A lot of candies are either filled or coated with sugary chocolate. Chocolate bars, whether consisting of pure chocolate or other elements covered in chocolate, are consumed as snacks.

Chocolate gifts in various shapes like eggs, hearts, and coins are customary during specific Western celebrations like Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, and Hanukkah. Chocolate is also utilized in both cold and hot drinks, like chocolate milk and hot chocolate, as well as in certain alcoholic beverages, such as crème de cacao.

Despite its origins in the Americas, West African countries, specifically Ivory Coast and Ghana, have become the top cocoa producers in the 21st century, making up around 60% of the global cocoa supply. A report from 2020 found that over 1.5 million children participate in cocoa farming in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana.

 Child labor and human trafficking linked to the cocoa industry continue to be significant issues. A report from 2018 claimed that global efforts to enhance children's welfare would not succeed due to ongoing poverty, lack of educational institutions, rising global demand for cocoa, intensified cocoa farming, and continual exploitation of child labor.

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